Wisconsin Dells

[Mysteria]

Can anyone that has been give me their opinions on places to stay, which waterparks to visit, great places to eat etc.

eta: Thinking of summer 2010

Thanks!

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

Noah's ark was fun. I love flash flood. I will NEVER go on noah's wild adventure again. The room spins, I was terrrified.

 

[Mysteria]

Noah's Ark is one of the parks right? They have a room spinning water ride!? Thanks for the warning. I'm not afraid of rides but spinning and I don't get along at all.

 

[PebblesMK]

If you're planning on going this time of year, don't expect to go to Noah's Ark! There are a lot of great places to stay with indoor water parks though. Since I have a 9 year old, I take her and her friends to the Wilderness. There are 3 indoor waterparks I believe which include water slides and one of those "funnel" type rides. There are wave pools and stuff for little kids. There is also a laser tag part and a giant indoor play park that is attached to an arcade. For the money, it's a great.

If you have older kids or aren't taking kids, the Kalahari is apparently the hot spot. I've never been there, but my friends go there for a good time. They have musical acts when it's busier and a lot of activities.

If you don't plan on staying in the entire time, there are things you can find to do. A lot of the attractions are closed in the winter but I think things like Ripley's Believe it or Not and Tommy Bartlett's wonder imporium thingy ma bobber are open. Again, if you're going kidless...Ho Chunk casino is right there and offers entertainment.

As far as places to eat: Moosejaw Pizza is soooooo good and their delivery truck has a big ole' moose on it!
Paul Bunyan's Cook Shanty was a favorite growing up but I can't vouch for the food.
Sharky's has good bar type food
Wisconsin Opry Dinner theatre offers broadway shows with dinner. Again, can't vouch for it but have heard enough good things to want to try it.
Buffalo Phil's has fantastic wings....to die for really. I believe they're attached to a place called Knuckleheads which is a bowling alley and indoor amusement park.

Ohhh..speaking of! Mount Olympus has roller coasters and I believe that they opened up an indoor water park as well and you can get tickets for both or just the waterpark if you're staying there.

Wisconsin Dells really holds tons of stuff, and if you're going in the summer, you can disregard the indoor waterpark hotels because it would be much cheaper to stay elsewhere and go to the outdoor waterparks instead.

 

[princess.chell]

I've stayed at both the Wilderness and the Kalahari. I've been both as a kid and as a teen and during the winter and summer. I loved the Wilderness. They had so much for us to do; I don't ever remember being bored. But it was also summer so we could use their outdoor water parks and that stuff. The Kalahari is cool too. I was there during the summer a few years back and it was good sized. But I was there last winter with a few friends (5 17 year old girls) and we were bored after a few hours. We spend a lot of time in the hot tubs and lazy river because there weren't enough slides to keep up entertained.
It depends on your family though...

If you guys like pizza and the typical family restaurant food go to Moose Jaw. Great staff, great food, great environment. My friends and I ate there and had a blast, plus we were stuff after the meal for a pretty reasonable price... =)

 

[Mysteria]

Thanks so much for your repsonses. Lots of great info. I did change my OP to say I was looking at summer 2010. Duh, sorry! I should have specified that from the start.

This could be part of a 5th anniversary road trip planned for July 2010. Dh always ends up having a great time on any vacations but this is the first time I've heard him mention something numerous times that I've put in front of him as possibilities (he always says "you plan, I'm there")

 

[eduk8r26]

We went in the summer about 6 years ago. The weather was cold and rainy, so we couldn't do Noah's Ark. We went to Kalahari and loved it. We also went to another indoor park--Treasure Island or something. It was terrible. Nothing to do there. We also went on one of the amphibian tours. That was a lot of fun. We ate at Famous Dave's BBQ. The food was good.

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

Kalriahi is nice! we were there for a teachers convention. Noah's ark is one of the parks. Noah's wild ride is the only dry ride in the whole park (and after that I was so freaked out and sick I skipped everything else)

 

[PebblesMK]

Okay, so you're looking into summer...that is a bit more helpful. Haha. I'm not sure where you're from, but Wisconsin is hit or miss with our weather. This past summer, there was only one "real" week of summer where it was in the 90's...some years it's in the 100's, but as I said...this past one we had 70 degree days.

