Wisconsin Dells

[Mommy2three]

I would highly recommend eating at marleys. I used to work there, and love their food, and still do to this day. Any trip I make up to the dells, i always have to eat there. Ho chunk casino also has a great buffet, and its not too far up the road from the wilderness.

 

[Disfan3]

PAUL BUNYON'S LOGGER STYLE BREAKFAST IS A MUST!!

Moosejaw has amazing beer cheese soup!

We went to Monks and were not impressed...just a sports bar to us.

Noah's Ark is great!! America's Largest Waterpark!!

My kids (they are older 12 and 13) LOVE Wizards Quest~~ well so did me and my sister in law!

We did the Ducks but the Speed Boat, although fun, was VERY dangerous. Our driver said "ready for the tidal wave?!?!!?" and EVERYONE screamed, he stomped on the breaks and NEEDLESS to say...

a tidal wave hit. Me. So hard it broke my headband and TOOK My breath away...meanwhile the water hit my nephew so hard it made his EAR bleed and my daughter will never go on a speed boat again because of it.

Be very careful. I would not think this was the norm but it was NOT fun.


We also have stayed at the Polynesian...it is not as deluxe as Kalahari but it was quaint and the waterpark was sufficient. We never worried about losing the kids, etc. The Kalahari is HUGE.

Where are you staying OP??

 

[Disfan3]

Erin, thanks for the info. My kids are 2-5 would this be in their age group?
Thanks again for posting!

No, this really would not be fun for you or them...it requires reading skills....

 

[Disfan3]

Yes we're looking at Glacier Canyon Lodge. It's $515 per night for a 3 bedroom but there are 9 of us so I guess that's not too bad. Normally we would need three hotel rooms so it's comparable. We're thinking we'll go for four nights (Monday to Friday) . . . .does that sound long enough or too long or just right?

Depending on how far your drive is...4 nights is PERFECT. I think we did three but we only have a 4 hour drive, maybe a bit more....

 

[Disfan3]

I am thinking about Mt Olympus' Hotel Rome...anyone been? The amusement park looks fun, we won't be doing Noah's again this year with a 1 yr old...thoughts?

 

[MinMouse]

Depending on how far your drive is...4 nights is PERFECT. I think we did three but we only have a 4 hour drive, maybe a bit more....

It's a bit further for us . . . probably 16 hours! Actually we are stopping at my bro's in NW Ohio and taking in some colleges along the way for my DD so it's just part of a road trip! But since we are so far away I want to stay a few days there and relax!

 

[KJ Luvs Pluto]

MinMouse - There is a lot to do in the Dells but it depends on what you like to do and your budget. There is a waterpark, a small amusement park, several mini golf places, the boat trips, shopping (of course), just outside the dells there are places to go hiking. Baraboo which isn't too far away has a small zoo that's free (it's very small) but there's also Devils Lake which has some beautiful hiking. There's a winery in Prairie du Sac area that has free wine tasting/tours and great wine. So there's a lot to do in the area that could keep people busy for several days.

 

[X and G's mom]

PAUL BUNYON'S LOGGER STYLE BREAKFAST IS A MUST!!



Noah's Ark is great!! America's Largest Waterpark!!




QUOTE]

Noah's Ark is the BEST!!!! I know, I was a lifeguard there


DON'T EAT AT PAUL BUNYONS!!!! TRUST ME!!!!! I won't gross anyone out with those details


The buffet at Ho-Chunk casino is the BEST!!! My dbf and I will drive to the Dells just to eat at the buffet! (It's an hour and a half away from where I live )

Things like restaurants that are closed in winter should be starting to open since it's May. The waterparks won't open until Memorial Day weekend. The Green and White Duck ride is the best duck ride. The upper and lower Dells boat tours are not to be missed.

Just be prepared to spend lots of money. The locals call WI Dells the tourist trap for a reason

 

[robinb]

Yes we're looking at Glacier Canyon Lodge. It's $515 per night for a 3 bedroom but there are 9 of us so I guess that's not too bad. Normally we would need three hotel rooms so it's comparable. We're thinking we'll go for four nights (Monday to Friday) . . . .does that sound long enough or too long or just right?

Sorry, I had a busy weekend .

4 days sounds good. You can do a couple of days at the waterparks and do a Ducks tour and a Dells boat tour, minigolf is fun there and the Tommy Bartlet Watershow ("Even the water is NEW!" ) is also fun. Devil's Lake, a nice WI state park, is also fairly close as is the Circus World Museum. Both are in Baraboo.

I am thinking about Mt Olympus' Hotel Rome...anyone been? The amusement park looks fun, we won't be doing Noah's again this year with a 1 yr old...thoughts?

I have not stayed there, but some of the reviews have been just "eh". I went to the water park years ago and the water was COLD in the middle of July. I did not have that problem with Noah's Ark.

I do know that the Wilderness has a lot of kiddie areas that would be fine for a 1-year old.

ETA: I don't remember if someone mentioned the Culver's coupons yet. The WI burger chain Culvers usually has a coupon card for free or reduced kids admissions to Dells attractions. There are at least 3-4 Culvers on I-90 in WI between Beloit and the Dells and the burgers are *great*.

 

[X and G's mom]

Mount Olympus used to be Family Land Waterpark. It is just, eh..... (I am a little biased to Noah's-admittedly so)

Noah's has heated water in the Wave area. There are great kids areas at Noah's too. The Wave area, the Big Kahuna's kids area was never over crowded when I worked there, and Paradise Lagoon has a really busy kids area.

4 days is definately do-able.

There used to be a drive-in theater just outside of town that was great fun. I know it was there a few years ago. Anyone know if it's still there?

 

[robinb]

There used to be a drive-in theater just outside of town that was great fun. I know it was there a few years ago. Anyone know if it's still there?

Yup: http://www.bigskydrivein.com/.

 

[X and G's mom]

ETA: I don't remember if someone mentioned the Culver's coupons yet. The WI burger chain Culvers usually has a coupon card for free or reduced kids admissions to Dells attractions. There are at least 3-4 Culvers on I-90 in WI between Beloit and the Dells and the burgers are *great*.[/QUOTE]

We LOVE Culver's!!! YUMMY!!!

My DD11 is SO upset that there's not a Culver's in Orlando She swears that she's having Culver's attacks when we are at WDW

 

[SaraJayne]

We went to the Dells over Spring Break and had a good time.

We went to Buffalo Phil's, which was someplace we'd never eaten before. It was fun! The food was good and the kids really liked that the food/drinks/bill came out on a train.

It's in the Tanger Outlet mall parking lot and attached to Knuckleheads.

 

[SaraJayne]

Oh and good news, Culver lovers!

The Dells is building a new (bigger!) Culvers that should be open soon.

 

[robinb]

Speaking of the Tangier Outlet Mall ... there is a Disney Store Outlet there too. It's not great for adults or older kids but it has a lot of little kid toys and clothes. The Coach outlet is right across the way though .

 

[X and G's mom]

Yup: http://www.bigskydrivein.com/.

It's still there! YEA!
Way back in 1991 I rented one of the little cabins across the street from Big Sky for the summer (When I worked at Noah's Ark)