Wisconsin Dells - Playing Like a Child

I would have to say that since I have not been here for 30 years, things have considerably changed. I loved the water parks - what an addition, especially to see it through the eyes of my child. The beautiful scenery that I remembered was still there in the Wisconsin River, rock formations, the DUCKS and the Upper Dells, which are awesome and still a must-see. I'm thankful that folks have preserved the natural aspect of the Dells. I came for the memories and beauty, but boy was it a kick to experience Noah's Arc, Mt. Olympus, Privates Cove, and the many restaurants. I'm happy the Dells has expanded and kept up with the times. I'll be back.

Quick Tips:

We purchase the Dells coupon book well in advance, which beat out the street vendors offering of 35% discount. It offers 2-for-1 coupons, but just for June. Noah’s Arc (), Mt. Olympus (), and Privates Cove () were all 2-for-1, which saved us a bundle. We saved over on the Ducks and Upper and Lower Dells combo for the three of us. This cannot be obtained in the Dells, as you have to order online at dellcoupons.com. If you preorder early, before it is published, it’s ; otherwise, it is . You will recoup that with one use. We saved big at fast-food and high-dollar eateries like Culvers, Mexicali Rose, Chula Vista, Field's, etc., and you can also save on lodging if you’re not coming to a resort. Later in the year, discounts were less, but still comparable to the booths downtown, but they might not beat out the Gold Card.

Best Way To Get Around:

A car is definitely needed. From Mirror, if you do not want to drive through Delton, get back on I-94 W and get off Exit 87, takes you right to the downtown Dells. It’s hard to find a parking place on the streets (which are metered), so park off, like at the Upper Dells parking lot, and walk, as it’s only 2 to 3 blocks for the shopping. Stroll and have fun.

We decided to do our trip to the Dells in 2 days. The halfway mark put us in Moorhead, MN. I had made a reservation early just so we had no hassles looking for a room after 7 hours of driving. I used RCI Trip Rewards and receive an approximately a 10% discount to make the rate $62.90 for the three of us.

There could have been easy access off I-94 if the directions given off the Days Inn site were correct. Coming from the west, it should have been exit IA instead of IB. We knew right away as we drove past and could see the Days Inn sign. But after a short drive to IB and a backtrack of half a mile, we were at the doors of our hotel.

I have to say that the friendliness and professionalism at the front desk was exceptional, especially with what happened next. We received our room key to no. 141 - we tried multiple times to open the door, but it didn't work. To my surprise, someone on the other side opened it. After apologies, I returned to the desk. They were as shocked as we were, apologized multiple times, and promptly gave us another room.

This Days is a full-service hotel offering an indoor tropical courtyard with a waterfall surrounded by a nine-hole mini golf court, indoor pool, children’s pool, and Jacuzzi. One round of golf is free per person per day. Golf balls and clubs are located at the front desk. I checked this out because we are mini golf fanatics.

The restaurant on site, Mulligans, offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner and a free continental breakfast on the weekends. There is also a sports bar with a golf simulator. Somebody must be a golf-lover here!! There is also a fitness center and games room here, but we didn't use those.

Our room was very comfortable, clean, and a little larger than the most Days’ we have been in, with free Internet access, iron/board, coffeemaker, and safe. There are 169 rooms according to the directory. Beds were firm and comfortable. I was concerned being next to an entrance door and the ice/pop machine, but it was very quiet, and all slept well - no loud interstate noise or street noise was heard either.

The pool was a little on the cool side, but you were able to adjust quickly, so it wasn't a concern. The Jacuzzi was large but a little foamy. I always hate that.

You get a free breakfast coupon with your room. They serve a free hot breakfast Monday to Friday 6 to 10am and a continental one Saturday and Sunday from 7 to 10am, or it’s $2 to order off the full menu. They had four choices: two eggs and bacon; two pancakes and bacon; cold cereal; or oatmeal. The meal was good, quick, and FREE!!! We were very satisfied with the convenience, being off the interstate, and quality of this Days Inn. We will remember it next time going east.

Best Things Nearby:
Everything is in the Dells, which is 10 minutes away, like Baraboo, a Super Wal-Mart on the corner, Cave of the Mounds, and the Wollersheim Winery.

Best Things About the Resort:
We had a large, immaculate two-bedroom condo; the location was quiet, secluded from the touristy area; and there were good amenities and plenty of friendliness.

