Take a Family Vacation to the Wisconsin Dells
Wisconsin dells is a resort located in Wisconsin that offers many family-friendly activities. It is located on the Wisconsin River, and is one of the most popular family vacations in the United States. For those who want to explore the woods, there are nature trails and lakes. Golfers will enjoy their time at one of their three golf courses. And for those who want to cool off from the summer heat, there are water parks with slides and other attractions for all ages!
In this blog you will find…
- Top 10 reasons to plan a family vacation to the Wisconsin Dells
- Places to stay
- Ways to save money
- Best places to eat
- Best activities to do for the family
- Best ways to enjoy nature
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Places to Stay
The Wisconsin Dells is known as the Water Park Capital of the country. If you are looking for a place to stay, consider doing a bundle where access to a water park is included in your stay. Check out all the options & pick what’s best for you!
HOTELS WITH WATER PARK RESORTS:
- Chula Vista Resort
- Kalahari Resort
- Mount Olympus Water & Theme Park
- Noah’s Ark Water Park
- Wilderness Resort Waterpark
OTHER PROPERTIES WITH WATER ACTIVITIES
SEARCH AIRBNB FOR WISCONSIN DELLS VACATION HOMES
Save Money
If you are looking to pack in multiple activities, check out the Wisconsin Dells Passport to Savings. You can get a bundle deal on certain activities or for certain water parks. Click here to view the Passport to Savings deals! For all other specials, you can click here for the Wisconsin Dells city deals page.
I also recommend viewing some of the hotel websites listed above and checking their pages to see if they have a “Deals” tab. For example, Mount Olympus Theme Park & Resort has a Deals tab that has details about discounts on your stay or a discount for a day pass to the water park. We were able to score a $10 deal on our day passes.
10 REASONS TO PLAN YOUR FAMILY VACATION AT THE WISCONSIN DELLS
1. Tons of Water Parks
If you read the list of places to stay, you probably noticed there are tons of options when it comes to water parks. Overall, there are 20 different water parks offered at the Wisconsin Dells. There are indoor and outdoor water parks, making Wisconsin Dells a great place to visit any time of the year. When we went, we enjoyed our time at Mt. Olympus Theme Park & Resort. For an overview of the water parks, check out the links under Places to Stay.
2. Animal Explorations
If you have family members who love animals, Wisconsin Dells offers tons of opportunities. You can visit the Deer Park, where you get the opportunity to interact with and feed the deer up close and personal. Families can view exotic animals at the Timbavati Wildlife Park. If you like birds, consider a visit to the International Crane Foundation to view all 15 species of cranes. There is also a Wisconsin Big Cat Rescue & Educational Center for cats that have been rescued from abuse. For all the horse back riding fans- you are in luck! You can reserve a horseback riding experience at Red Ridge Ranch Riding Stable , Woodside Ranch Riding Stable or Canyon Creek Riding Stables.
3. A Haven for Thrill Seekers
Whether you want to conquer your fear of heights or you are just seeking a good thrill, Wisconsin Dells has multiple ropes course and zip line experiences! Check out the list below:
Bigfoot Ropes Course OR Bigfoot Zipline Tour
Wilderness Canyon Zip line Canopy Tour
SEEKING MORE ADVENTURE? CHECK OUT THESE MIDWEST ROAD TRIP ITINERARIES
4. Get Out on the Water
Water parks are not the only experience on the waters at Wisconsin Dells. There are other ways to enjoy the water such as the Dells Army Duck Tour, Wild Thing Jet Boats and various options for the Dells Boat tour including the lower tour, upper tour (includes Standing Rock and Witch’s Gulch), Sunset cruise and during fall time, a haunted boat ride experience. A lot of these activities may be seasons (the Dells Boat tours go from May to October), so please plan, plan, plan!
5. Circus World
Experience side shows, big top circus performances, hands on experiences and greet animals at Circus World, which goes from May to August. Circus World also has the largest collection of circus wagons on display that you can view.
6. Drive Through Movie Experience
Enjoy the beautiful evening by indulging in your nostalgia through a drive in movie experience with Big Sky Drive In. Similar to an indoor theater, there are snacks that can be purchased. The season goes from May through fall time depending on weather. As of fall of 2022, they are closed for the season until May of 2023.
7. Delicious Dining
If you are a foodie, look no further than downtown Wisconsin Dells! The following places are our favorites. We were able to try various places to eat downtown and our favorites for coffee and breakfast are Bella Goose Coffee Cafe on the River , Dell’s Bistro (for artsy breakfast creations) and BJ’s Restaurant. For lunch, I recommend the High Rock Cafe for beautiful downtown Wisconsin Dells view or the quirky dining experience, Grateful Shed. For a fancy dining experience, consider Hot Rocks which uses lava stones to cook the unique dishes. Of course, there are tons of dessert options at the Wisconsin Dells. My #1 is Huckleberry, which has a candy bar, ice cream and baked goods.
If you want to browse other options, click here to find your own favorites!
If you are someone who likes having a physical copy of a guide to Wisconsin Dells, click here to order your free guide!
8. Wine and Dine
Wisconsin Dells offers beautiful wineries and distilleries that will make you feel like you have been transported to California’s wine capital, Sonoma County. A couple of wineries to check out are Balanced Rock Winery and Wollersheim Winery and Distillery (this area is gorgeous!). If you are a beer and cider person, consider Dells Distillery.
9. Downtown Dells
Downtown Wisconsin Dells has a store for EVERYONE and additional activities for EVERYONE. There are souvenir shops, candy stores, animal/video game stores, psychic readings, Ripley’s Believe it or Not, Nig’s Bar, Museum of Torture, spas and so many other neat things to see just by strolling downtown. It’s especially a sight to see at night time with the neon lights. There is also the downtown Riverfront walk that offers an easy hike with gorgeous views along the Wisconsin River.
For a comprehensive list of downtown businesses, click here.
10. Enjoy Scenic Nature Views
Nearby Wisconsin Dells are two beautiful state parks: Devil’s Lake State Park (famous for it’s gorgeous rock formations and overlooks) and Mirror Lake State Park (perfect for kayaking or canoes). Both also offer great hiking experiences.
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