Noah's Ark is a a really fun waterpark and has tons of slides and pools and lazy rivers and watery goodness...the drawback is that if it's hot, 40-90 minute waits aren't unheard of to get on the more popular slides.

If it is one of those miserably hot days and Noah's Ark is packed, head over to Riverview Family waterpark. The are less slides and the park isn't that huge, but there it's enough to cool off and relax without the huge waits. You can also bring in a cooler with food and drinks, huge plus with the price of things! Riverview also has an amusement park attached with rides (like the scrambler, carrousel...fair rides). The other upside to this park is that while Noah's Ark is about 35 dollars a person, you can print off coupons for Riverview that can get each person in for as little as 6 dollars.

If it's a one time trip that you're traveling for, Noah's Ark may be worth the time and money. It's sort of like the Disney World of waterparks.

There are a lot of other things going on during the summer. Walking around downtown is one of m FAVS!!! Be sure to get some fresh pulled taffy from the candy shop. As far as non-water entertainmen....Tommy Bartlett's ski show is pretty great. And luckily, Lake Delton is functioning yet again (when we had the floor two years ago it was completely wiped out). You could take a Duck boat tour, go horseback riding and see some of the sites. There is a deer petting zoo farm. Ripley's Believe it or Not, the wax museum, there is a haunted house I've always been too afraid to go into. There is a "museum" that explains old torture devices. Most of these things are spendy but you can get coupon books or print off coupons that make it affordable (Buy 1 Get 1). If you want some websites, I can pull them up for you. There are huge mini-golf courses and bungee jumping (I recommend), Mt. Olympus amusement parks with the roller coasters. I know I'm forgetting some things, but it could definitely be a "decide at the time" kind of trip. If you're looking for a place to stay, there are cabins on the water you can rent for reasonable amounts...compared to hotel stays anyway!

And the food, as somebody else said, Moosejaw is a definite. Their food is really great and the staff and atmosphere are beyond wondeful. Oh, and who can forget their great merchandise like the moosehats! Be sure to get your moose antlers!

If you have any questions, let me know and I can hopefully answer them.

 

[Mysteria]

Okay, so you're looking into summer...that is a bit more helpful. Haha. I'm not sure where you're from, but Wisconsin is hit or miss with our weather. This past summer, there was only one "real" week of summer where it was in the 90's...some years it's in the 100's, but as I said...this past one we had 70 degree days.

Noah's Ark is a a really fun waterpark and has tons of slides and pools and lazy rivers and watery goodness...the drawback is that if it's hot, 40-90 minute waits aren't unheard of to get on the more popular slides.

If it is one of those miserably hot days and Noah's Ark is packed, head over to Riverview Family waterpark. The are less slides and the park isn't that huge, but there it's enough to cool off and relax without the huge waits. You can also bring in a cooler with food and drinks, huge plus with the price of things! Riverview also has an amusement park attached with rides (like the scrambler, carrousel...fair rides). The other upside to this park is that while Noah's Ark is about 35 dollars a person, you can print off coupons for Riverview that can get each person in for as little as 6 dollars.

If it's a one time trip that you're traveling for, Noah's Ark may be worth the time and money. It's sort of like the Disney World of waterparks.

There are a lot of other things going on during the summer. Walking around downtown is one of m FAVS!!! Be sure to get some fresh pulled taffy from the candy shop. As far as non-water entertainmen....Tommy Bartlett's ski show is pretty great. And luckily, Lake Delton is functioning yet again (when we had the floor two years ago it was completely wiped out). You could take a Duck boat tour, go horseback riding and see some of the sites. There is a deer petting zoo farm. Ripley's Believe it or Not, the wax museum, there is a haunted house I've always been too afraid to go into. There is a "museum" that explains old torture devices. Most of these things are spendy but you can get coupon books or print off coupons that make it affordable (Buy 1 Get 1). If you want some websites, I can pull them up for you. There are huge mini-golf courses and bungee jumping (I recommend), Mt. Olympus amusement parks with the roller coasters. I know I'm forgetting some things, but it could definitely be a "decide at the time" kind of trip. If you're looking for a place to stay, there are cabins on the water you can rent for reasonable amounts...compared to hotel stays anyway!

