My family picked the "DELLS?"
 

My family (wife,2boys 9&15) picked Wisconsin Dells this year for our annual "See the USA" pick. We've been to alot of the national parks, snowmobiling, diving, NYC, San Fran, and to cheesy places; will we enjoy this place (we love water "sports") and what place to stay? (price no object). Thank You

I drive by the Great Wolf Lodge all the time on I-90. It looks GORGEUS from the outside. A friend of mine from work just stayed there with her extended family and they absolutely loved it! I'd definitely check out their website.

Ramjet, you'll get a combo of water and cheese. Lots of water parks, mini golf and the like. Lots of large fiberglass Paul Bunyan-esque things and moccasin shops. You'll have a hoot! If you need to be in the middle of things, try the Great Wolf Lodge or any of the resort-type places like Chula Vista. You'll have fun!!

Thanks, Sounds like we may be staying at The Great Wolf Lodge! Were driving from Atlanta, anything of interest along the way?

Driving from Atlanta to see the Dells, thats got to be a first!! Anyway since Wisconsin is my home state and I used to take my kids to the dells every summer, here's a few suggestions:<BR>Noahs Ark: the best waterpark around and really fun.<BR>Big Chief: best go carts and huge intresting tracks.<BR>Most people seem to forget that this area was popular in the early 1900's because of the natural beauty of the Wisconsin river. The boat tours are still kind of nice as you actually get to see that beauty although they've managed to kitch that a lot too.<BR>The Crane foundation: Very interesting and they have done some remarkable things to preserve this highly endangered bird.<BR>If you have a day, follow the Wisconsin river road all the way to Prairie du Chien where it meets the Mississippi. Pikes Peak state park in Iowa and Waylusing state park in Wisconsin offer incredible views of this historic confluence and the geography is very unique. The glaciers never covered this pocket of land and as a result, its very rugged and beautiful.<BR><BR>Enjoy your stay. Let us know if you have more questions.<BR><BR>

Most of the drive from Atlata to WI is flat and boring. A couple of good stops along the way might be Mammoth Cave in Kentucky (you need to get there early to get in on any of the good cave tours), and you'll also probably pass right through or near Chicago, which has the great Shedd Aquarium and Field Museum. There's also a Six Flags north of Chicago, although I don't know if it's any better than the Six Flags in Atlanta. Other than that, there isn't much besides flat farming land in between.

Another good, pricey alternative to the Great Wolf Lodge is the nearby Kalahari Resort. <BR><BR>We stayed there in the winter, so it was important to us that their indoor waterpark is one of the best (could be important to you, too, if it rains!).<BR><BR>To be right in the center of it all on the main strip, try Treasure Island. All of these resorts have web sites, plus the Dells has one of its own.<BR><BR>Enjoy! (Oh, and also on the way from Atlanta, good at least for a pleasant place to get out and stretch your legs, is Kentucky Lakes.)

Don't miss the House on the Rock!! Coolest place in Wisconsin. Well worth the price of admission.

The House on the Rock is out of the way, though granted not by much. Personally, I didn't like it. It made me feel claustrophobic, and I had little interest in much of anything the guy had collected.

Try to get your hands on "Fun With the Family in Wisconsin" by Martin Hintz and Stephen V. Hintz. Gives you 100s of ideas for day trips with the kids, given by regions. It's been great reading about my state, learning a lot! Maybe try visiting Madison, our capitol, before you leave. Don't forget to try a brat and have some great Wisc. cheese before you leave, and have a great time!

You may enjoy the Dells for a few days, it is one of the tackiest places you will ever visit! Have a back-up plan to spend a few days in Chicago.

Ramjet if you didn't like Atlantis, you'll positively hate the Dells.<BR>It puts the tack in tacky.<BR>Lots of obese, pasty white tourists walking around in "I'm with stupid" T-shirts with holes in them, complete with armpit stains, and too short to cover the ol' beer belly.<BR>Think Clark Griswald's cousin's family from the Vacation movies.

