Wisconsin Dells?

[corbrakay]

I am thinking of taking my children there in 2008. Does anyone have any advice about the best places to stay? I see tons of info. on the dells site and it is a bit overwhelming! Thanks.

[PatiCake101]

We have a "Dells fan" here on the board..she visits there every year, I think. She can help you out...

DoubleMom, where are you??

[jrnew]

We usually go at least a few times a year, were actually there last week!

What time of the year are you planning on going?

We ONLY go in the off season. Dh and I really enjoy the indoor waterparks, we have been to the Kalahari, Wilderness and Great Wolf.

How old are your kids?

Thanks: Jamie

[shis1]

Some of you guys that go to the Dells often---can you give a rundown of some of the things to do there, please! When I"m on vacation, I like to have plenty of 'touristy' things to do! I hate to sitay in a motel room and once we leave the room in the morning, usually don't return until late at night --- unless we make a quick return stop to freshen up! That's why I love Branson! I've thought about suggesting going to the Dells, but don't really know anything about the place! How does it compare to Branson, activity wise, price wise, accomodation wise? Thanks for your input!

[Double Mom]

The Dells is so much fun! We've gone during the summer, it's a very busy place then. The traffic is like Branson, slow moving!! The last 2 years we've gone during Feb., you can get better deals during the off season.

We've stayed at the Kalahari with family before, personally we like it the best. The water park is huge and so much fun! The last 2 years we've gone to the Chula Vista, that's were the majority in our group have wanted to go, so we go where they want. It's a neat resort with a new water park, they have done a lot of building over the past couple of years. The water park there has enough to do and is easy to keep track of your kids while there. Dh & I go with some of my day care families and we had a group of girls ages 12, two 9 year olds, & a 5 year old. The older ones the parents let them go on their own but the 5 year old we kept with an adult at all times. I can't wait for may, cause I'm heading to the Kalahari!

I hope this has helped you out! What are the ages of your kids? Just wondering because if they are teens then I would suggest the Kalahari. When you go have a great time, the Dells has so much to do!

[shis1]

Double Mom: The kids are gone! ---- Just Grandpa and I would be making a trip to the Dells! You talk a lot about water parks, don't think we're into those unless we'd happen to take the grandsons, ages 14 and 5. But I"m thinking more about a trip for just hubby and I, so what else is there to occupy our time!

[corbrakay]

Well, we would have to go in the summer, because of school and it won't be until the summer of 2008! So, I am planning for the long term. My girls will be 14 and 9 then. Do you like staying at the hotels that include waterparks? I am trying to figure out how much money I need to save between now and then as well! Thanks for your help!

[Double Mom]

Originally Posted by shis1

Some of you guys that go to the Dells often---can you give a rundown of some of the things to do there, please! When I"m on vacation, I like to have plenty of 'touristy' things to do! I hate to sitay in a motel room and once we leave the room in the morning, usually don't return until late at night --- unless we make a quick return stop to freshen up! That's why I love Branson! I've thought about suggesting going to the Dells, but don't really know anything about the place! How does it compare to Branson, activity wise, price wise, accomodation wise? Thanks for your input!

There are plenty of shops to go shopping, they have the ducks, boat tours, Tommy Bartlett Water & Ski Show, Tommy Bartlett Exploratory World that is neat, lots of hands on things to do there, horse back riding, fishing, other museums, there are some theaters...we've gone to shows at the Cyrystal Grand Theater, lots of outdoor water parks, mini golf, go cart tracks, Circus World Museum and much more. You could try going to www.WISDELLS.NET I think that is the name of the site I've gone to in the past, they have a lot of ideas. Let me know if I can help with any thing more.

Originally Posted by corbrakay

Well, we would have to go in the summer, because of school and it won't be until the summer of 2008! So, I am planning for the long term. My girls will be 14 and 9 then. Do you like staying at the hotels that include waterparks? I am trying to figure out how much money I need to save between now and then as well! Thanks for your help!

