Wisconsin Dells

[Green Eyed Lady]

Does anyone here live near the Dells?  Anybody visit them often?  A couple of friends and I are thinking about taking a trip to Wisconsin (other reasons than vacation) and would like to make a couple-day side trip to the Dells.  None of us have ever been or know anything about it.  Does anyone know the best place to stay...what part would be most relaxing with some activities?  We don't want top-of-the-line, but we don't want bottom either.  Somewhere in between.  Thanks.

[Value Buy]

Jun 19, 2014 10:19:58 GMT -5 Green Eyed Lady said:

Does anyone here live near the Dells?  Anybody visit them often?  A couple of friends and I are thinking about taking a trip to Wisconsin (other reasons than vacation) and would like to make a couple-day side trip to the Dells.  None of us have ever been or know anything about it.  Does anyone know the best place to stay...what part would be most relaxing with some activities?  We don't want top-of-the-line, but we don't want bottom either.  Somewhere in between.  Thanks.

One does not go to the Dells to relax. You leave it wired to the max.

Expect over priced food and way too expensive rooms, traffic jams and lots of kids screaming. Other than that, it is the water park capital of the world, and mini-golf is a close second and you still have the Tommy Bartlett water show.

Oh, yes, there are actually the Dells to look at

[Green Eyed Lady]

Thanks, Value Buy.  Any recommendation on places to stay?  I got on the web-site and there are like a trillion places and I have no idea what is what.

[Wisconsin Beth]

We stayed at the Wilderness last fall.  It was your standard hotel room.  I've heard great things about Great Wolf Lodge but I think it's pricey. 

If you're not going for water parks (or mini-golf), you might want to look for a hotel without a water park attached to it.  Or a B&B. 

And depending on how you go, you might want to stop do House on the Rock on your way. 

[Wisconsin Beth]

I beleive giramomma is closer to the Dells physically than me. 

[Green Eyed Lady]

Thank you so much, Wisconsin Beth.  That gives me some starting places.  And yes...we are water slide fanatics!

[Wisconsin Beth]

I think most of the hotels, motels and b&bs have arrangements with one or more of the big indoor waterparks and the rooms come with tickets.  We were there in Nov. after all the outdoor stuff was closed so we didn't focus on that at all.  I haven't been to Noah's Ark in about a decade. 

And be aware - Wisconsin is predicted to have weird weather this summer - there was still ice on Lake Superior last week I think. 

DH is gluten and dairy free - if you need help on that end, he found 4-6 places he could eat at when were were there.  Let me know and I'll get him to cough up his list. 

[Green Eyed Lady]

No eating limitations as far as I know.  Most of us grab chips and a diet soda!  I appreciate your tips.  I had looked at Lake on the Wilderness and it appears they have hotels and private cabins/condos for rent.  In addition, it says there are 4 water parks attached.  Prices are all over the place, but if you are saying that is a good place to start, I'll look into it further.

[Wisconsin Beth]

We stayed here - www.wildernessresort.com/  They had 3 indoor waterparks and an outdoor one (closed for the season) and our kids were 4 and 5.5 when we went. 

Oh and Sundara Spa is just down the road from where we were.  I was so tempted to leave DH and the kids at the waterpark and go there.  No kids there! 

[Green Eyed Lady]

Oh, we would love a spa day.  That sounds so good! 

[Green Eyed Lady]

I saw something about a zip line tour also. 

[Wisconsin Beth]

There's all sorts of stuff to do there.  The Ducks will take you on  cruise to see the rock formations.  Originally the Ducks were leftover military vehicles that were used for beach type landings. 

Lake Delton drained a few years ago during massive rain.  Shocked everyone. 

Will you be driving in (and from what direction) or flying in? 

[Green Eyed Lady]

We will be driving.  Not sure from what direction yet.  We will be making a few more stops and we haven't hammered out where we are going first. 

[Wisconsin Beth]

Ok, if you come though Milwaukee and want to meet, let me know. 

