Written in Partnership with Madison Adventure Tours.
We love traveling and seeing new cities; who doesn’t? We are often looking for and planning our next great adventure. Recently, we had the opportunity to be tourists in our town, though, and we are so glad we did. For two hours on a Monday afternoon, we got to zip around town on E-Bikes and gain a new perspective on the places we pass each day with the help of our friends at Madison Adventure Tours.
Bringing the Tour Back to Madison
An E-Bike Tour in Boulder, CO, spurred longtime Madisonians Jade and Garret Olsen to open Madison Adventure Tours. The passion at Madison Adventure Tours and love for the City of Madison has only grown as their tour company has expanded with the addition of new guides. Each guide brings the city’s history to life and seasons the tour with their own stories and experiences in Madison. The guide’s love for Madison has helped garner the well-deserved 5-star Trip Advisor score.
Touring a City via E-Bike
Madison Adventure Tours’s collection of bikes is a blast. This was my first true E-Bike experience, and I now understand their widespread appeal. You can operate the bike via a throttle, eliminating the need for pedaling, or through pedal assist, providing power as you pedal. One group member, initially hesitant due to a long break from biking, quickly overcame their apprehension after a brief lesson and some practice. The bikes, with their wider tires, offer exceptional stability and make it easy to get the hang of it. As an avid biker, I chose to take the day off and enjoy zipping around the city using the throttle function. I might have had too much fun.
Experiencing a Truly Bike-Friendly City
The tour took us along Madison’s beautiful bike paths and boulevards. We wound our way around the city from the near east side through downtown and to the west. Our tour stopped at Madison staples like Breese Stevens Field where we heard the history of this revitalized stadium where Jessie Owens once ran. We wound through neighborhoods and cruised up hills to Capitol Square and down State Street. Along the way, we stopped for photo ops and history lessons. We found ourselves on bike paths and in neighborhoods even I had never taken. It was refreshing to experience this city we love so much in new ways. You can cover a lot of ground on an E-Bike in two hours.
Local Guides
Our guide, Greg, gave us a newfound appreciation for our city. His stories and unique perspectives transformed our view of familiar places. He provided a captivating history of Madison’s Overture Center and the theater district along State Street. Greg shared how he got engaged on top of the Monona Terrace and how a prank in the 70s has somehow led to Madison’s official bird being the Plastic Pink Flamingo. We often consider tours when exploring a new place, but what about when we’re in our own city?
Who is Madison Adventure Tours For?
Madison Adventure Tours is not just for weekend visitors but also for new Badgers, alumni returning for Badger Saturday, and even longtime residents like us. While they don’t currently have an option for families with small kids, they’re working on it; we think it would be a great tour for families and friends. I also think this would be a really fun corporate outing for you and your co-workers. With the pedal assist and throttle drive options, the bikes are friendly for anyone, no matter your fitness level.
Connect with Madison Adventure Tours
Madison Adventure Tours can be found at 600 Williamson Street. You can book a tour where you join a group or a private group tour, perfect for a group of friends or work colleagues. For more information, check out their website and connect with them on Instagram. Take a look at this reel we made of our afternoon with Madison Adventure Tours.