Resort Experience:
This was an exchange with RCI for the first week of June. We decided on this resort specifically because of its location. With all our activities going on during the day, we wanted a quiet retreat to return to. We chose right. It was very quiet in a wooded area. Our unit was ML12. The resort (which combines Peppertree, Mirror, and Fairfield) is extensive, having 11 colonies, with multiple condos in each colony, all situated within a quiet subdivision-type setting. Our unit backed against a thickly wooded area. We had rabbits, ducks, squirrels, and blackbirds visiting every day. The ducks would return around 5pm as my son started a daily feeding routine.

The condo itself was a two-bedroom, two-story, 1248-square-foot unit -- very roomy. Wallpaper, furniture, appliances, and the carpet were all up-to-date and like new. It was very tastefully decorated and homey. The main floor had the kitchen, front room, and one bath. The second floor had a large master suite with a vaulted ceiling, a second nice-size bedroom with twin beds, a large bath with a Jacuzzi, and two vanities separated by a pocket door, which was nice. The Jacuzzi felt great, with two fireplaces, one in the master suite and one in the front room. There were five condos in our building, but we never heard voices or doors slamming, so it was very quiet. My husband classified it as immaculate, and I would have to agree: very, very clean.

We did not join any of the resort activities, although they were extensive and changed weekly, such as a trip to the Kalahari water park, horseback riding, the DUCKS, and Tommy Shows at discounted rates. We had our own Dells coupon book (see Tips in this journal’s Overview).

We did make use of their many amenities: indoor and outdoor pools, racquetball, basketball, tennis, Ping-Pong, bikes (not speed bikes), and laundry. All equipment was in good working order. We stayed with the outdoor pool, as it was like bath water and 6 feet deep, whereas the indoor was large but only 3.9 feet deep. The Jacuzzi was the right temperature and large enough not to be crowded. The laundry was open 24 hours, wash $1.50 and dry $1. Activity hours were from 7am to 11pm. There are pool towels located in your unit. There was a linen exchange building open daily from 9am to 12pm and 1 to 3pm.

You also received a Gold Card, which gave discounts to the water parks, restaurants, shopping, etc., in the area at about 10 to 20% off. Again, our Dells coupon book beat that out during June.

Our condo was a little warm upstairs, but after closing down the air vents downstairs, it was great for sleeping. They were also having trouble with the cable during our stay, but they offered free movies. We did take advantage of that. There were two computer stations within the lobby, great for checking weather, etc., at home.

This is an extremely nice, relaxing, quiet resort that was ready to accommodate you. We would not hesitate to come back to it or recommend it to anyone.

• Unit Type: 2 Bedroom
• Activities: Very Good
• Amenities: Very Good
• Unit Satisfaction: Excellent
• Family Friendliness: Excellent
• Service: Excellent

Culver's is a fast-food chain that’s not in our neck of the woods, but mainly in the Midwest and Texas. I have eaten here previously and bragged them up so much to my family that they were anxious to try them. No one left hungry or disappointed.

Their burgers are more like a homemade juicy, tasty burger off the grill on a buttered grilled bun (hence the name butterburger). I'm hungry again for one! My family agreed that they were delicious.

Of course, we had to save room for custard, as you can't leave Culver's without that. My favorite is the turtle sundae. The pecans are so goooood. We also ordered a strawberry for variety. I wish I could take gallons of this home.

A butterburger will run you $1.69 for a single, plain one to $4.39 for a bacon deluxe jumbo. We ordered the butterburger deluxe, soda, fries, and the two sundaes ($3.49 each), which cost us $23. It is a little more than you want to spend in a fast-food place, but it was worth it, because I had gone to butterburger and custard heaven. They also serve specialty sandwiches like Philly rib-eye steak, beef pot roast, pork tenderloin, dinner shrimp or fish baskets, and to-go chicken with mashed potatoes and gravy.

The Culver's in Sauk City is special because it is the very first one that opened back in 1984. I made sure I picked up the "Culver's Roadmap" to check out where else they are located. It will definitely be a vacation lunch spot again for us.

My family is pizza fanatics, and we had not tried Uno's before. It is a great restaurant. It's atmosphere was neat, like a old brick Chicago market with walls chock-full of old-time grocery goods and memorabilia. It was comfortable, relaxing, and clean.

Our waiter, Andre, was a little hard to understand, but on the ball with service and taking the time to explain things. We ordered a small deep-dish Chicago Classic, which comes with cheese, sausage, and tomatoes, and a regular Numero Uno, which is everything. We really enjoyed the crust. It was different, like flaky bread, not the traditional pizza crust I'm used to. Also, the sauce (real tomatoes) was on the top, not next to the crust. They say a small serves one and a regular two to three. Now, we are big pizza-eaters, and we took a third of each home. We all really liked it, as it was very fresh and filling. They also serve pasta, chicken, seafood, steak, and ribs, but they are best known for their pizza. You can eat-in or takeout, but there is no delivery within the Dells.

