Each week I spend a few days working in Madison. While there, I room with my BFF Denise in a little condo downtown. Two small-town girls living the hip, career girl, city life–something neither of us experienced before, being young wives and mothers.

Now before you envision a Sex and the City Carrie Bradshaw type of experience, we are both a little bit older and wiser than the young worldly women on the show. Life at the “Girls’ Pad” (a.k.a the GP) is a bit more subdued and conservative; however, it’s still pretty awesome.

First of all, it’s all girls. Just Denise and I and her two kitties (both girls of course). No guys to leave the toilet seat up, share the remote control with, or to give “advice.”

We can watch chick flicks, discuss romance novels, and gossip about work without reprimand. We don’t have to look pretty or shave our legs. And we can have wine, cheese, and olives for dinner whenever we want!

Second, it’s downtown. We can literally walk to the capital square, the Overture Center, down State St., and any number of restaurants depending on our taste and mood.

Ranked by National Geographic Travel as one of the best small cities in the US, Madison is a little bit urban and a little bit small town.

The neighborhood around the GP bustles with the vitality of youth and college life yet is still rife with cultural influences due to its proximity to the capital square and Overture Center. Even if you’re not a sports fan, it’s impossible to not get caught up in the thrill of a Badger game whether the throngs of fans are making their way to Camp Randall or the Kohl Center.

Jump in the car and within 30 minutes you can get from one side of the city to the other for shopping or a great meal. Then of course, there are lakes Mendota and Monona, the UW Arboretum, Olbrich Gardends, bike trails, walking trails…SO MUCH TO DO, SO LITTLE TIME….!

I’m especially anxious to explore the square and visit Fromagination, a lovely artisan cheese shop I’ve yet had the opportunity to visit. I’m dying to go in and check out what cheeses they may have to enhance a rapturously girly dinner. Or revisit Cento, an elegant Italian Restorante with friendly staff, yummy food, and delicious wine.

A couple of days a week isn’t nearly enough to do all the things we want to do. I guess we just have to tackle one adventure at a time. These girls about town aren’t about to waste a moment.