[Green Eyed Lady]

How nice!  Thank you.  I'm just praying this trip isn't going to be new footage for a crazy "road trip" movie.  These ladies are a bit nuts when they get out!

[Wisconsin Beth]

lol. 

[giramomma]

Jun 19, 2014 13:34:16 GMT -5 Wisconsin Beth said:

There's all sorts of stuff to do there.  The Ducks will take you on  cruise to see the rock formations.  Originally the Ducks were leftover military vehicles that were used for beach type landings. 

Lake Delton drained a few years ago during massive rain.  Shocked everyone. 

Will you be driving in (and from what direction) or flying in? 

Besides the Ducks, you can do upper and lower boat tours. I would recommend them. There's also a magician that does a show at like 7 every night.

You also might consider the HH Benett Photo Studios: hhbennettstudio.wisconsinhistory.org/

The Dells is pretty touristy. It's OK if that's your sort of thing..And forgive me, I've missed when the visit is happening. But school is now out. Which means there's going to be lots of families/folks around.

For Hotels, I might suggest something like Chula Vista. The water park is rather small and indoor only.  So there's not 4,677 kids running around the hotel.

If you drive out about 10-15 minutes from the Dells you get:

International Crane Foundation www.savingcranes.org/

A Casino

A 30 minute drive outside of the dells gets you
a lovely state Park dnr.wi.gov/topic/parks/name/devilslake/

 a Railroad museum www.midcontinent.org/

Feel free to PM me...

[Deleted]

I can't recommend a place to stay because it's been many years since we have spent the night there but you will have a great time at the waterparks.

I love the Dells. It's just so hokey and I need a little of that occasionally.

 beware,  the money will fly out of your pocket quickly 

[giramomma]

I'm too lazy to edit my post

Here's a link to a popular winery. www.wisdells.com/wisconsin-dells-area/attractions/wollersheim-winery.htm

[Wisconsin Beth]

Jun 19, 2014 14:40:05 GMT -5 giramomma said:

I'm too lazy to edit my post

Here's a link to a popular winery. www.wisdells.com/wisconsin-dells-area/attractions/wollersheim-winery.htm

I couldn't remember how close they are to the Dells!  And then I had problems spelling Wollersheim so I gave up on that post. 

[bean29]

Crap.  I was gong to town giving you links and I wiped out my post.

Why are you comming to Wisconsin.  Who is comming with you.  What other cities will you travel through? 

Other cities we might point you to...Lake Geneva (Grand Geneva Resort) or Sheboygan (Blue Harbor Resort) Close to Kohler WI (Museums and Golf Course). 


If you are going to LaCrosse, check out the Shrine to the Virgin of the Guadalupe on a Bluff.
We have taken the extended family there on several occasions.  My BIL visited from GA a few years ago.  The only day we could take him there ended up being Easter Sunday.  DH has 7 brothers...I think all of them went with spouses and children.  Everyone enjoyed the day.  There is a restaurant here which takes reservations.  We did not have a reservation so we went into lacrosse and found a Perkins open.  LaCrosse is about 3 hours from Milwaukee and maybe and hour from the Dells.

www.guadalupeshrine.org/multimedia/photos


Other attractions in WI Dells.  Noha's Ark - worlds largest Waterpark, Kalahari

These are the ones in Sheboygan:
www.us.kohler.com/us/Kohler-Design-Center/content/CNT400038.htm
www.us.kohler.com/us/Lower-Level:-Museum-&-Arts-Industry-Gallery/content/CNT400055.htm
blueharborresort.com/waterpark/
www.americanclubresort.com/golf?nck=8668577278&id=dkst

Lake Geneva:

www.grandgeneva.com/packages-lake-geneva-vacation/index.asp?c=Family
there is a golf course here.  The waterpark is small.  Walkable shopping district in Lake Genva and the Lake is gorgeous.  We were here twice for Company Conventions.
www.google.com/images?q=lake+geneva&rls=com.microsoft:en-us&oe=UTF-8&startIndex=&startPage=1&gws_rd=ssl&hl=en&sa=X&oi=image_result_group&ei=uECjU7PvOYWVyATwj4CIBg&ved=0CFUQsAQ

www.kalahariresorts.com/wisconsin
www.noahsarkwaterpark.com/ Noah's ark bills itself as the world's largest waterpark.  It does not have a hotel to my knowledge. 