And the food, as somebody else said, Moosejaw is a definite. Their food is really great and the staff and atmosphere are beyond wondeful. Oh, and who can forget their great merchandise like the moosehats! Be sure to get your moose antlers!

If you have any questions, let me know and I can hopefully answer them.

I will and thank you. I live in NJ now but I am from Toronto, ON. Pretty much parallel on the map to you. Weather probably pretty similar. I have to laugh. Who the heck thought of building all those waterparks in a "cooler" environment?!

 

[DisneyLover83]

I went to the Dells every summer growing up, heck I was born 20 minutes away! I remember going to the Dells and freezing my butt off because it was so cold and that was in July one year. There are tons of things to do, an awesome go cart track, several great mini putt places. Make sure to go on the Wisconsin Ducks! The Tommy Bartlett Show is good once, but once you have seen it, you don't ever need to see it again . As for food, my family loves Mr. Pancake (get there early and prepare to wait), Jimmy's Del-Bar, Moosejaw, Paul Bunyan is a great b-fest buffet, and my family has always went to Mexicali Rose (its on the River). There is also a casino (Ho-Chunk) in Baraboo and Baraboo also has the Circus World Museum.

Have a great trip, don't forget to go to the Wisconsin Dells Visitor & Convention Bureau online and request some info, they will send you a large book with a lot of info!

 

[golfgal]

We have been to the Dells a couple times. The last time we stayed at the Kalahari. It was fun, they have since added a huge indoor arcade place. The Wilderness is nice because they have several waterparks and you have to stay there to use them so they aren't as crowded.

 

[SaraJayne]

Okay, so you're looking into summer...that is a bit more helpful. Haha. I'm not sure where you're from, but Wisconsin is hit or miss with our weather. This past summer, there was only one "real" week of summer where it was in the 90's...some years it's in the 100's, but as I said...this past one we had 70 degree days.

Noah's Ark is a a really fun waterpark and has tons of slides and pools and lazy rivers and watery goodness...the drawback is that if it's hot, 40-90 minute waits aren't unheard of to get on the more popular slides.

If it is one of those miserably hot days and Noah's Ark is packed, head over to Riverview Family waterpark. The are less slides and the park isn't that huge, but there it's enough to cool off and relax without the huge waits. You can also bring in a cooler with food and drinks, huge plus with the price of things! Riverview also has an amusement park attached with rides (like the scrambler, carrousel...fair rides). The other upside to this park is that while Noah's Ark is about 35 dollars a person, you can print off coupons for Riverview that can get each person in for as little as 6 dollars.

If it's a one time trip that you're traveling for, Noah's Ark may be worth the time and money. It's sort of like the Disney World of waterparks.

There are a lot of other things going on during the summer. Walking around downtown is one of m FAVS!!! Be sure to get some fresh pulled taffy from the candy shop. As far as non-water entertainmen....Tommy Bartlett's ski show is pretty great. And luckily, Lake Delton is functioning yet again (when we had the floor two years ago it was completely wiped out). You could take a Duck boat tour, go horseback riding and see some of the sites. There is a deer petting zoo farm. Ripley's Believe it or Not, the wax museum, there is a haunted house I've always been too afraid to go into. There is a "museum" that explains old torture devices. Most of these things are spendy but you can get coupon books or print off coupons that make it affordable (Buy 1 Get 1). If you want some websites, I can pull them up for you. There are huge mini-golf courses and bungee jumping (I recommend), Mt. Olympus amusement parks with the roller coasters. I know I'm forgetting some things, but it could definitely be a "decide at the time" kind of trip. If you're looking for a place to stay, there are cabins on the water you can rent for reasonable amounts...compared to hotel stays anyway!

And the food, as somebody else said, Moosejaw is a definite. Their food is really great and the staff and atmosphere are beyond wondeful. Oh, and who can forget their great merchandise like the moosehats! Be sure to get your moose antlers!

If you have any questions, let me know and I can hopefully answer them.

What she said.

In addition, we went to Chula Vista this last spring for a long weekend and had a blast. The buffet there was excellent, and the kids loved the water coaster.