The dinner, we felt, was reasonable. The two deep-dish pizzas, (which, by the way, they only have the two sizes, small and regular), two tall beers, and a virgin strawberry margarita came to $37. Prices for a small run between $7 and $8.50, a regular between $14 and $16. We love to experiment on all kinds of pizza places, and Uno's is now one we will look for in our future vacation spots.

Check out their website at www.unos.com to see all they have. You can even order online for takeout. They also serve lunch Monday to Friday from 11am to 3pm, with some of the same items they serve at night at a reduced price. Unfortunately, we never made it back for lunch. Darn.

A late night brought us here for dinner. The building is a very neat three-story log-and-stone brewpub. On the upper level are copper beer vats that can be seen from the outside through the windows, which is neat. The main level holds the main dining and bar area, and the lower level has a pool hall and arcade. All levels have bars. The atmosphere and brewing facilities are impressive. It’s too bad the food wasn't.

Being a native "old Milwaukeean," microbrews and raspberry-flavored beer is not my thing. I have not found one I can say I have absolutely loved. I always come back to the old brews. Although I felt they were not unreasonably priced at $3.25 a pint and $9 a pitcher, and they had a good selection of standard brews, too. The menu was typical, offering the same as some of other local places, but being $1 to $2 higher than most. There was a wide selection of sandwiches. A plain cheeze 14-inch will run you $12, with anything else at about $19. The Friday fish fry was $12.

Not very hungry and wanting to try what was considered their specials, we asked our waiter, who not only was unknowledgeable about the menu, but inattentive. We decided on garlic bread, a personal-size pizza, and soup and salad. The soup, supposedly a Moosejaw special, was beer cheese soup consisting of red and green peppers, onions, potatoes, and brats. We were thinking, "Hey, we're in Wisconsin, beer, cheese, brats - you can't go wrong, right? It definitely wasn't what we expected. It tasted like over-salted, condensed soup from a can. The pizza was nothing to brag about. It tasted good, but it has to be pretty bad before we can't eat pizza. It was not to the standard of what they claim, especially being a "pizza joint". The salad was a salad. The garlic bread was good. We each had a beer, and my son had a kiddy cocktail. Beers were $3 each, soup and salad $6, personal pizza $6, and appetizer $6.50. I thought that it was a little high for a cup of soup, lettuce, and some bread. I wouldn't necessarily return here for the food, but would for the atmosphere and maybe an afternoon of taste-testing some beers.

It had been recommended to us by a relative who is a local that if we wanted a really good lunch in a casual place, this was the place to be. I don't think we would have ventured in here if we hadn't had the suggestion, thinking that it was just another bar.

I did hesitate upon first stepping in. It had the old-time tavern feel. It seemed to be a local’s bar, which is usually a good sign when it’s full. You could either belly up to the bar or walk to the rear, where there is booth seating and extra seats on a second floor. It had an old tin ceiling and brick walls with sports memorabilia and an extensive collection of fire department patches on the walls. Service was fast to say the least, and so was the food. This was well worth the trip, and the food was excellent.

We ordered a Reuben; a jumbo brat with fried onions; cheese curds, of course; and Brew City onion rings. No plates are allowed, and everything was served on waxed paper or in paper containers. Sandwiches run between $5 and $6, and appetizers are between $4 and $7, with the cheese curls being the highest. I thought that was strange, really. Beers were the cheapest we had seen here at an eatery in the Dells at $2.75. Our son's root beer was more than the beer at $2.95.

This is definitely a must for a great sandwich. We were very impressed with the quality of the food and service. If you are downtown in the Dells, don't pass by Monk's thinking it’s just another bar. Give it a try and I bet you’ll return to it again, too.

Second to pizza, we love Mexican. Pedro's has a very nice atmosphere with a large seating area with warm woods, large log trusses across the ceiling, stucco-looking walls, and the usual bright colors. This seemed to be more of an upscale Mexican place to me. The menu, like most Mexican Places, is extensive, so it takes forever to figure out what to eat. Our waiter was very patient with us, having to return multiple times before we ordered. He kept the chips and salsa coming and got our drinks on the way. We asked for a hotter salsa and got it.

