Wisconsin Dells Getaway

[mscher]

We are short on vacation time/money, this summer, but want to do something, relatively close, for 2-3 days.

We are considering the WI Dells and the surrounding area. None of us have ever been there before.

Anyone familiar or experienced with the area, please comment.

We'd like a nice resort (if there are any still available), maybe one of the older one's, if they are still in good shape. Nothing too fancy or expensive. Water park is not a must, as long there is a nice pool or lake nearby.

 

[Mntom]

Re: Wisconsin Dells Getaway

The Wisconsin Dells is a great place to go to visit. I would go there tomorrow if I could. Take a look at this http://www.dells.com/ You should be able to find all sorts of things there!

 

[marlboro180]

Re: Wisconsin Dells Getaway

The Dells can be really fun. We go there quite frequently, sometimes to the water park resorts ( Great Wolf Lodge, Chula Vista, or Khalahri, in order of our preference)

Mirror Lake state park is a must visit.

Lake Delton there are a lot more less expensive place to stay, right off hwy 23, and very nice, lots of cabins/ timeshares to rent.

DevilsLake is a nice place nearby, great hiking there. Lake WI ( near Merrimac) is right there too. If you drive up , make sure you go through Merrimac and take the FREE ferry ride, and get an ice cream cone while you wait for the ferry. Good river boating there too- are you bringing your boat?

The river at the Dells itself is gorgeous, lots of history there. My favorite trip is to put in a kayak or canoe above the dam, and paddle up at daybreak. The commercial boats are not out until 9 AM, lots of wildlife out until then. Good fishin too.If you are out past 9, the tour boats will wash/ buck you up right into the shoreline cliffs.

Watch out for the tourist traps on main street - though they can be kind of fun sometimes I have to admit!

 

[roscoe]

Re: Wisconsin Dells Getaway

THe Chula Vista is nice, recently expanded and updated. Actually 3 miles out of town, so its not right in all the action.

http://www.chulavistaresort.com/




The Atlantis was nice too. Didn't stay there, but stopped in to visit friends that stayed there.

We went last year, volume was down like 40%. Plenty of rooms.
It has expanded so much in the last 10-15 years, places like Wilderness, Kalahari, Mount Olympus, are just huge self contained, somewhat over the top.

We went the cheaper hotel route.
They have a nice Super8 with a pool and hot tub.
Spent our time out and about all 3 days anyway.

I have stayed at a few of the OLD motels, really bad experiences.


If you want to spend a day in a quieter setting, drive the 10 miles to Baraboo, to the Circus World and the Circus World Museum.

http://circusworld.wisconsinhistory.org/

 

[avenger79]

Re: Wisconsin Dells Getaway

agree with marlboro's post and would only add, I tend to stay out of town a bit without the waterpark in the hotel. plus there is a real neat little go cart track just out of town that gets very little business and is much less expensive then those in town. haven't been there in awhile so I hope it's still in business. we went there after hiking at Devil's lake for the day.

definitely hit the ferry in Merrimacas was said, especially if you have younger ones with. the ice cream is great.

water parks in general are fun but get there early because early afternoon they start getting very full on warm days.