| Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin is a fun destination for a | | | | tickets there, especially if you are planning to do |
| family vacation, and with a little research and | | | | more than one activity while you are in Wisconsin |
| advance planning the trip doesn't have to make your | | | | Dells. For example if you are planning to go to a |
| wallet cry out in pain. | | | | water park, take a duck tour, go to a water show, |
| Wisconsin Dells (and the area is really two towns: | | | | and go to one of the amusement parks to ride on |
| Wisconsin Dells and Lake Delton) has been a popular | | | | the roller coasters and go-karts you can get some |
| summer vacation destination for people who live in | | | | pretty good discounts by buying all your tickets at |
| the Midwest since the late 1800's. In recent years, | | | | the same time. |
| several indoor water parks have been built making | | | | 2) Take waterproof sunscreen. You're going to be in |
| Wisconsin Dells a popular year around vacation | | | | and out of the water all day so make sure you have |
| destination, not only for people who live in the | | | | waterproof sunscreen in order to avoid having to |
| Midwest but for people from around the world. | | | | constantly reapply your sunscreen throughout the |
| What first drew tourists to the Wisconsin Dells area? | | | | day. |
| It was the scenery. The Wisconsin River meanders | | | | 3) Take towels. It may seem like a silly item to list |
| through the Wisconsin Dells area and has beautiful | | | | but it's surprising how many people forget to take a |
| sandstone rock formations. A trip to Wisconsin Dells | | | | towel. You can purchase beach towels inside the |
| wouldn't be complete without a boat tour of those | | | | water parks but they are expensive. |
| rock formations. | | | | 3) Consider renting a locker in the park. There are |
| There are two basic choices of tours; either boat | | | | locker rentals available in the park for a nominal fee. I |
| tour or a "duck" tour which also includes some | | | | always rent a locker and put dry clothes for my |
| sightseeing on the land. If you have small children, | | | | family in the locker along with the things I don't want |
| they'll enjoy the "duck" tour the most. | | | | to carry around all day, such as my sunscreen. At the |
| If you take a boat tour, you'll have a couple of | | | | end of the day we retrieve those dry clothes and |
| options. You'll be able to take an "upper Dells" tour, a | | | | change into |
| "lower Dells" tour, or both. The upper Dells boat tour | | | | 4) Take plastic bags for your wet swimsuits and |
| lasts about 2 hours and the lower Dells boat tour | | | | towels. |
| lasts about 1 hour. The upper Dells tour includes a | | | | 5) Take a small waterproof container for extra |
| few shore stops to look at some outstanding | | | | money. Get one that attaches to your wrist or hangs |
| landmarks. | | | | around your neck. If you don't have one or don't |
| The "duck" tour is a combination land and water tour. | | | | know where to buy one, you can purchase one |
| It's a really fun way to see some of the beautiful | | | | inexpensively at one of the stores inside the water |
| scenery on the land and water. And the tour is a big | | | | park. |
| hit with kids of all ages! My family takes a trip to | | | | 6) Bring your own lunch. There are several covered |
| Wisconsin Dells nearly every year and we go on the | | | | picnic areas inside the water park available free of |
| Duck tour almost every trip because we find it so | | | | charge for your use although it's likely some of them |
| much fun. The "duck" vehicles used for the tours are | | | | will be unavailable on any given day because they will |
| amphibious vehicles used in WWII that have been | | | | be reserved for groups who are at the park. Even if |
| revamped. The tour starts out on dry land. During | | | | you don't want to pack a cooler at home, bring along |
| the tour you'll be taken down streets of Wisconsin | | | | the empty cooler and pick up your lunch items from |
| Dells; through lovely wooded areas where wildlife is | | | | a store the day before. Although there is good food |
| often seen (we usually see white-tail deer) and then | | | | available inside the water park, it is expensive and will |
| it's on to the really fun part of the trip. | | | | quickly put a big dent in your pocketbook. |
| The duck driver drives into the water with a big | | | | 7) Bring water shoes. Sandals are okay too but you |
| splash - well; usually with a big splash. The driver will | | | | want ones that are water friendly which typically |
| ask the customers if they want to go into the water | | | | means flip-flops and those can easily fall off your |
