Another great mid-level bargain, the Hawaiian-themed Alakai Hotel & Suites features six room styles, from the typical double-queen to a two-room suite that sleeps six. Rooms all come equipped with a microwave and fridge, and are immaculately clean. (“That’s because we’re Polish!” said an employee.) The resort also has an indoor pool; kiddie waterpark with two slides and water features...

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...

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...

When you visit Wisconsin Dells, you owe it to yourself to see the dells formations from the water, just as H.H. Bennett did +100 years ago when he made this site a popular vacation destination. And thanks to Dells Watersports, you can. The business’ main location is on Dell Creek, a ribbon of water connecting Mirror Lake and Lake Delton....

When it comes to the Dells’ mega-resorts, Great Wolf Lodge is the only one that caters to the younger set. How? Every night, there’s a story hour, with loads of other kiddie activities filling the resort schedule. The waterpark rides trend toward the 12-and-under set (although the Howlin’ Tornado ride will please adventure-seekers). And the adjacent, interactive MagiQuest game is affiliated with the resort....

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...

The Kalahari Resort is the granddaddy of the Dells’ waterpark resorts. Its indoor waterpark weighs in at 125,000 square feet and offers something for everyone. Tots have a variety of places to splash around in, including Tiko’s Watering Hole, a kids’ play zone that features slides, a pint-sized lazy river and more. And for bigger kids? There are plenty of...

Slip into nature with a trip to 2,200-acre Mirror Lake State Park. The park got is name because Mirror Lake’s surface is often perfectly calm. The park features three picnic areas; +150 wooded campsites; a swimming beach; hiking and Nordic ski trails; fishing; and bike, canoe, kayak and boat rentals (boating is slow, no-wake). For those with disabilities, there’s an...

One of the Dells’ more storied eateries is Monk’s Bar & Grill downtown. Monk’s opened in 1947, a half-block from its current location. It quickly became known for its burgers, whose great taste supposedly came from being cooked on a well-seasoned, never-washed grill. To entice people to come on in and down one, the grill vents its savory-smelling exhaust directly...

Parson’s Indian Trading Post is a fascinating souvenir shop/Native American gift shop/Native American museum. It first opened in 1918 as an authentic trading post. And it’s much larger than it looks. Start in the building to your left, which contains most of the museum items. You’ll find things like a Blue Stroud Elk Tooth Dress, a hide scraper, Sioux baby hood...

At Paul Bunyan’s, it all starts with the doughnuts. Every day, employees make dozens of buttermilk doughnuts right on site. Lightly dusted with sugar, they’re simply wonderful. Paul Bunyan’s serves these legendary doughnuts with its all-you-can-eat breakfast, and you can also purchase them a la carte. People line up for them in the morning; sometimes the line stretches down the...

Pirate’s Cove Adventure Golf is a wonderful place to spend several hours, especially if you’ve got kids 12 and under. The attractively decorated facility features five courses of varying difficulty, including one that’s handicap accessible. You can purchase concessions here, then enjoy them at the large picnic area adjacent to the spacious playground out back. There’s a giant sundial here, too. Tip Coupons...

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...

The Riverside & Great Northern Railway is a place that falls under the “best-kept secrets” category. The 15-inch gauge railway is tucked into a pocket of wooded land just north of the downtown Dells. A ride on the train is a great experience for kids and adults alike. Your experience starts when you drive up to an old-time setting featuring...

If you want a tasty, inexpensive meal that doesn’t come from the Golden Arches or other chains, check out the Sand Bar. The bar/restaurant is clean and neat inside, featuring a dozen-plus tables and a 14-seat bar. There’s also a pool table, dart board, a few other games and, of course, flat-screen TVs. The joint is famous for its char-grilled...

Hidden away in 26 acres of pine forest, Sundara Inn has 26 sumptuous suites. The suites feature amenities such as king feather beds, “body spa” showers, whirlpool tubs, fireplaces and screened porches. There are also a handful of “lifestyle villas” on the property, which are separate condo-type homes. The villas sleep up to eight and include a kitchen, living room, dining room and outdoor...

The Green Owl, a Dells favorite, sat atop Mirror Lake Dam for years. Now guests can enjoy its new, spacious digs right on Wisconsin Dells Parkway South. The view might not be as pretty, but the food is still great, namely Bomberino’s pizza, made famous years ago by Mr. Bomberino, aka Bomber. Besides pizza, you’ll find appetizers, salads and sandwiches...

One of the area’s three main golf courses, Wild Rock Golf Course is an 18-hole public golf course. It features three different landscapes: woodlands (complete with a stream), the Dells’ famous sandstone ridges, and also some rocky mounds left behind by the golf course’s previous inhabitant, a quarry. Golf Digest ranked Wild Rock Golf Course one of Wisconsin’s top 15 courses in 2015. And...

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...

Hands-down the best spa in the Dells – and possibly the entire state. Hidden in a 26-acre pine forest behind The Wilderness, the scenic, peaceful Sundara Spa offers a wealth of services. There are traditional spa/salon treatments like massages, facials, body wraps and mani-pedis, along with more unusual ones based on Ayurvedic-inspired principles, such as the Purifying Gemstone Energy Massage, which moves along your body’s meridians...