Speckled Hen Inn

Category Archives: Shopping

Madison Red Bikes
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Info for Foodies, Shopping, Summer, Things to do in Madison

4 Hours of Summer Fun in Madison

Madison Red Bikes

So you’re in Madison for the weekend and you want to do something fun and make the most of your time while you’re here.  First, book a stay with us at The Speckled Hen Inn for great farm to table breakfasts to get you off to a great start in the morning!   If you love the outdoors, Madison BCycles, or Red Bikes,  are a great way to get around and they’re only $3/30 minutes.  Plus, you can check them in and check them out at any red-bike station around town.  A nice trek is renting them on the corner of Williamson and Blair and riding the bike trail southwest along Lake Monona.   There’s usually activity out on the lake, and there are baby
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Dane Co Farmer's Market
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Info for Foodies, Outdoor Activities, Shopping, Spring, Summer, Things to do in Madison

Dane County Farmer’s Market Insider Tips

Dane Co Farmer's Market

The Dane County Farmer’s Market moves outdoors to Capitol Square on April 14th!   At last – spring has sprung and the air is cool, crisp, new life is in bloom, and we are all so happy to be outside again! If you’re a new visitor to Madison, or just new to the Dane County Farmer’s Market, here are some insider tips for you to make your adventure successful (and fun)! 1. Get there early!  It starts at 6:15am and the early bird gets the worm (and sometimes the last of the baked goods!). 2. Get a good parking space in one of  the nearby parking structures and enjoy the walk to the Square. 3. The line (or swarm, depending on when
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Christmas, Holidays, Shopping, Things to do in Madison, Winter

Shopping Getaway Special in December!

Madison is a great destination no matter what time of year and there’s no better way to pamper yourself with a Christmas getaway to The Speckled Hen Inn!  You can do all your Christmas shopping – from great Madison cheese shops like Carr Valley, Fromagination, MouseHouse and UW’s Babcock Hall to wonderful kitchen gadgets and cookware at The Kitchen Gallery, Wisconsin Cutlery & Kitchen supply and Sur La Table to electronics, toys and clothing at East Towne, West Towne, and Hilldale Malls – not to mention the 13 other shopping centers in Madison!  Bring your packages back and wrap your gifts at our free gift wrapping station while you enjoy a complimentary glass of spiced wine in our cozy fireside room before retiring to your
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The Gazebo at The Speckled Hen Inn
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Shopping

We Still Love our Madison Bookstores

The Gazebo at The Speckled Hen Inn

As technology becomes more ingrained in our daily life, there are other aspects that get shoved to the wayside. Once upon a time, seemingly forever ago, we had conversations with people verbally, our children were taught with the simple tools of a pen and pencil and we once read stories written in ink, on paper in a bound version of a book. And to get those books we frequented Madison bookstores and libraries. But, we don’t visit bookstores and libraries anymore because our iPhones and tablets have made it so much more convenient to get all of the books we love without ever having to leave the comfort of our couch and blanket. What a difference a decade has brought
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Shopping

Time to visit a Greenhouse

  Celebrate Earth Day this year by planning to add some green to your own little patch of Earth.  The Madison area greenhouses are filled with wonderful plant material just waiting to turn your home into your own private oasis this summer. At the Speckled Hen Inn, we prefer to buy our plants from local greenhouses rather than the big box discounters because we are assured that the plants are suitable for our growing conditions and the knowledge that the folks working in the greenhouses are willing to share, makes sure that we have selected to right plant for our needs. Here is a link to a map with some of our favorite local garden centers and plant nurseries on it. View Madison
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Info for Foodies, Shopping, Winter

Dane County Winter Farmer’s Market

Many of the guests at The Speckled Hen Inn enjoy the Dane County Farmer’s Market in the warmer seasons but few realize that the market is open in the winter also.  From January 3 until April 11, 8:00 AM to noon, the market is indoors at the Mifflin Street Senior Center.  Listed below are the things that you can find and enjoy at the winter market.   Wondering what you can find at the DCFM Winter Market? Here’s a listing to help guide you. Fruit Apples; Cider; Jams, jellies, and preserves; Pears; Pear and apple butters; Raspberry products Stored Vegetables Carrots, Garlic, Potatoes, Shallots, Turnips Fresh Vegetables Chard, Greens, Kale, Lettuce, Micro-greens, Radish, Spinach, Tomatoes Meats Beef, Bison, Brats and
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Christmas, Shopping

Last Minute Holiday Shopping in Madison

Everyone has to eat.  So, it just makes sense that gifts of food are always welcome.  There are lots of places in Madison where you can pick up fabulous local foods to suit everyone on your shopping list. Wisconsin is all about cheese and there is a lot to choose from.  Stop in Fromagination on the capitol square to get your imagination going.  Or visit and sample your way through the artisan cheeses at Carr Valley Cheese in Middleton.  The tiny, tiny cheese store in Paoli is tons of fun too.  Not too far from the Speckled Hen Inn you will find Mouse House and Ehlenbach’s Cheese Chalet.  Have someone take your picture with the huge cow to prove that you
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