Watch out for the green stuff, as it will take your breath away -- hot!! Finally, we decided on a beef chimichanga dinner, pulled carnita (pork) dinner, and a no. 3 combo, which had a mini beef chimi, chicken tamale, and pork enchilada. They offered four different sauces: abode, verde, tomatillo, and, I think, cheate that were mild to hot. The food was hot (temperature), fast, and pretty tasty. I did think they were a little skimpy on the sauces. We always like a lot of "slop" with our Mexican. Each meal comes with two sides chosen from the usual black beans, rice, and veggies, but there’s one that is different, the Chipotle mashed potatoes - mashed potatoes in a Mexican restaurant? We stuck with our usual sides.

Pedros is open from 11am to 11pm, with lunch from11am to 3pm. Tuesday and Thursday are all margaritas half-price. Our meals ranged in the $12 area, with the total bill coming to $49. We usually have gotten by cheaper at other Mexican restaurants, but even still we were satisfied with our meal and left with full tummies.

The Essen Haus is located in the downtown district of Wisconsin Dells in the Bavarian Village. This is a large establishment with the ability to seat 300 people. In the main area, there is a bar and dining room, and an outdoor area, or beer garden. There are hand-painted murals of old-world Germany on the walls. It was a lively place with a button accordionist playing and singing. It created quite a mood for the restaurant, and people enjoyed listening, as many would stop eating and give him a round of applause.

Since it was such a nice evening, we decided to sit in the beer garden. This, too, is decorated with murals of German countryside and led out into the Bavarian Village shopping area and German clock. This clock chimes every 15 minutes and on the half hour gives a LOUD story of the Pied Piper. The first time was amusing, but after that it became annoying. I would have preferred to sit inside and listen to the oompha music instead.

Our waitress, Teodora, was German-speaking with a full accent, dressed in authentic garb. She offered good suggestions for German beers and for our dinner. I had a DAB - a light ale - and my husband tried Spaten Optimator, a fairly stout dark ($4.75 a pint). They were both good. The dinner was excellent! Mine was Schweinelendchen in Pfefferan sauce (translated: tender pork tips in pepper sauce). It was very tender and pretty peppery, but oh, so good. My husband ordered Jaeger Schnitzel (pork tenderloin with fried onions in a mushroom-and-sour-cream sauce). Both meals were served with sweet-and-sour red cabbage and cost $17.95. My son wasn't as eager to experiment and had a Black Forest Burger for $9.

This was an exceptional meal. We felt like there had to be an old German lady cooking these meals all day, waiting for our arrival. The taste was authentically homemade. For dessert, our waitress suggested chocolate mousse tort. It was almost too chocolatey and sweet. I would have preferred one of the German desserts, but we listened to her because she certainly hit the mark on the other suggestions. She did mess up on our bill, but straightened it out quickly. I had a Dells Coupon, which took off $9, and our bill came to $58.

What a nice place and meal. We definitely felt like we’d experienced another culture, even though here we were in the Dells. I felt this was the most memorable restaurant of all the ones we tried in the Dells on this trip. A definite five-star!

Wally's has been around just about as long as the Dells. It was started in 1959 by Wally Obois and his wife Barbara. The third generation, Mike and Mark, now owners/chefs, continue the family business. It has an elegant but homey feel, with linen tablecloths and a stone fireplace in one of the three separate dining areas. There was also a lounge, but we didn't go in there.

Wally's is unique in that it has its own on-site smokehouse (truly a house of embers), and they smoke their own ribs. We hit the right night, as some had just been smoked that day and were on their menu as a special, half a rack for $14, usually $21.99. They were very tender, not overly seasoned or smothered with barbecue sauce, just the way we like it.

This is not your ribs, beans, and coleslaw type restaurant. Even the children's menu was over-the-top, with a 4-oz. lobster for $14, and ribs $10. My son ordered from the regular menu - fettuccine alfredo, $13. Very delicious.

It was a new experience to find cinnamon rolls in the bread basket. Wally's wife started this tradition, and it has stuck to this day. I never thought I would eat cinnamon rolls before a dinner, but I couldn't resist - they were really good.

Meals here were a little pricey; although there were some in the $12-$17 range, the majority was over $20. Filet mignon was $33. I ordered a glass of wine, which ran $7.50. I only had one. But with getting the special on the ribs that night, the price wasn't that bad - came to $58. I definitely would eat here again, especially for the ribs. Sometimes you have to pay a little more to experience a little more, right?

This was my husband's night to pick, and he wanted Italian. I had checked this out before we left on their website and put it on our "to try" list. The building looks like an Italian villa with stone walls, paintings of the Italian countryside, and huge wood doors. Upon entering, we were seated right away.