Paul Bunyan is a must-do (at least once ) and MooseJaw was fantastic.

If you're into shopping, they have an outlet mall (with a Disney store).

 

[hercamore]

All good responses above, but wanted to say expect to pay premium prices at the hotels in the summer.

herc

 

[jme829]

Kalahari is fun...look on their site for specials....There is a Damons and Cracker Barrel right there you can walk to. Plus the hotel itself has a few restaurants and their is also an attached movie theatre.

We stayed at Holiday Inn Express (just down from Kalahari) this summer and went to Mt Olympus and had a BLAST..their wave pool is awesome-up to 9 ft waves!!!! Be warned though that the theme park part of Mt. Olym. is mostly coasters (Hades is awesome!) and go karts. THe water park is awesome...and there is an indoor water park and theme park as well...so if it is rainy you can still play.~! We did NOT need separate tickets for the indoor and outdoor parks, we stayed off site and bought tickets online that included it all. Although as others stated, we went in August and FROZE..it was barely 70's that week and it rained and was in the 50's the day we left (yes in August..lol) but then that is where the indoor parks came in handy.

We are looking to go to Wilderness resort this spring break..they have 9 water parks (4 indooor and 5 outdoor, or vice versa)...again look on their website for specials.

Downtown Dells, you can spend a whole day going through shops and attractiosn (Ripleys Believe it or Not, Wizard Quest, boat tours, etcc...) I think they offer some kind of all in one pass...

We ate at the Showboat saloon (I think its called)...nothing fancy, but good cheap bar food....good for lunch.!

Moosejaw Brewing is good but busy and pricy.

We LOVED Marleys -caribbean themed and cheap!

There is an outlet mall right off of I94 across from Kalahari and a cheese shop.

Thanks for the mentions of Paul Bunyan...we were going to try it but didn't know much about it , so we skipped it..we'll definitely try it next time!

There is a TON of stuff to do in the Dells....you won't be bored!

 

[KNJWDW]

We go to the Dells a few times a year. Our two favorite places to stay are the Kalahari and the Wilderness. The Kalahari has a "resort" feeling to it, however, they allow the public to use the waterparks and that can make it feel very crowded. As far as the Wilderness goes, we actually stay at the Glacier Canyon Lodge, which is part of it. These are 2 or 3 bedroom condo-type rooms, full kitchens, etc. Much nicer than their regular rooms which we stayed in the first time we went there. The downside to the Wilderness is that it is very spread out and the waterparks are not too close to one another.

We also like to eat at Moose Jaw. Monks is also a good place for burgers. They have a location downtown and by the Wilderness.

Amy

 

[Deb in IA]

We've also been to the Dells several times. We like the Wilderness Resort the best, because the waterparks, both indoor and out, are restricted to only resort guests, so they tend to be less crowded.

Wilderness has a variety of rooms, villas, cabins, land condos. Most if not all the hotel rooms have a refrigerator and microwave. The Sundara Spa is really nice, and we LOVE eating at the upscale restaurant there, Field's at the Wilderness.

Here' the Wilderness website; sometimes there are web specials there:
http://www.wildernessterritory.com/

Another MUST DO at the Dells, in addition to the above posts, is eating at Wally's House of Embers, with its movie star rooms, the most famous being the Omar Sharif room. There also a Humphrey Bogart room and a Rudolph Valentino room. The barbeque is great there!

http://www.houseofembers.com/index.htm

Have a great time!

 

[Mysteria]

Wow! I was thinking about just a couple of days there. With all this info it looks like we may just have to extend that.

 

[SaraJayne]

Wow! I was thinking about just a couple of days there. With all this info it looks like we may just have to extend that.

Just to warn you ~ you can easily spend equal to or more than a WDW vacation in the Dells.

 

[Mysteria]

Just to warn you ~ you can easily spend equal to or more than a WDW vacation in the Dells.

Yep, I know it's not cheap.

I just looked at Kalahari for a couple of nights in July (18, 19). Qouting me 1999.90. I looked and looked again at my dates to make sure everything was correct. That can't be right, right? I'm ok with higher prices for summer but that's crazy.

Wilderness seems great. On the top of my list as possible places to stay.