Madison: Best college football town in America

Grey skies and a  blustery wind - reminders of the take-no-prisoners winter to come - are no match for student Badger fans at Camp Randall Stadium.

Members of the UW Marching Band cut loose with a polka during the post-game performance known as the "Fifth Quarter."

Bucky Badger, the University of Wisconsin mascot, turned 40 this year.

Fans stream out of Madison's Camp Randall Stadium, home of the Badgers.

"Cruiserfest" hosts Barb Ludwig and her son Pete Ludwig hold a Badger tailgate party every home game in honor of the late Kirt Ludwig, whose final wish was to have part of his ashes scattered on the field in Camp Randall Stadium.

Even the pumpkins are Badger fans on home game weekends in Madison.

A favorite Wisconsin fan tradition is Jump Around, which rocks Camp Randall between the third and fourth quarters.

A cannon outside Camp Randall Stadium speaks to the site's history as a Civil War training ground and prison for Confederate soldiers.

The Memorial Union terrace, on the University of Wisconsin campus, overlooks Lake Mendota.

The 56-bell Carillon Tower on Observatory Drive offers free weekly concerts when university classes are in session.

Political activism is still a hallmark at the University of Wisconsin in Madison.

Bascom Hall, which dates from 1857, is one of the oldest and most famous buildings on campus.

This 1,200-acre university-owned nature preserve borders Lake Wingra, one of five lakes in Madison.

A view from the top of Bascom Hill on the University of Wisconsin campus extends to the state Capitol.

The Wisconsin State Capitol in downtown Madison was completed in 1917.

Madison's state capitol building overlooks Lake Mendota.

State Street, a pedestrian mall in downtown Madison, leads from the state Capitol to campus.

State Street Brats has been a campus favorite for decades.

Food carts are a fixture of lower State Street in Madison.

Fried or fresh, cheese curds are a popular item in America's Dairyland.

Lakefront hiking trails are a major asset in Madison, Wis.

The Saturday morning Dane County Farmers' Market is one of the largest in the country.

A new bikeshare program in Madison costs $5 for a 24-hour pass.

"Heart attack on a plate": Mickies Dairy Bar customer Steve Murphy shows off the restaurant's famous breakfast "scrambler," which comes with three eggs, potatoes, cheese and gravy.

HotelRED, located across from Camp Randall Stadium, is the city's newest boutique hotel.

Graze, a restaurant on the square in Madison, features local meats and produce.