Wisconsin Dells is truly an amazing place to visit. There are so many fun things to do in Wisconsin Dells for the entire family to enjoy and I almost guarantee that you will have a blast! That is of course, unless you have lived under a rock your whole life and have no idea what fun is!! If you’re near Wisconsin, or even just planning a visit, I highly suggest checking out this amazing city, if even just for a day! My family absolutely loves to go there and we try to make at least one trip there a year.
Things to Do In Wisconsin Dells
Below you will find my family’s take on must see attractions, awesome hotels/campgrounds to stay at and delicious dining… as well as places that we do not recommend wasting your money on. You can also find links to our journey through the Dells, highlighting some of the places we’ve visited while there. Many people think Wisconsin Dells is only summertime fun, but that is not the case! There is still plenty to do in other seasons as well! If you see a * next to the name, it means that you can have fun there all year round and a + means you can visit Spring through Fall during the not so cold months! {Obviously outdoor waterparks will only be open during the Summer}. I’ll add to this list as we visit more places in the Dells, so be sure to check back before your next vacation. I hope that we can help you to plan your next trip!
Must See Attractions
Tommy Bartlett Show – My family went for the first time in the summer of 2012 and we all thought the show was amazing! We will definitely be heading back and it is well worth the cost. We went back in 2014 for the daytime show and still loved it. If you can choose which show to see, I’d recommend the nighttime show though because the light and nighttime water show is just amazing.
Original Wisconsin Ducks+ – Fun for the whole family, this scenic land and water ride will be sure to please. You will also learn a lot about the Wisconsin dells area history during this tour of land and water. This is a family friendly activity for all ages to enjoy.
WildThing Jet Boats+ – An amazing ride through the Upper Dells in a super fast and fun jet boat! If you are a thrill seeker, this is a must do activity. We had a blast, and definitely plan to do it again!
Timbavati Wildlife Park – Somewhat equivalent to a small zoo, Timbavati Wildlife Park is home to over 400 animals that represent over 75 different species. This is a great activity for the entire family, with stroller friendly trails, the option to feed some of the animals, and even a train ride through the park.
Water/Theme Parks
Noah’s Ark – Noah’s Ark is an outdoor waterpark with tons of slides, a lazy river, and a wave pool. They are home to some of the largest and wildest slides in Wisconsin Dells, and also offer water activity areas specifically for the little ones.
- Noah’s Ark, America’s Largest Waterpark – Our Family Adventure
- Have a Water Adventure at Noah’s Ark
- Noah’s Ark in Wisconsin Dells Celebrates 40 Years
Mt Olympus Water and Theme Park* – Mt Olympus boasts indoor and outdoor water and theme parks, so this is a place that you can visit year round. They have a hotel on site, and also have numerous off-site properties that include tickets to play in the water and theme parks.
Great Accommodations
Hotels
Wintergreen Conference Center and Clarion Hotel & Suites – This is the very first hotel with a waterpark that my husband and I ever stayed at, over 15 years ago. It has a small indoor and outdoor water area for the family to enjoy, and is a great option if you want to stay away from the crowds of the bigger waterpark resorts. They have regular rooms, and whirlpool suites, and are reasonably priced. They are also part of the Choice Hotels family, so you can earn points on your stay.
Waterpark Resorts
Great Wolf Lodge– Nightly Storytime for the kids, 3 connected indoor waterparks, outdoor waterpark, game room and nice guest rooms {some featuring cool themed bunk rooms for the kiddos}, MagiQuest, Spa, “Lodge feel” – Waterpark passes included with your room!
- Wisconsin Dells Weekend – Overview
- Our Weekend at Great Wolf Lodge – Day 1 – Day 2
- MagiQuest
- A Day of Fun at Great Wolf Lodge Plus Interview
Kalahari – Beautiful artwork throughout resort, luxurious rooms, large indoor and outdoor waterpark, indoor theme park and game rooms, as well as a large bowling alley, on site spa, and several restaurants and bars. Waterpark passes included with your room!
- Kalahari Waterpark – Our Family Adventure
- Kalahari – A World of Wonder
- Kalahari Indoor Theme Park and New Waterpark Rides Sahara Sidewinders and Screaming Hyena
- 6 Reasons to Visit Kalahari – Wisconsin Dells this Summer
- Escape the Cold with Kalahari Wisconsin Dells Deals
Wilderness Resort – Condos have a “Cabin-y feel”, They have 3 indoor waterparks, indoor/outdoor hot tub for use all year round, 3 arcades as well as on site restaurants and bars. Large condos are available with a full kitchen.
Camping
Sherwood Forrest Campground – Tent sites, RV sites with and w/o electric and water hook-ups, cabin rentals and RV rentals – pool, water playground for kids, game room, laundry, general store.
Wanna Bee Campground – Tent sites, RV sites with and w/o electric and water hook-ups, cabin rentals and RV rentals – pool, mini golf, playground, game room, general store, free bike rentals. Friendly staff, family owned. Quiet campground
Delicious Dining
- Monk’s Bar & Grill – Amazingly delicious food, may I recommend the Philly Cheesesteak, Fries and Cheese Curds, delish!
- Uno Chicago Grill – Mouth wateringly spectacular pizza
- The Loose Moose Bar & Grill {Inside Great Wolf Lodge} – Delicious pizza
- Hot Dog Avenue – Great Gyros and friendly dine-like atmosphere
Don’t Bother Wasting Your Money
- Haunted House in Downtown Dells – I don’t remember the name of it and couldn’t find it on the website. It’s the haunted house right in the town with all the shops. You walk in and out in 10 minutes and it’s not scary at all. Maybe it would be worth it if you had small kids that you wanted to take, but not get too scared?
- Top Secret – We’ve been wanting to check it out for years, but were always jam packed with other stuff going on during our visits. We saw a sign for $5 admission, so figured “why not”. It was worth $5, but I would have been disappointed paying full price admission. There was not much to it and no one in our group really “enjoyed” it.