Things to do at Wisconsin dells

[Pew]

So i've got a family reunion at the Dells on July 5th. We're getting there on Friday and leaving Saturday evening. A place like the dells is not my jam at all, $300 for one night in hotel room and I'm already dreading the crowds.

Anyways, my lady, my younger brother, and I will be driving up and probably meeting with my sister and her bf later that day. What's some cool things to do with us initial 3, and then eventually 5, around there on a Friday evening (30s-40s)?

 

[ka9mnx]

Lots of things to do in the Dells. And ways to empty your wallet. And the crowds. A real tourist trap for folks from Chicago and Minneapolis.

Sorry...

 

[duck__dodgers]

no tips for the Dells...but if you're not a Wisco regular; don't speed in Wisconsin. (not literally but you know what i mean)

they enforce speed *way* more than Illinois with a much lower tolerance. No 15/20 over the limit just to keep up with traffic during off-peak hours around chicagoland, lol.

my brother used to be a city police officer, he told me how many IL state troopers were on duty at any given time around chicago and rockford and to me, it was shockingly low for all the cars on the road.

WI state troopers like lurking in the tree medians that are common around the Dells....probably moreso since it's the 4th weekend. and around madison, and Kenosha

 

[Pew]

Definitely no speeding. I usually only do 5 over on local roads anyways. I travel a lot and cross through Wisconsin quite often.

no tips for the Dells...but if you're not a Wisco regular; don't speed in Wisconsin. (not literally but you know what i mean)

they enforce speed *way* more than Illinois with a much lower tolerance. No 15/20 over the limit just to keep up with traffic during off-peak hours around chicagoland, lol.

my brother used to be a city police officer, he told me how many IL state troopers were on duty at any given time around chicago and rockford and to me, it was shockingly low for all the cars on the road.

WI state troopers like lurking in the tree medians that are common around the Dells....probably moreso since it's the 4th weekend. and around madison, and Kenosha

Oh definitely, it's crazy low. Like only a few between Rockford and Chicago - they're really around i355 and i80 now.

Edit: too add, I've been there once like 15 years ago for one night with some friends but I don't remember much at all. We were at the Timberwolf Lodge during Feb and I just remember that place being more family oriented. I'm expecting it to be super busy, but not Gatlinburg on the weekends busy.

 

[wwillson]

Took the kids to the Dells many times. That was a long time ago and haven't been back since. Go have fun in the water park of the hotel. You'll learn quickly to stay on premise, because the traffic in summer is beyond.

 

[02SE]

Eat cheese?

 

[Pew]

Took the kids to the Dells many times. That was a long time ago and haven't been back since. Go have fun in the water park of the hotel. You'll learn quickly to stay on premise, because the traffic in summer is beyond.

Ours has a pool but we probably won't be using that. If I got a room at one of the resort hotels, I would.

Eat cheese?

I'm a bit Lactose intolerant, the heavier it is the worse. But I can eat a while pint of ice cream just fine.

 

[rszappa1]

Baraboo circus meseum and the mid continent railroad...

 

[AndyB]

Take a 45min detour to Spring Green and go to House on the Rock.

 

[SevenBizzos]

The primary summer function there are the water parks. The Ducks tours are pretty cool. My family and I always get after each other at Pirate's Cove. There's like five courses and one of them is pretty much on the cliff over the river. A couple of nice real golf courses there too. Go karts are always a thing too. The Del-Bar or Fields for a nice dinner. And if you are "no kids", hit up Nig's. The place is legendary.

 

[Mazomopar]

If you feel the need for speed, take the jet boat rides in the upper Dells. Takes about an hour and it's a blast. You'll get plenty wet but feels good on a hot day. They're a flat bottom boat that holds about 15 people. The one we rode in had three 460 cu in Fords powering the jets and could spin it around on a dime.
Traffic will be nuts on the strip and down town. I'm about 15 minutes from there and will avoid it at all costs.

 

[Pew]

If you feel the need for speed, take the jet boat rides in the upper Dells. Takes about an hour and it's a blast. You'll get plenty wet but feels good on a hot day. They're a flat bottom boat that holds about 15 people. The one we rode in had three 460 cu in Fords powering the jets and could spin it around on a dime.
Traffic will be nuts on the strip and down town. I'm about 15 minutes from there and will avoid it at all costs.

That sounds great. The rest of the family is doing a boat tour before we get there so we'll definitely try to get one ourselves.