Ambers Hideaway might be one of the Dells’ best bargains. The 42-room motel features extra spacious rooms. All come with a fridge and microwave. Four have jacuzzis. There’s free wifi throughout the facility, plus a laundry room, indoor hot tub and rooftop deck, where you can enjoy a drink or look down Broadway (downtown Dells’ main drag). The exterior grounds...
If you like to be where the action is, book a room at Atlantis Waterpark Hotel & Suites. Tucked into the frenetic Strip a few steps away from Noah’s Ark, it packs a lot of amenities into its modest space. For starters, rooms range from a double queen all the way up to the spacious two-room Volcano Fantasy Suite. The...
Buffalo Phil’s is a sprawling restaurant and bar known for its toy trains, which deliver food and drink straight to your table — definitely a hit with kids. But adults feel at home here, too. The trains operate in just two of the eatery’s dining rooms. “Old-fashioned” wait staff deliver food and drink to patrons in the restaurant’s other areas. The menu...
Desert Star Cinema is a 15-screen, first-run move theater. It’s part of the sprawling Kalahari Resort complex and features Moroccan décor. Each auditorium offers stadium-style seating, high-backed rocking seats, digital sound and wall-to-wall curved screens. Yeah, it’s just a regular movie theater with pricey concessions. But sometimes that’s just what you want. Hours Shows start around 11 a.m., with the final...
Tucked into 36 quiet, wooded acres just 10 minutes north of the Dells, the family-owned Fawn Creek Winery produces a Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Semi-Sweet Riesling, Merlot, Cabernet and Chardonnay from California grapes. Fawn Creek also planted several acres of French hybrids, and in 2016 unveiled the first wine produced from its vines: Prairie Star Reserve. The picturesque winery holds free wine tastings daily. Guests...
Give yourself the shivers by climbing aboard the Dells’ Ghost Boat, where you’ll ply the inky waters of the Wisconsin River for 90 minutes, listening to haunting tales rasped out by a bloody goon. As you cruise along, the mute captain blows the boat’s shuddering horn, which echoes eerily along the river. Occasionally, dim figures appear on shore, pointing or...
You might not even notice the Grand Marquis Waterpark Hotel & Suites, a long, gray building on South Wisconsin Dells Parkway that’s nearly hidden by towering arbor vitae. But check it out — it will pleasantly surprise you. Chandeliers and faux cherry furnishings elegantly decorate the lobby. Rooms are spotless and contain microwaves and fridges. You can choose from among...
A tour through the H.H. Bennett Studio is a must when you’re in the Dells. An über-talented 19th-century photographer, H.H. Bennett created stunning stereoscopic views of the area. It was these photos that drew the first tourists here and ultimately made the Dells what it is today. Bennett’s “studio,” one of 10 state historic sites, is actually three entities: a museum about...
One of just a handful of illusionists in the world working with tigers year-round, Jeremy Allen of Jeremy Allen’s Grand Illusions incorporates his white Siberian tigers into select performances. His +60-minute shows, held in a Mayan jungle-themed theater, include a mix of magic tricks and comedy. The theater is intentionally on the smaller side so you feel like you’re almost on stage with Allen....
Warning: You will get wet when you travel with Jet Boat Adventures. As in totally soaked. As in don’t-bring-your-cell-phone-or-camera WET. Because that’s the real purpose of this 50-minute ride. Yes, the drivers will take you past various formations in the Upper or Lower Dells and give you brief explanations. But mainly they’ll be revving the boat’s 1,200 hp engine and...
Part of the Kalahari Resort, the Kalahari Indoor Theme Park is an 110,000-square-foot indoor park aimed at older kids. It’s great fun, no matter the season. The park contains a six-story Ferris wheel, bowling lanes, laser tag, climbing wall, and full-swing golf and NASCAR simulators. It also features an über-popular two-story go-kart track (batteries power the go-karts). And there is...
Part of the Great Wolf Lodge complex, MagiQuest uses video and computer technology, coupled with magic wands and copies of The Ancient Book of Wisdom, to create a mythical Renaissance world where you search for various objects on various quests. Some quests, for resort guests only, require you to search in both the facility and resort. Although the game is...
Mary’s Place is the Dells’ oldest hot dog stand. It is tucked into a tall, white building (formerly a church) across the street from Moosejaw Brewing Co. Mary and Dave operate this impeccably clean restaurant. Dave is proud of the restaurant’s cleanliness. In fact, he says their customers keep coming back for this very reason. (Check out the bathrooms, cleaned every 30...
Monk’s at the Wilderness is part of a famous Dells establishment, Monk’s. The original restaurant, Monk’s Bar & Grill, got its start downtown in 1947 and became famous for its burgers, lovingly prepared on a seasoned, eventually aged, grill. Monk’s at the Wilderness came on the scene several decades later. This means its grill isn’t seasoned with 70 years’ worth...
The Outlets at the Dells near Great Wolf Lodge features well over 50 brand-name stores likes Abercrombie & Fitch, American Eagle, Coach, Old Navy and Hollister, all offering products as much as 30-70% off retail prices. A VIP Savings Card is available at Customer Service in the mall’s northeast corner, near Hollister and G.H. Bass & Co.; the card nets you...
Some Kalahari guests don’t realize the resort contains a spa. It does, and while a tad cramped, it’s pretty darn nice. Spa Kalahari offers a full complement of treatments, from massages and facials to mani-pedis and body wraps. You’ll even find make-up lessons on the spa menu. Little ones can join in the fun; a micro menu for the 12-and-under set...
You will get when when you take a Wild Thing Jet Boat Ride. Possibly soaked. You’ve been warned. Wild Thing Jet Boats are yet another twist on seeing the Dells’ famous limestone formations in an entertaining fashion. In this case, by 1,200 hp speedboat. Several dozen passengers climb into a boat. The driver then whips, zips and whirls them around...
Wilderness on the Lake is a condominium resort. It is part of the Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort empire. All of the resort’s condos are two- and three-bedroom units, and all of them overlook Lake Delton. The condos have fully equipped kitchens, two large bathrooms and two fireplaces. They also contain a sunroom with a four-person Jacuzzi, a TV and beautiful...
If you’re looking for spa services in the Dells, Spa del Sol is a great choice. For starters, it’s part of Chula Vista, the resort that hugs the Wisconsin River in a scenic, secluded enclave just north of the downtown Dells. In addition to its prime location, guests are provided with extra touches that make a visit special. Like the...
Yet another great Dells bargain is the unassuming Skyline Hotel & Suites. Tucked next to the Original Wisconsin Ducks and across the Strip from Mt. Olympus, it features clean, well-decorated rooms for not too much cash. Rooms come equipped with fridges, microwaves and coffeemakers, and there’s free wifi, too. A continental breakfast is included in your stay. Just off the...