We all know most celebrities don’t do their own stunts — they have doppelgänger stunt doubles who stand in for them. And the same goes for a lot of city locations where movies take place.

So, what if Madison needed a “stand-in?” What would be our doppelgänger city?

Maybe a place with a similar landscape (with water + plentiful hiking opportunities within an hour) or one with downtown streets that resemble ours. Which city has a similarly vibrant arts scene, or is also home to the flagship state university? (though nobody can beat UW-Madison, of course.) Maybe they’re also surrounded by lakes that are a major attraction for floaters + boaters?

We have a few ideas…

Seattle, WA | Madison + Seattle are both situated on an isthmus — in fact, they’re the only two cities in the continental US. Both cities also feature a large outdoor farmer’s market + encourage eating locally. But the Dane County Farmers’ Market is the largest producer’s market in the country — just saying.
Austin, TX | We like to think of Austin as our big sister — similar, but with a few more people, live music scenes, and art. A similar capitol skyline doesn’t hurt our argument. After all, everything’s bigger in Texas.
Ann Arbor, MI | Home to the University of Michigan, A-squared — as the locals call it — bears a similar resemblance to the integrated college campus + city life of Madison. Also in the Midwest, a similar climate gives residents all four seasons to enjoy. No need to get rid of your winter coat.
Eugene, OR | Opening, welcoming + friendly — all adjectives used to describe both Madison + Eugene. The West Coast city also boasts plenty of biking + hiking trails, as well as kayaking opportunities. And, it’s the second-largest city in the state — sound familiar?

… but we want to know what you think.

What cities – from all around the world – do you think are most like Madison? Which would be our doppelgänger?

Poll

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