| slow or fast because fast gets some of the people | | | | feet when you're on some of the rides. I don't |
| wet. On every tour I've been on the fast trip into | | | | advise going barefoot. The park is paved and if it's a |
| the water has won the vote and it is fun! After the | | | | sunny day the pavement gets very hot. |
| twists and turns of the wooded trails (some of them | | | | 8) Go on rides early in the day and late in the day. |
| steep and narrow, but always safe) the water part | | | | That's when the lines are the shortest. The lines are |
| of the trip is a nice change of pace. After being in | | | | really long in the middle of the day. Have your picnic |
| the water for a while and seeing some of the | | | | lunch at that time, do a little browsing in the water |
| breathtaking sandstone rock formations, your driver | | | | park stores, and take a short rest before heading |
| takes you back onto dry land and your fun tour is | | | | back on the rides. |
| complete. During the entire tour your driver | | | | Going on the ducks or a boat tour and going to a |
| entertains you with a funny and informative narrative. | | | | water park aren't the only activities to do in the |
| Even though our family loves going on the Duck tour | | | | Wisconsin Dells area. You could stay busy for weeks |
| when we go to Wisconsin Dells, if they have a choice | | | | (if your pocketbook could handle it) doing all the |
| of only one activity to do, going to a water park | | | | activities available to you. You could go horseback |
| wins hands down. There are over 20 water parks in | | | | riding; go-carting; riding on roller coasters; shopping; |
| Wisconsin Dells. There are outdoor water parks; | | | | take in the Tommy Bartlet water show; play |
| indoor water parks; and combination indoor/outdoor | | | | miniature golf; play regular golf on one of the golf |
| water parks. So no matter what time of the year | | | | courses; rent a boat and go fishing (you'll need to |
| you want to splash in the water and have fun you | | | | purchase a Wisconsin fishing license); rent a canoe |
| can do it in Wisconsin Dells. | | | | and go canoeing; enjoy a movie at the drive-in movie |
| Our family usually takes a summer trip to Wisconsin | | | | theater; rent a jet-ski; visit the railway museum; visit |
| Dells. And with mid-summer temperatures in the 90's, | | | | the history center; play paintball; or do any of the |
| and even occasionally in the 100's, splashing in the | | | | dozens of other available activities. You could even |
| water is very refreshing. Our family's favorite | | | | take a short drive to Baraboo and watch the Al |
| outdoor water park is Noah's Ark. It's currently the | | | | Ringling circus. There are literally hundreds of things to |
| largest outdoor water park in Wisconsin Dells. You | | | | do in the Wisconsin Dells area. |
| can easily spend an entire day there and not get | | | | I have one more thing to keep in mind as you are |
| bored. I have a few tips for you though if you do go | | | | planning your trip to Wisconsin Dells. August is the |
| to Noah's Ark (or any of the water parks in | | | | busiest month in Wisconsin Dells. How busy? Consider |
| Wisconsin Dells) to help keep your costs down and | | | | this: Lake Delton and Wisconsin Dells have a |
| to make the trip as enjoyable as possible. | | | | combined year-round population of around 5,000 |
| 1) If at all possible, don't buy your admission tickets | | | | people. During the weekends in August, the |
| at the front gate the day you want to go to the | | | | population in the Lake Delton/Wisconsin Dells area can |
| park. You'll pay full price and there are lots of ways | | | | swell to more than 200,000 people. Lines at the |
| to find discounted tickets. If you live in the Midwest | | | | attractions will be the longest in August and the |
| check with your local Parks and Recreation | | | | hotels will be booked solid (I don't mean to scare you |
| Department to see if they have discounted tickets | | | | though. Our family usually goes in August even |
| available. Also check with your place of employment | | | | though we know it's going to be busy and we have |
| to see if they offer discounted tickets. An Internet | | | | a great time). Book your hotel early or consider going |
| search may also give you sources for discounted | | | | there at another time during the summer. June isn't |
| tickets. Another option is to go into downtown | | | | as busy but the weather may not be as warm either |
| Wisconsin Dells or Lake Delton before you go to | | | | which means it could be a little chilly if you're going to |
| Noah's Ark and stop at one of the ticket booths | | | | be visiting one of the outdoor water parks. |
| there. You can almost always purchase discounted | | | | |