Visit Madison and you can’t help but get caught up in the robust college vibe that energizes Wisconsin’s capital city.

With an enrollment of more than 50,000 undergrad and grad students on a campus that covers nearly 1,000 acres, the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW) dominates the city.

For me, having worked in a previous life as an administrator at several universities, I especially enjoyed immersing myself in Madison’s campus life.

The university’s energy is infectious. Students are everywhere. You’ll see them walking in groups or singly across the charming, tree-lined campus that hosts a compelling architectural mix of buildings dedicated to various academic disciplines. You’ll see students hoofing it up beautiful Bascom Hill quadrangle with the Lincoln statue at the top (a caution to older/senior visitors, the hill is a fairly long, steep climb). You’ll find students gathering at UW’s Memorial Union Terrace, probably the most popular meeting spot on campus, which overlooks the south shore of Lake Mendota. Still other students will be lining up at the savory-smelling food trucks along the Library Mall while a DJ blasts loud rock and rap music. Or they’re spilling in and out of numerous shops, bars and restaurants that line State Street, which connects the university to the iconic, domed, 108-year-old Wisconsin state capitol building.

The university on one end of State Street, and the capitol on the other end, represent twin economic engines that drive the flourishing city. When I was there in early November, three giant construction cranes towered over high-rise apartment buildings going up in the downtown and campus area. Indeed, Dane County is expected to grow by nearly 200,000 people over the next 25 years, according to state projections. The county’s current population is estimated to be nearly 600,000.

I was in Madison to attend a concert by Yes, the 1970s progressive rock band, at the city’s 1920s-era Orpheum Theatre on State Street. While the theater has been beautifully restored, it sits across the street from the real crown jewel of Madison’s art scene, the Overture Center for the Arts.

Opened in 2004, Overture’s stunning, ultra-modern, César Pelli-designed building invites visitors into seven different performance spaces, including a world-class, 2,250-seat main concert hall. The building’s design integrates glassy new construction with rehabbed elements from the old Madison Civic Center. The facility also hosts five art galleries and nine resident arts companies.

You’ll find a number of galleries and museums in Madison, including the university’s Chazen Museum of Art. With 176,000 square feet of space, the museum includes an exceptional collection of work covering a range of historical periods. Those of us of a certain age will remember this building by its former name, the Elvehjem Museum of Art.

Beyond cultural attractions, Madison offers various scenic, natural spots to visit. The heart of Madison sits on an isthmus between Mendota and Monona Lakes, creating plenty of lakeside views.

Destination Madison recommends the downtown portion of the paved Capital City State Trail, which runs past Monona Terrace, the city’s lakefront convention center. The center was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright, who designed several other Madison buildings and has a strong connection to the city, including spending some of his childhood in Madison and attending the university.

Visitors will find five lakes in the city, nearly 300 parks and 200-plus miles of hiking and biking trails connecting surrounding towns. If time is limited during your visit, I recommend a brief hike through Tenney Park on the city’s east side, which offers a quiet, sweet little nature break away from the university hustle.

Madison also serves as a sports mecca. As a member of the Big Ten Conference, which now actually includes 18 schools, UW has a full lineup of NCAA Division I sports teams, including Badgers football. Indeed, football Saturdays in the fall turn Madison into one colossal tailgate party, as thousands of fans clad in red descend on the campus and Camp Randall Stadium. The multi-purpose Kohl Center also hosts a variety of sports, including men’s and women’s basketball and hockey teams.

You’ll also find plenty of places to eat in Madison. Especially along State Street, there’s an international flavor to many of the eateries. Although grabbing a burger is easy, too. For example, when I was in town, my friend Bob, who lives in nearby Middleton, suggested meeting for lunch at a Madison icon, the Nitty Gritty. Known as the place to go for birthday celebrations, the tavern has a surprisingly long list of burger choices. Another solid lunch venue is the no-nonsense Bassett Street Brunch Club. And for dinner? I recommend Porta Bella on Frances Street near the university, a longtime traditional Italian restaurant.

As you might expect, coffee shops are everywhere. Check out Barrique’s Coffee Trader, on West Washington Avenue near the capitol. Great coffee, plus a cool corner location with lots of windows.

Ultimately, though, the vibrant pulse of the university stands as Madison’s main attraction. Plan to soak in a little college culture. But don’t worry, you won’t have to go to any classes.

Minneapolis freelance writer Angelo Gentile has worked as a university administrator, corporate communications professional and a newspaper and magazine editor. He recently wrote about Duluth’s Urban Creeks for Minnesota Good Age.