Canyon Creek Riding Stables’ one-hour trail ride is a wonderful surprise, and well worth the cost. After being helped onto your horse by a friendly staff member, your guide quickly leads you from the corral, tucked near the busy Wilderness complex, and into a picturesque wooded parcel of land. Once on the trail, you’ll go up and down a few hills...

Circus World is one of Wisconsin’s 10 state historic sites and contains a rich collection of circus memorabilia. Intricately decorated circus wagons fill two buildings. A museum tells the history of the Ringling Brothers, who made Baraboo their circus’ winter quarters from 1884 to 1918. Outside there’s a carousel, small playground and display on famous circus sideshow characters from the...

If you’ve got little kids, Country Bumpkin Farm Market is a great spot to spend an hour or so. Even if you don’t, it’s still worth a stop. The neat, attractive farm market is just a few minutes west of the Dells. A wide assortment of berries and veggies are for sale throughout the growing season, both “U-Pick” and “We...

The International Crane Foundation is the only spot on the planet where you can see all 15 of the world’s crane species. Don’t pass up the opportunity. The facility sits in a pretty slice of Wisconsin countryside and features two large natural habitat areas that house several species, including whooping cranes, America’s tallest bird and the rarest crane species. A half-mile...

Red Ridge Ranch is the place to go for an authentic horseback riding experience. A real ranch in the scenic Wisconsin countryside, horses quietly graze in the paddock, kittens tumble at your feet and plump chickens scratch in the dirt. Owner Cindy Kanarowski welcomes guests to stroll through the tidy barn and pet the animals. You can even bring your...

More than 50 species of animals make their home at the 55-acre Timbavati Wildlife Park, including giraffes, tigers, lions, zebras, ostriches, camels, kangaroos and the impressively splotched clouded leopards. Every day you can enjoy various wildlife shows. There are also camel rides, pig races and a petting zoo with exotic baby animals. A small go-kart track is part of the park...

Wisconsin Deer Park looks rather small and unimpressive from the street. But it’s actually pretty cool. More than 100 tame, white-tailed deer live on the 40-acre property. And the deer love nonchalantly strolling around, seeing if you will feed them. Do not feed the deer any food you bring from home. That is unhealthy for the deer. Instead, you can purchase...

Get outside and enjoy beautiful autumn in Wisconsin by joining in one of the many Halloween activities held at popular Red Ridge Ranch in Mauston, just 20 minutes up the Interstate from the Dells. There’s something going on every day (and night), from a haunted corn maze and haunted hay rides to pumpkin painting and tractor-drawn hay rides. And naturally...