Most state capital cities tend to be drab places (think of Albany and Trenton) but, happily, that’s certainly not the situation with Wisconsin’s capital, Madison, which makes a strong case for being the hippest such town in America.

Madison has a number of factors going for it. First, it’s home to the main campus of the University of Wisconsin, which is one of the largest and most prestigious state universities in the country. Over 40,000 students attend the school, and during football season twice that number cram into Camp Randall Field on Saturdays to watch the Badgers try to win yet another Big Ten Conference title. Although basketball and hockey are not nearly as popular as football at the U of W, the new Kohl Center, which holds over 17,000, routinely sells out.

The city’s downtown is undergoing a renaissance. For years, it was known just for its beautiful state house, which, aside from the bigger dome, is nearly identical to the Capitol in D.C. Through private funding, a new $100 million performing arts complex known as the Overture Project is being built on State Street, with famed architect Cesar Pelli overseeing the project. Pelli designed the World Financial Center in lower Manhattan, the remodeled Reagan National Airport in Washington, and is currently working on the renovation of the Brooklyn Federal Courthouse.

Adjacent to the Overture Project is the Wisconsin State Historical Society. In its museum, one can trace the history of the state from the time French explorers starting visiting in the 17th century. Among the memorable exhibits here are the wax museum tributes to such political legends as Bob LaFollette and the infamous Joseph McCarthy, as well as a look back at the state’s once-thriving automobile industry. In the early days of auto manufacturing, both the Rambler and the Nash were assembled in Wisconsin.

State Street is also home to the majestic Orpheum Theater, which was built in the 1920s a time when movie houses were palaces. You will never want to go to a multiplex after seeing a film here.

Madison is located on an isthmus between two bodies of water, Lake Monona and Lake Mendota. Boating is obviously popular, but so is biking and jogging, and civic officials have made sure there are plenty of lakeside paths for enthusiasts. You should certainly make it your business to enjoy a dinner on the Betty Lou cruise ships, which sail on both lakes.

Lake Monona is sadly a part of rock & roll history. On December 10, 1967 R&B legend Otis Redding was killed when his plane crashed into the lake on a chilly and foggy night. Redding knew in advance that the flying conditions were poor at the time, but he lived by the axiom that the show must go on. A plaque commemorating Redding’s accomplishments can be found on the rooftop garden of Monona Terrace, a convention center adjacent to the lake designed by perhaps the most famous architect in history, Frank Lloyd Wright.

And while it may not be small, Madison’s Henry Vilas Zoo has a terrific collection of animals, including some of the most sociable chimpanzees you will ever see. Best of all, admission is free.

There are a number of terrific inexpensive restaurants in town, such as the mahogany-paneled Italian bistro, Biaggi’s; a classic ‘50s style eatery, the Hubbard Avenue Diner; and one of the few Indonesian restaurants in the US, Bandung. Being a college town, Madison has no shortage of pubs. The Nitty Gritty is where nearly everyone goes before or after a U of W sporting event. Another hot spot is the Capital Brewery, which produces more kegs than almost any other microbrewery in the Midwest.

It’s not hard to find inexpensive lodging in Madison, but my advice to splurge a little and choose the Madison Concourse Hotel. This is where Wisconsin’s top politicos stay because of its luxurious amenities. Of course, compared to Manhattan prices, the Madison Concourse’s rates are a bargain -- to say the least.

For more info call the Madison Visitors Bureau at (800) 373-6376.