The University of Wisconsin's Memorial Union Terrace is one of the most genuinely beloved public spaces in the American Midwest. Perched on the southern shore of Lake Mendota, the terrace is open to everyone — you don't need to be a student — and on any warm evening from May to September it fills with students, faculty, families, and anyone else who wants a cold beer, a bratwurst, and a view of the lake.
The chairs are famous: brightly painted metal sunburst designs in orange, yellow, and red, arranged in clusters along the waterfront. The Union's Rathskeller bar serves Wisconsin's own Union Southshore Wheat beer, and the outdoor stage hosts free music most nights in summer.
The Chazen Museum of Art is a short walk away on the same campus. The terrace is at the foot of Langdon Street, about a mile from Capitol Square.