Wisconsin Dells Honeymoon
"Dells" are the rapids of a
river; the dells at this destination are a collection of unusual
formations, deep gorges, caverns, and cliffs cut into the sandstone by a
massive flash flood 15,000 years ago. The natural beauty of the area
sparked tourism in the mid-1800s; today, family-oriented tourism has
turned the city of Wisconsin Dells into one big amusement park.
Horse-drawn carriage rides through the canyons, bungee jumping, roller
coasters, circus museums, live entertainment, fun houses, train rides,
and hang gliding are just a few of the Dells' long list of attractions.
But the town's centerpiece is its half-dozen water parks, which cover
acres and acres of ground with the largest and tallest waterslides and
wave pools in the nation—there are even indoor water parks for winter
getaways. Be forewarned that this is primarily a family vacation
destination—but if you're a kid at heart anyway, the Dells might be the
perfect honeymoon for you.
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The Wisconsin Dells Visitors and
Convention Bureau offers the following advice for saving money during
your trip to the Dells:
-
Travel
midweek for reduced lodging rates, shorter lines, and smaller
crowds.
-
Consult
the "Great Places, Great Weekday Prices" guide, which divides
affordable Wisconsin Dells lodging into five price categories: Under
$39/night, $40-$59/night, $60-$79/night, $80-$99/night and
$100-$130/night. The guide is available at www.wisdells.com or by
calling 1-800-223-3557.
-
Surf the
web for Wisconsin Dells coupons; see
www.dells.com,
www.dellscoupons.com, and the websites of individual businesses.
-
Take
advantage of free entertainment. Many Wisconsin Dells resorts offer
guests free on-site entertainment. And from mid-June to late August
there is free street entertainment downtown every evening in the
Dells River District, ranging from bands and vocal groups to
jugglers and clowns.
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Rooms are available starting at about
$50 per night; hotels and resorts with waterparks range from around $100
(off-season) to $200+ (peak season). Rates for bed & breakfasts start at
around $100. If you're really pinching pennies, there is plenty of
camping available. Decide in advance how much you want to spend on the
area's many tourist attractions by sampling some of their websites in
advance.
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Things to
Do on a Wisconsin Dells Honeymoon
-
If fun in the water is what
brings you to the Wisconsin Dells, then stay at a resort whose
waterpark is for guests only (if it's closed to outside visitors, it
will be less crowded). Also consider visiting an indoor waterpark
sometime other than summer (when kids are in school).
-
Satisfy your need for speed
at Extreme World, where they'll be happy to send you both on a
110-foot skycoaster at 65 miles an hour, or on the ever-popular
100-foot unattached free fall. Or take the wheel on 17 elevated
go-kart tracks at the world's largest go-kart attraction, Big Chief
Carts & Coasters (hey, go-karts were the highlight of Robert Rummel-Hudson's
honeymoon—see below).
-
For something completely
different, visit the world's largest collection of circus
memorabilia at the nearby Circus World Museum, once the Ringling
Brothers' summer headquarters. Or view all of the world's 15 species
of cranes at the International Crane Foundation.
-
Get away from the hustle of the
tourist district to enjoy the Dells' natural beauty in Mirror
Lake State Park and Rocky Arbor State Park, or at one of the area's
riding stables, or on one of many golf courses.
-
For a romantic retreat,
consider staying at one of the Dells' many bed & breakfasts, or a
spa resort such as the much-touted Sundara Inn & Spa (which most
online reviewers loved, although a few report bad experiences with
poor service). And consider touring the Wollersheim Winery—after
all, what would a honeymoon be without wine?
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Fly Me to the
Moon
"Before we left for Wisconsin, I feared
that it might be a hokey touristy nightmare, but I also hoped against
hope that it would be romantic and fun and memorable. As is so often the
case for me, it turned out to be both." Robert Rummel-Hudson reports on
his 1998 honeymoon trip to the Wisconsin Dells with a dash of cynicism,
wit, and a good sense of humor—you might
just laugh out loud. Includes photos.
Wisconsin Dells Visitor & Convention Bureau
Virtually everything to see and do in
the Wisconsin Dells area is catalogued right here.
RatetheDells.com
In-depth reviews of every attraction,
hotel, and restaurant, more than 600 photos, plus—and this is the best
feature—more than 2,500 reviews from visitors to the Dells. Visitors'
reviews are sortable according to a variety of ratings. The only
downside to this site: Be prepared for a barrage of pop-up ads.
Wisconsin Dells (TripAdvisor)
More than 100 reviews of the Wisconsin
Dells by ordinary tourists and travel professionals. Tourist reviews
were very mixed when we visited—people either love or hate the Dells.
WisDells.net
A general guide to the Dells. Find
business listings and information in six categories: lodging,
attractions, things to do, photographs, resources, and area communities.
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Your honeymoon story
Have you done this trip (whether on
your honeymoon or other travel)? We'd love to hear about your experience
so we can share it with others . . . just
drop us a line.
Last Updated:
March 4, 2004
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