Kalahari and Wilderness hotels and waterparks are massive and do a lot of conventions, so should appeal to all.  I know both get college students and Bachlor/bachlorette parties., so they should have things to interest you.  I think you can only use the Wilderness Water Park if you stay at the hotel, but the Kalahari lets people buy day passes which makes the waterpark more crowded.  If you book in advance say a month, you usually get better prices and they are lower Sunday-Wed or something like that.  We usually went Sunday Monday b/c it was significantly cheaper.

[Green Eyed Lady]

Thanks so much, @xmascookie, giramomma and Wisconsin Beth.  It looks like instead of wondering what to do, we are going to have a hard time choosing what NOT to do!  I'm expecting it will be late July when we take off.  It's a case of one of the ladies having a kid playing baseball and she wants to wait till the season is over.    I'm half afraid to take them to the winery.  They won't ever leave! 

[Green Eyed Lady]

Thank you also, bean29.  We are coming because one of the girls is having a fond partial memory of a vacation trip with her family like a million years ago.  She wants to go back to see what has changed.  We have no strict itinerary.  That is still being figured out.  One wants to go to Mt Rushmore, one wants the Dells and I'm good with anything - maybe both.   As for me?  All a person has to say is "water slide" and I'm on board.

[Wisconsin Beth]

We did Blue Harbor this spring.  It was awesome for the kids.  Not sure I'd go there with just adults though.  YMMV. 

There's www.slate.com/blogs/atlas_obscura/2014/06/02/dr_evermor_s_forevertron_is_a_scrap_metal_sculpture_designed_to_look_like.html too 

If you go though the SW corner of the state, that the area that didn't get covered by the glaciers so it's more bluffs than rolling hills.  YOu'll see sheep grazing there too. 

[Green Eyed Lady]

Jun 19, 2014 15:15:13 GMT -5 Wisconsin Beth said:

We did Blue Harbor this spring.  It was awesome for the kids.  Not sure I'd go there with just adults though.  YMMV. 

There's www.slate.com/blogs/atlas_obscura/2014/06/02/dr_evermor_s_forevertron_is_a_scrap_metal_sculpture_designed_to_look_like.html too 

If you go though the SW corner of the state, that the area that didn't get covered by the glaciers so it's more bluffs than rolling hills.  YOu'll see sheep grazing there too. 

I'm beginning to think I'm NOT going with adults.  You should hear these women.  I'm taking bail money.

[Wisconsin Beth]

The Blue Harbor waterpark is about the size of a football field.  Maybe 1/3 of it is designed for kids under the age of 5 or so.  It's awesome for the younger ones.  On Sat. night after dinner (we were there Fri and Sat. nights), we sat and had a drink while we watched the kids play.  Cabe was in the toddler pool and Keira was doing 2 of the slides and then coming back to play with Cabe.  There were lots of lifeguards around too. 

[Green Eyed Lady]

LOL!  I just realized I have no idea what a "dell" even is!

Someone mentioned golf and we are all golfers.  I'll have to get on-line and see which of the places recommended here have courses.  That would make for a really nice morning.

[Deleted]

 I agree Devils Lake State Park is fantastic if you have the time.

It's got some great views on the hiking trails, worth a side trip .

[Wisconsin Beth]

Then you might want to go though Kohler on your trip - there's Blackwolf Run and Whistling Straights.  And Colleenz in kinda close to there. 

www.americanclubresort.com/golf?nck=8668577278&id=dkst

And I think The Wilderness has a golf course too.  I'm sure there are others but golf ain't my thing. 

[Green Eyed Lady]

Thanks to all.  Will do some more on-line searching of your suggestions later tonight.  Have a great evening.