There are many families who make the Dells their vacation spot every year and just love it, to me it is too Touristy and Expen$ive!!! (take at least twice as much as you think you will spend). There are many waterparks, mini golf courses, shops, amusument parks and theme park (robot world for example) to see while you are there.<BR><BR>I have to recommend that you do go on the Boat Tour of the Upper & Lower Dells, that is where you will actually get some history and get to see the beautiful scenery that is what the Dells is supposed to be.<BR><BR>I go to Dells the for a Day about once every 3 years, and that is more than enough for me (of course I live an hour away, so it is not as much of a novelty)<BR><BR>The Dells can be a great location for day trips to other areas of the State. So if you get tired of doing the "tourist thing" and want to see a little more here is a list of other places within a reasonable drive of the Dells.<BR><BR>1. BARABOO AREA<BR> ---Mirror Lake State Park<BR> ---Circus World Museum<BR> ---Ho-Chunk Casino (not my place either)<BR><BR>2. DODGEVILLE/SPRING GREEN AREA<BR> ---Goveneor Dodge State Park<BR> ---Tower Hill State Park<BR> ---House on The Rock<BR> ---Taliasin (sp?)<BR><BR>3. MADISON AREA

There are many families who make the Dells their vacation spot every year and just love it, to me it is too Touristy and Expen$ive!!! (take at least twice as much as you think you will spend). There are many waterparks, mini golf courses, shops, amusument parks and theme park (robot world for example) to see while you are there.<BR><BR>I have to recommend that you do go on the Boat Tour of the Upper & Lower Dells, that is where you will actually get some history and get to see the beautiful scenery that is what the Dells is supposed to be.<BR><BR>I go to Dells the for a Day about once every 3 years, and that is more than enough for me (of course I live an hour away, so it is not as much of a novelty)<BR><BR>The Dells can be a great location for day trips to other areas of the State. So if you get tired of doing the "tourist thing" and want to see a little more here is a list of other places within a reasonable drive of the Dells.<BR><BR>1. BARABOO AREA<BR> ---Mirror Lake State Park<BR> ---Circus World Museum<BR> ---Ho-Chunk Casino <BR> ---Devil's Lake State Park<BR> ---Cross the Ferry in Merrimac<BR><BR>2. DODGEVILLE/SPRING GREEN AREA<BR> ---Goveneor Dodge State Park<BR> ---Tower Hill State Park<BR> ---House on The Rock<BR> ---Taliasin (sp?)<BR><BR>3. MADISON AREA<BR> ---Tour our beautiful state capitol<BR> ---Vilas Zoo (free)<BR> ---Olbrich Botanical Gardens<BR> ---State Street<BR><BR>I know other people can add more, but I just want to get you, or anyone else interested a little helpful start.

Sorry to disagree, but the House on the Rock was the least favorite thing I have ever done on a vacation. Dark, dusty, hot, packed with sweaty tourists, and just packed with JUNK. We now call it "House of Schlock". Go to the dells, enjoy the water parks, "duck" ride, mini-golf, but skip house on the rock. Truly awful!

Skip the House on the Rock. Can't imagine the boys would enjoyit and you have to go thru all sorts of shops, etc. to get out of it.

Somewhere on this board is another thread with lots of comments on the House on the Rock - almost all of them negative, including mine. Forewarned.<BR><BR>What about making the drive up thru Illinois with a stop in Springfield and New Salem State Park for some Lincoln lore for your kids? Now that's worthwhile - and enjoyable. And, of course, Chicago. <BR><BR>(With all of the map to choose from....driving all the way from Atlanta to the Dells is a bit mystifying.)You could get all the water you wanted, w/o all the schlock, by heading to the opposite side of the state for a Door County visit....)

Why in God's good earth would you go to the Dells if you live in Atlanta? Wisconsin is fabulous(lots of great things to see and do) but the Dells is the worst.Boy, the next thing you will be doing will be stopping off at a Jerry Springer taping in Chicago with all the other trailer park people.......................

Why? The Dells are a waste of time and money. I would compare the Dells to Conly Island and the worst strip mall you ever visited. Don't go.