I have to say, we felt a little underdressed in our casuals for this place, but they certainly didn't mind, and all three (yes, three) of our waiters were extremely friendly and polite. We enjoyed their heavy Italian accents, too. They waited on us hand and foot, filling water glasses and clearing plates, but were never bothersome, nor did they interrupt a conversation. Very attentive. I don't remember the last time I was treated this way in a restaurant. A family of seven sat near us, all speaking Italian. We were thinking that this is probably the closest we could get to an authentic Italian setting without crossing the big pond.

We are unfamiliar with Italian wines, and after we explained what we liked, our waiter picked out a very tasty wine that fit both of our meals. They are known for their wine list, and it was extensive. Their menu consisted of things like gnocchi, veal osso buco, chicken Parma, and even lamb loin. But our tried-and-true test of Italian is always the old spaghetti with meatballs and linguine with clams. Both these meals run $12.95. My son ordered a focaccia sandwich ($7.95), which was huge and delicious. He wasn't able to eat all of it, and I knew a fight would be had over it the next day. Bread was served with oil, which I have always liked. We were able to linger after our meal and enjoy the atmosphere and finish our wine without being bothered or feeling like we had to rush.

We were very impressed with this restaurant's service and friendliness. On-site there is also a pizzeria with a more casual atmosphere. I would love to come back and try their pizza someday. This one rates very high not only for food, but service being impeccable. Thank you, Sarento's, for making my family feel so special.

The Dells boat tours are a cornerstone attraction of the Dells. This tour takes you down the Wisconsin River on the bottom side of the dam. It takes approximately an hour, and you are able to see unique sandstone formations and are told about the Dells' past and how it came to be. A captain pilots the boat while a tour guide narrates and points out the unique formations such as pulpit's rock with a baby grand (it does look like a petrified grand) and hawk's beak. This tour does duplicate what we saw and heard on the Ducks but does travel father down river. Again, a guidebook was offered on the lower Dells at $4. We had taken the 7pm tour (which is the last of the day), and it was so relaxing to watch the sunset as we cruised. The drink we purchased at the dock at the Mexicali Rose, which a sign suggested before we boated, helped us to enjoy the finale to our first night in the Dells. Again, as noted in this journal, we used our Dells coupons book, which saved us. Total lower, upper, and Ducks was $74.50, and our child was free. Tours start at 10am and run on the hour until 7pm.

The Upper Dells boat tour, I feel, is another must. It's a two-hour-long trip leaving every 30-45 minutes, 9am to 6pm. During this tour, there are two stops, one at Witches Gulch and Stand Rock, exclusive only to the Dells tour. At Witches Gulch, we were allowed to get out and walk approximately two blocks through what they call a cool canyon, and yes, it was cool, but not cold. It felt good compared to the high humidity we were experiencing. The thought of Mr. Bennett crawling through here to find unique pictures runs through my mind. I don't think I could be so brave.

At the end of the gulch, there are restrooms, snack shops, and souvenir shops. It really is a "cool" sight to see. Back on the boat, we travel north up the river to see some of the tallest of the rock formations - Steamboat and Black Hawks profile. Our next shore landing is at Stand Rock. This is the area's trademark sandstone, which is indigenous with the Dells. It's where Mr. Bennett took the first stop-action photo using his son--now you get to see trained dogs jump the 5-foot chasm from cliff to rock ledge. They only do it once, so be ready with your camera -- I missed. Luckily, we got it on video. This stop also has a restroom, snacks, and very beautiful overlooks for photo opportunities. Again, we were offered the $4 brochure. It explains the old days in the Dells, legends, and tall tales. I do prefer the Upper to the Lower Dells, even though they are both unique.

A visit to the Dells would not be complete without a ride on the ducks (really spelled DUKW, but affectionately known as the "ducks". I was anxious to ride them again after 30 years and wondered if I would find the ride just as exciting as I did as a child. All said and done, I so thoroughly enjoyed it, and so did my family. Our tour guide (a college student, as most of them are) had a really dry sense of humor that made us all chuckle with his bad "duck" jokes but was also very knowledgeable, making the trip a learning experience without even knowing it. These 2.5-ton ducks maneuver easily through wooded trails, the fern dells, up and down steep ravines, and finally, what I was waiting for, the "splashdown". It flooded back memories and also flooded the back two rows of seats and floor as we went into Lake Delton.

