Gateway-Dane - Sun Prairie, WI

Sun Prairie received its name from a group of men who were commissioned to build the capitol building in Madison. After several days traveling in the rain west out of Milwaukee, the first sunshine they encountered appeared in the prairie where the town now lies. One of the men in the party returned to the area to become the first settler. The yearly Sweet Corn Festival attracts thousands of visitors from across the Midwest with live music, a parade and carnival and plenty of sweet corn. The Sun Prairie Historical Society and Museum gives visitors the chance to learn about the area and Madison's thriving art scene can be witnessed at the annual Art Fair on the Square which attracts visitors from all over the country. Theater can be enjoyed in auditoriums of the Overture Center as well as smaller companies like the Broom Street Theater.

Sun Prairie has a number of great downtown dining options on or near Main Street. The Atlantis Taverna provides diners with tasty Greek olive-stuffed meatballs and fried kalamari, two great dishes to start a meal. Save room for full dinners of chicken souvlaki and traditional Greek moussaka.

While many options for chain restaurant pizza exist in the Gateway-Dane area, such as Domino's and Pizza Hut, for an Italian treat, Salvatore's Tomato Pies has locations in Sun Prairie and Madison. Salvatore's does it old school with sauce made from the freshest tomatoes available. Specialty pizzas like the Hot Cheese Injection, with its five cheese toppings, and Fat Uncle Tony, with bacon, sausage and pepperoni, keeps pizza lovers coming back for more.

Downtown Sun Prairie also has good pubs and bars, like Eddie's Alehouse and Eatery, which also serves food. The Eddie's Alehouse features an almost overwhelming amount of beer choices, from pale ales and ciders to stouts, porters and IPAs rounded up from local and international breweries. Live music options for residents of Dane County remain abundant in downtown Madison. National touring acts play venues such as the Orpheum Theater and Majestic Theater as well as smaller clubs like the Frequency and High Noon Saloon.

The Madison Metra Transit system can be accessed from the American Center Park and Ride lot and taken to downtown Madison and points beyond. The city has many walkable streets, and biking can be considered generally safe on side roads which can be used to access the many miles of bike trails in the Madison area. Uber car sharing becomes available in Madison, as does local taxi service, but try to phone a cab in advance instead of relying on finding a cab on the street. US Route 151 can be accessed from Sun Prairie for trips southwest to Madison or northeast to Fond du Lac. From 151, access to Interstate 90 is available for travel south to Chicago. I-94 can be used for trips east to Milwaukee. Free parking can be found on residential streets, however, vehicles cannot remain parked in one spot on public streets for longer than 48 hours.

Sheehan Park in Sun Prairie has two volleyball courts, a little-league baseball diamond and a skate park to help people stay in shape and burn off energy. For dog-friendly options, just south of the park lies a pet exercise area. Sheehan Park has several shelters for picnics and a playground for kids. The park sits across the street from the Sun Prairie Library. Sun Prairie Blues Fest ramps things up every September in Angell Park. In addition to live blues music, food and beverage vendors provide services to keep the crowd fed. Blues Fest requires payment for entry, but both Angell and Sheehan parks remain open and free to the public throughout the year.

Expect to pay on average $890 for a one-bedroom apartment. A bottle of domestic beer costs between $3 and $4, and a pint of regionally brewed beer or an import costs between $4 and $5. A trip to downtown Madison on the Metra bus is $2, which includes a free transfer. The cost of a gallon of gas typically falls a few cents lower than the national average.

The Dane County area offers many choices for speciality shops and everyday shopping needs. JJ Stitches has a wide variety of fabrics for crafty people to sew quilts and clothing. Cannery Wine and Spirits gives locals a chance to buy fine wines from around the world. The East Towne Mall lies southwest down Route 151 and provides a variety of shopping options, such as Bath & Body Works, Dakota Watch Company and GameStop. Costco is the place for bulk items and big bargains, and Target also has a location here to supply residents with clothing, household and electronics. Copps Food Center has a great selection of groceries, as does Woodman’s, which features some of the best deals on groceries and household goods in the Dane County area. The Dane County Farmer’s Market appears downtown every Saturday in the summer and features locally grown, organic produce from the surrounding area.