We prefer staying in one with a water park, but we usually go in the off season. We did take our kids one time in Aug to the Kalahari, we did things during the day and came back late afternoon and went to the water park then. There are plenty of places to stay and there are lots of outdoor water parks to go to in the Dells. We've made our trips a mid winter get away the last couple of years.

I hope you have a great time when you go!

[brn eyed girl]

My retired parents and I went for 4 days in May last year. The crowds are not bad then and weather is good. There is a few days worth of things to do in and around the city that don't include amusement rides or waterparks. We didn't do any of those. We took the duck ride. Good but not as good as Branson's. We took the upper dells boat tour. That was probably my favorite. Very scenic. We took a canyon ride on a horse drawn buckboard. That was good too. They do have the waterski show but we never got to that. They also have a very nice casino. They have a circus museum pretty close, that's great and a International Crane place that raises cranes to release back into the wild. The tours are kind of neat. Within an hour or so's drive from there is Frank Lloyd Wrights house, workshop etc. that you can tour. It's beautiful. And just a mile or so past that is House on the Rock. It is something you can not believe until you see it. It goes and goes and goes. Full of every kind of collection you can imagine. The prices of things such as attractions, amusement parks, shows etc is about the same as Branson. The lodging is higher especially if you are staying at a hotel resort with a waterpark. We stayed at a Comfort Inn or something like that and wasn't real impressed with it but it was cheap. I would go on to their website and order information. They used to send FREE DVD's, not sure if they still are though. Hope you have a great time.

[corbrakay]

Thanks everyone. I am glad I have a year to plan! I think we will skip the Circus place..my older daughter has a fear of CLOWNS! She would die if I took her there! I will keep researching everything else though.

[Mellie]

I know absolutely nothing about the Wisconsin Dells. What are your favorite websites for Dells information? I found a few forums but they don't look like much...one was mostly local news and one didn't have any posts since November.

[jrnew]

There is www.dells.com that just gives a rundown of what all is happening in the area.

We really like the new outlet mall, we go FOR the indoor waterparks, so we really haven't done much else.

Kalahari and Wilderness have plenty to do for nearly any age, we thought the Great Wolf would be better for families with kids 10 and under.

During the OFF season the Wilderness has a double queen room with a sofa sleeper for $99 a night, that includes FOUR people for the waterparks. So, we usually get there about noon, go to the waterparks and play all day, spend the night, load the car and return to the parks for the majority of the day before heading home. We feel that is a GREAT price considering that most places to just get into a waterpark for the DAY is at least $30. The rooms have always been very clean, all had mini fridges and microwaves. We have also stayed at the Wilderness' condos which run $125 a night off season week nights, for two bedrooms, bath and a half and full kitchen. Again that includes park admission for 4 people.

Here are some of the websites for the bigger resorts with waterparks:

www.wildernessresort.com
www.kalahariresort.com
www.dells.greatwolfresort.com
www.chulavistaresort.com

[QueenAngie]

I agree - do the boat rides. The scenery is beautiful.

There are lots of coupon books available in the Dells to make things a little less expensive.

The House on the Rock is amazing. You would not believe the collections upon collections to see. Bring lots of quarters. Some of the areas encourage you to insert 25 cents to make the room come alive with movement and music. Lots of walking involved.

http://www.wisdells.com/visitor/orderliterature.cfm

Shopping is also fun.

Have a great trip!

[wwgang]

We just got back from a three day stay in the Dells. Our first. We stayed at the Wilderness resort and had a blast. We really never left there except to eat out. Got a great deal on a 2 br condo deluxe for around 125 per night with 3 indoor waterparks. I have to say when we did venture out almost everything was CLOSED. I think it would be neat to go back in the summer. There is also a Broadway style show that advertises "Branson style show". I think I saw somewhere there is a fifties show to and Rick Wilcox Magic show.

[jrnew]

Glad that you had a great time WWgang, only a month until we head back and also stay at Glacier Canyon Lodge, YEAH!