Again, we were handed out the $4 offical book with mention that the sale of these are part of their salary and, of course, any tips would be appreciated. You are able to check it out during the last lag of the trip to see if you want to buy it. Inside, there are coupons such as 20% off area attractions and their gift shop. I took advantage to use the gift shop coupon to purchase souvenirs and T-shirts. We again used our Dells coupon; otherwise, fares are $18.75 for ages 12 and up and $9.75 for ages 6-11, with tax. The trip is 8 1/2 miles long and takes approximately an hour, leaving every hour on the hour. The saying is "you haven't done the Dells if you haven't done the ducks," and I agree. A very special memory returned for me that day.

Our reason for visting the Cave of the Mounds was two-fold. One, we always look for something unique about a specific area, and second, it's approximately 60 miles south of the Dells, and I felt it would give us a good opportunity to see more of the local countryside. From the dells you take Hwy 12 South, then Hwy 78 to Mt. Horeb,from Mt. Horeb 6 miles west on Hwy 18/151 which is a frontage road traveling along Hwy 18. You could also get back on Interstate 90 and go through Madison and travel west, but it's 20 miles extra.

The drive made more memories return for me: the abundance of trees, the wild phlox and asparagus growing alongside the road, and the farms with the large milking barns and silos. What a vision for me! "What's that smell?" my son asked. Ah, the smell of sillage, not necessarily a pleasant smell, but it did bring a smile to my face. The drive down was very enjoyable. The Cave of the Mounds is a National Natural Landmark. As you enter the area, the first thing you notice are the beautiful gardens. All types of native plants are planted in a relaxing outdoor setting with picnic areas, a walk-through trail, and even a "panning" area for gems that come out of the cave.

There is a main building where you get your tickets, with restrooms and a snack bar. Another building houses the gift shop and is the entrance to your tour. Tours change according to the season. In summer, they run at 15-minute intervals from 9am-6pm, although the cave is open year-round. Adults are $12, children 5-12 $6, and 4 and under free. After watching a short 7-minute video on how the cave was discovered, you're off on the tour.

Our guide was well-informed and was able to answer all our questions, but our group wasn't the brightest, not being able to answer his "pop" quiz from the video. The cave is awe-inspiring, beautiful, and just plain cool. Again, we received an pleasurable education without knowing it. I suggest, if you want something different from the tourism of the Dells, trying the cave--you won't be disappointed.

A few tips: The temperature is about 50 degrees and wet and dark, with water dripping in. Dress appropriately in a light jacket, long pants, socks, and good-soled shoes, not flip-flops. After 45 minutes, you will get cold! There were stairs to climb, but they had good handrails. Check it out -- www.caveofthemounds.com.

On our off-the-Dells path to the Cave of the Mounds, we planned on our way back to have a leisurely country drive and finish it off with a tour and wine-tasting at Wollersheim. The winery sits on southern slopes overlooking the Wisconsin River. This site was selected 150 years ago because the temperature here remains steadier because of the river. This is a beautiful establishment. We felt like we had stepped back in time and were in Italy or France. The original huge limestone winery, covered in vines, still stands, and the basement is still used as their cellar storage, while the main floor now is the wine and gift shop and wine-tasting area. They have five estate wines grown here on 25 acres, plus they work with other vineyards from NY and Washington state to make approximately 900,000 bottles per growing season. Wine is my choice of drink, and I learned so much on this tour.

At the end of the tour, we were taught the correct way to examine, swirl, and taste the wine. Our tour group all got the giggles acting like wine connoisseurs. There was quite a variety to sample, tasting first the five estate wines and moving on to any of the other 15 or so they create if you wanted. These wines have won hundreds of awards in national and international competitions. Children are welcome on the tours and were served their own grape juice champagne during the tasting. This champagne is also made here. Guided tours run daily starting at 10:15am, running on the hour until 4:15pm. Tours last an hour and cost $3.50 for adults, with 11 and under free. Wine-tasting is at no charge and available at any time during the day or along with the tour. You must be 21, of course. They also had a wine garden where you can purchase a glass of wine and some Wisconsin cheese and enjoy looking out over the vineyards. What a relaxing way to end our country drive. And needless to say, I didn't go home empty-handed. To reach the winery from the Dells, take Hwy 12 East (going south) past Baraboo, turn left on Hwy PF going through Prairie du Sac, continue straight ahead to cross Hwy 60 bridge, and turn right on Hwy 188; the winery is 3/4 of a mile on the left, approxmately 30-40 minutes from the Dells.