If you are travelling solely for your kids, have fun at the water parks.The boat and duck rides are also informative if not exciting. If you and your wife want to enjoy a couple of days ,you are too close to Door County not to visit. This is the one place we want to go back to without the kids.

The Dells is definately a kid oriented vacation. Not much for adults, unless you take a trip to HoChunk casino while you're there. <BR><BR>This is a "cheesy" place, but kids seem to love it. Just returned from two nights in the Kahlahari resort. It was quite nice, with an indoor and outdoor waterpark. I've also stayed at the Wilderness Resort and Black Wolf lodge. All are nice, and expensive. I like the HoChunk casion hotel, too. Lots cheaper, but no water parks. Your kids may get bored with] the waterpark "resorts" because they're geared towards younger kids. Take them to Noah's Ark where the thrill water rides are. Also, go to Big Chief go karts, it also has wooden rollercoasters. Zeus was featured on the travel channel as being the second or third biggest wooden roller coaster. I'd say the Dells will keep you busy for 2, or maybe 3 full days, but probably not much longer. <BR><BR>Be warned the Dells is crowded. Traffic is a nightmare! Think Gatlinburg type traffic if you've ever been there. Actually, the Dells reminds me a little of Pigeon Forge, TN, only more crammed in.<BR><BR>When you get sick of the crowds head to Baraboo which is the next town over. There's Devil's Lake State Park, which is awesome. You can hike the bluffs or trails, rents canoes or boats and fish. They also have the circus museum, but your kids are probably too old for that. <BR><BR>Door county was mentioned in another posting...it's a fair drive from the Dells. It also has some beautiful parks that are on Lake Michigan, however, Door County itself is geared towards adults. Lots of shopping in little knicknack arty places, not much for kids to do.<BR><BR>Good luck!

Just to clarify (or correct the above post..) "Not much for kids...in Door County"???? We DC'd with our ids for about 15 years straight as they were growing up, making treasured mem'ries for them, as well as us. How bout..... days spent at the beach...I mean, the whole day...and what kid doesn't like that? Not to mention, you have so many choices of beaches that you can go to a different one every day. You can also get up in the morning and choose your beach based on the wind and weather (thanks to the peninsula orientation and a whole coastline on either the east or west sides). Miniature golf. Go-kart racing. A drive-in movie. Biking - a great trail thru one of the 5 state parks. The ferry over to Washington Island (pick a windy day for a wave-whipped ride). Tour a restored lighthouse. Para-sailing. A day on a pontoon boat.... Ice cream, to cap every single day (and once,for supper - always a special highlight of trips with kids here.) I'm sorry, QAlady, but if DC is not 'geared to kids'....then what on earth are all those family groups doing there, all summer long?

The dells is maybe not my favorite place in the world, but I have never heard of a kid that did not love it there. If you are going on vacation to please the kids, it will be a big hit. Another vote to skip House on the Rock, terrible place. The dells has a great magic show in a special theater all it's own, great water ski stunt shows, many hotels have huge water parks, the duck rides are fun, lots to do for the kids. Have fun!

You can think of the Dells as a kind of Branson for Lutherans.

I'm looking for an East St. Louis for Mormons. Any ideas?

Thanks to everyone! My I didn't know this post would get this kind of response. As for the "drive" to Wisconsin from Atlanta, Its just the way we are; we are kinda like the "Griswolds" if you know what I mean! We enjoy the "See the U.S.A." motto. We just returned from San Francisco and we RENTED a car, which we were told not to do, but we had the best time! We drove from Pacifica to Santa Cruz down Hwy 1 (awesome) and drove to The Muir Woods redwood forest and that was great! We also drove all around the city and absolutely enjoyed it. Your suggestions along the way are being considered!

Ram - we too are visiting the dells this summer (after a quick relative visit)...have talked to several people that have been there (many world travelers amongst) and they say altho somewhat cheesy and touristy the kids have a total blast...dont know about u but we pretty much vacation with the kids in mind so I think it will be quite fun.