The Boo Canoe and Raft company offers three self-guided canoeing and raft trip options on the Baraboo River: a rapids trip (3.1 miles, 1-3 hours); a scenic trip (6.3 miles, 3-6 hours); and a paddler's trip (14 miles, 6-9 hours). We have gone rafting multiple times in other areas but never on our own self-guided trip. The Baraboo offers Class 1 and 2 rapids, which we felt we could handle. Needless to say, they were more like bumps and splashes than rapids, even for the beginning of June, with their low-water year.

We chose the scenic trip with a 14-foot inflatable canoe with three comfortable seats but not much leg room, which floated through quiet country heavily treed. We were able to see some wildlife like ducks, geese, blue herons, turtles, and our own "imaginary alligators". It was relaxing, with some padding required. It was a good way for our son to learn the correct way of paddling, and after some getting wet, accidental wacks to the head, and unintentionally paddling the wrong way, which turned the canoe totally around, we all got the hang of it.

During the scenic part approximately a third of the way was a dock in a picnic area with tables and bathrooms. We weren't quite ready for the rest yet and moved on. Approximately halfway through our trip, the river turned faster, with navigation required not to get hung up in the swirling water or rocks. We floated by the Circus World Museum and were able to see antique wagons and elephants right along the banks. The next dock was at Riverstop, where we decided to stop and use the bathrooms and get a snack. They offered soup, wraps, stuffed potatoes, and ice cream. They were extremely friendly, asking about our rafting and egging us on. After our snack, we headed back to the canoe and finished our trip just under 4 hours.

Boo is located in Baraboo, approximately 20 minutes from the Dells. They are open rain or shine, April through October. They say reservations are recommended, but we did not need them. Since water levels were down, we got a deal: the scenic trip for the price of the rapids, which took off $20 and brought our cost to $55, including everything we needed for our trip. This was a great experience for our family, being able to work and play together.

Tips: The scenic is long and adds approximately 2 hours to the trip; if you're not a paddler, I suggest the rapids portion only. Also, children need to be at least 40 pounds. The last scenic trip out is at 1pm. All canoes and rafts have to be back by 7pm. There are no refunds due to weather.

My family loves mini-golf, and Pirates Cove is a mini-golfer's paradise, offering five different courses with 90 holes. Landscape and location were neat, with lavish greens, streams, and 17 waterfalls throughout the area, all situated on a hill overlooking the Wisconsin River and the city area. With the humidity high for June, we chose to try night golfing. The course was very well-lit and really fun to play at night. Everything was very well-kept--no ripped "greens" or debris that we could see. The course wasn't crowded, either, so we had time to goof around and have fun. Using my Dells coupon again, we were given a 2-for-1 costing $22, and the Captain's Offer allows you to play 18 more holes and save 50% off your second round of any of the five. There is a play area, sundial, and snack shop at the very top. I can imagine that would be needed in the heat of the midday. The first three courses are all par 2, easier, with the last two the toughest, par 2 and 3, with a great variety of terrain. Hours are 8am-11pm, April through October, with spring and fall hours varying. What a great family activity!

WOW!! We were told not to miss Noah's Ark, so we made definite plans for the best weather day during our week's stay to enjoy it thoroughly, and did we ever. Although we have been to a couple waterparks across the country, we have never experienced anything like this before. What a fun-packed day we had. With over 70 acres (3 million square feet), where do you start? It's almost overwhelming. First, we decided that we should find a lounge chair and make that our "safe return zone" in case any of us got separated. We chose to get chaises by the Big Kahuna, and we were glad we did, because when we were pooped, our son stayed here for hours while we collapsed on the chaises.

Our favorites, unfortunately, seemed to run from one end of the park to the other. We liked the family tubes--where up to five could ride in the same tube, so we could all be together--like Kowabunga and Congo Bongo. Our favorites though were Black Thunder, an extremely, fast, fast ride in the dark, a double tube ride. It was excellent. Another favorite was Flashflood, a rollercoaster-type ride that ends at the bottom in water. Whoever designed this ride was a genius. The only way out of this is by walking over the bridge, where the ride thrusts water onto the bridge. Timing is perfect. There are metal bars to hang onto, and if you're not, you could get knocked off your feet, the force of the water is so great.

All in all, there are 40 water slides, two wave pools, two endless rivers, mini-golf, arcades, 12 eateries, and five gift stores. There were shower and changing rooms and coin-operated lockers. There are also optional innertubes available for rent at $4 for the entire day, which was great for the wave pool. I also liked that idea that you could find something else to eat besides burgers, hot dogs, and nachos. We had a very reasonable lunch of chef salads and tacos, which only ran us $16 and was pretty tasty.

The most impressive thing overall was their safety factor. Eight lifeguards at the wave pools, two or three per slide, top and bottom, and I lost count on the long endless river. We felt very safe letting our 11-year-old venture a little ways from us. I was told that they have received the nations's top award for Aquatic Safety. Also, everything was very clean, from bathrooms to chaises to the water -- no debris. This was an exceptionally fun day for our family. We would return in a heartbeat, even though it's 900 miles from us.

Mt. Olympus is a kick. It combines go-karts, roller coasters, water rides, and an indoor water park all in one place and one ticket, although, after having been to Noah's Ark, the outdoor waterslides seem to lack excitement. They did feel good, though, after a long day of go-karts and coasters in the hot weather. There are a total of nine go-kart tracks, with some that are multilevel. On favorite was Poseidon, which had quite a bit of variety to it. Another was Medusa's Drop, where you actually can "catch air" as my son puts it. The carts aren't particularly fast, but they can get very rough when going over the wooden tracks. Most of them have shelters to wait under, which was a good thing in the sun.

The coasters are not for the faint-of-heart. They are intense, FAST, high, and scary. I was glad I took my Dramamine before we rode! Hades is their newest and biggest, plunging 150 feet and traveling 70mph. into a dark tunnel that goes under the parking lot and pops up along side the street. The line was never long for this one -- guess why?

We also made use of the indoor water park, Bay of Dreams, as it started to sprinkle outside. As we went in, we said we would just take a look and ended up staying an additional couple of hours. The lazy river and HUGE hot tub felt really good after a full day, and my son enjoyed these slides better too.

The ood was typical for an amusement park, pricey and without much variety.

TIPS: In particular weather conditions, some rides may be closed, so do make sure you have a good sunny day and suntan lotion to make the best of the park. If it does clear up, they will reopen -- this does include high winds for the coasters. Also, the price is based on size not age. If you have children above 48 inches, they will pay the full price of $32. Horseplay is not allowed, and they enforce it -- we saw four people kicked out and two others reprimanded with a warning for bumping other go-carts. Be on your best behavior and have fun. Hours during the summer vary for each section (May through Sept from 9am to 10pm), but the indoor is open year-round from 10am to 10pm. There is a lot of walking here, so plan to do it in sections so you don’t tire out.

This is a walk-through with 150 hands-on, interactive exhibits. We had asked before buying the tickets how long it would take to go through the exhibits, and they told us about an hour. We were short on time, having tickets already bought for the Watershow, so we were rushed going through here. I didn't appreciate that. It takes at least 1 and a half hours or more if you want to play with any of the exhibits, and there were four different floors to explore. There were some interesting things, mechanical workings and brain teasers, to try. It did make us ask ourselves how does that work??

I can see a real science nut would really enjoy this. My family, on the other hand, has just plain simple folk. We all felt that now we had seen it, we probably wouldn't go through it again. Not to say that someone with that kind of interest in science wouldn't enjoy it - it just wasn't our thing. They are open from 9am to 10pm. The price is $9.43 a person. We used our Dells coupons for this one. From what I know now, I’m glad I didn't have to pay full price for this entertainment.

Tommy Bartlett Watershow is called "the greatest show on H2O." This show was born in 1952 and boasts that it’s the longest-running live outdoor entertainment of its kind. It’s a 90-minute live performance combining high-powered boating, all types of waterskiing - jumps, barefoot, three-level human pyramids - and juggling acts, comedy, and daredevil motorcycle riding, all done on the shores of Lake Delton.

This year was a tribute to the TV shows of the past. They played old music from the TV shows. All of them we could relate to -- that shows our age. The acts were very good and entertaining, the waterskiing very impressive and professional, and even the clown with his slapstick jokes had to make you chuckle. The kids seemed to like him, as he was always interrupted and had a really irritating squeaky voice. There is an audience participation part performing with the juggler and the stunt foot-jugglers. People "volunteered" their "friends." It was a hoot, but I won't tell what happens so as not give it away too much.

Showtimes are at 1, 4:30, and 8:30pm, rain or shine. We went to the 4:30 show. I think the night one would be interesting, as it has a laser and light show. There is a 15-minute intermission between the water show and the stage portion of the performance where you can get up. They do have vendors that come around with soda, beer, snow cones, etc.

This is another one of those shows that if you have the time, you need to see. Not only is it good, wholesome family entertainment, but Tommy Bartlett has become a significant icon in the Dells. To keep a show going for over 50 years is in itself a feat. Again, we used our Dell coupons and received one free ticket with a seat upgrade to a deluxe. Definitely a Dells must-see.