GUIDE TO VISITING THE WISCONSIN DELLS: WHERE TO STAY, PLAY & EAT

Our team loves the Wisconsin Dells, and it’s the perfect destination for a day trip or a mini-vacation with your crew. It’s a fun place to visit year-round!

From amusement parks, boat tours, shopping to waterparks galore, there are things for all ages and interests in the Dells.

Here’s a breakdown of our favorite things to do when we visit – we hope you find this list helpful as you plan your Dells trip!

This Guide is sponsored by our featured programs. We so appreciate the support of the community and the opportunity to present our readers with valuable resources such as these!

Where to Stay | Our Top Pick

Wilderness Resort

The Wilderness Resort is beautifully situated on 600 wooded acres in Wisconsin Dells and is home to Wilderness Hotel, which features 444 guest rooms, 40 Vacation Villas, 76 Frontier Condominiums and 35 cabins. It is also home to Wilderness on the Lake which features 108 luxurious two- and three-bedroom condominium units overlooking Lake Delton; and Glacier Canyon Lodge, which features 460 upscale condominium units.

Combined, these three properties are all about FAMILY FUN! With four indoor and four outdoor waterparks that total nearly 500,000 square feet your family can splash, slide, and laugh together across the equivalent of 12 football fields of water-filled excitement. Rain or shine, the adventure never stops!

And when you’re ready to dry off, the good times keep rolling:

  • Wander through the glowing magic of Aquavia Lumina, an enchanted night walk through a canyon of wonders
  • Soar together on the Take Flight Aerial Adventure Ride
  • Let the kids climb, explore, and imagine at Timberland Playhouse
  • Challenge each other to laser tag, mini golf, climbing walls or escape rooms (who’s the best problem-solver in the family?)
  • Race side-by-side on go-karts or conquer the sky ropes course
  • Golf at the award-winning Wild Rock Golf Club or The Woods 9-hole golf course.

There’s truly something for every age—from little adventurers to thrill-seeking teens and yes, parents and grandparents too!

Finally, when it’s time to refuel, the resort has plenty of tasty dining options including Field’s at the Wilderness Steakhouse; Sarento’s Italian Restaurant; Survivors Bar & Grille; Camp Social Food Hall; Swimm’n Chick’n and many other quick service options.

The Wilderness isn’t just a great resort, it’s a place where family memories are made and smiles and laughter fill your days.

511 East Adams – Wisconsin Dells, WI

(608) 253-9729

What to Do | Our Top Picks

Knuckleheads Trampoline and Indoor Amusement Park

At Knuckleheads Trampoline and Indoor Amusement Park in Wisconsin Dells, you are in for a fun-packed family experience. There is a bit of something for everyone to enjoy whether you’re a kid or a kid at heart. Visit Knuckleheads & Booby Trap Escape Rooms for unlimited indoor family fun! Go-karts, mini-golf, amusement rides, a huge arcade, trampoline park, cosmic bowling and a full bar & grill all under one roof. Stop in with your family and friends or book your upcoming special event at Knuckleheads.

We are open year-round and are conveniently located next to Buffalo Phil’s Pizza & Grille, Booby Trap Escape Rooms, and Outlets at the Dells. 

150 North Gasser Road – Wisconsin Dells

(608) 254-7332

Take Flight

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Located in the Wilderness Resort

(800) 867-9453

D.O.A. Room Escape

Twister Black Out

350 E. Hiawatha Drive – Wisconsin Dells, WI

(608) 254-5253 ext: 8032

Booby Trap Escape Rooms

100 North Gasser Road, Suite B – Wisconsin Dells, WI

(608) 253-0933

Big Cat Rescue

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305 Pine Street – Rock Springs, WI

(608) 524-5466

Wilderness Canyon Zip Line

Zipline Girl BEST SHOT - Copy

Located in the Wilderness Resort

(800) 867-9453

Pirate's Cove

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Located at the intersection of Highways 12-13-16-23 – Wisconsin Dells

(608) 254-7500

Wizard Quest

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400 Broadway – Wisconsin Dells, WI

(608) 253-0324

WI Duck Tours

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1890 Wisconsin Dells Parkway (Hwy 12)

(608) 254-8751

Circus World

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550 Water St – Baraboo, WI

(608) 356-8341

Where to Eat | Our Top Picks

Buffalo Phil's Pizza & Grille

Bring your family along to enjoy a one-of-a-kind dining experience at Buffalo Phil’s Wisconsin Dells! Miniature trains deliver food right to your table. While you’re here, check out our massive collection of Brick Cities and our NEW Mini Sphere on the 2nd level. Buffalo Phil’s is locally owned and is open year-round! Our large building accommodates all family sizes, big & small, and is perfect for large groups. The mouthwatering menu includes Rotisserie Chicken, BBQ Pizzas, Burgers, Sandwiches, Pasta, Steak, Seafood, and Lil Buckaroo Meals.
 
Buffalo Phil’s is connected to Knuckleheads Trampoline Park- Rides – Bowling with Booby Trap Escape Rooms and the Outlets at the Dells right next door! That’s a lot of fun in one convenient stop.

150 Gasser Road – Wisconsin Dells, WI

(608) 254-7300

Moosejaw Pizza

110 Wisconsin Dells Parkway South – Wisconsin Dells, WI

(608) 254-1122

The Grateful Shed

1470 Wisconsin Dells Pkwy – Wisconsin Dells, WI

(608) 253-0588

Helpful Tips!

Are you getting the mini-vacation itch yet??

If you’ve never done the hotel-with-kids thing, here are a few quick tips to make the experience go smoother:

  • Bring some kind of white noise. Bring a large fan and position it between the “kid” side of the room and the “adult” side and you won’t have to worry about waking them up with any little sound!
  • Invest in a room with a little separation. Wilderness offers suites, condos & villas, which are great if you have a big crew, or just need a little extra space!
  • Consider springing for a room with a balcony. This might seem like an unnecessary luxury, but again: when you have very young kids, separation is critical to hotel success. A balcony offers a great option for adult hang-out time after the kids are down for the night.
  • Ask for a room with a mini fridge and microwave. These are pretty common in hotels these days, but not every room has them, so it’s worth checking it out in advance. It is so much easier to be able to prepare meals/snacks (especially breakfast) in the comfort of your room, rather than having to scramble to get to a restaurant with a hangry toddler.
  • Pack paper cups/plates AND/OR dish soap/cloths to wash your plastic stuff. Easy to forget—tragic to forget.
  • Bring entertainment for the adults. This is usually the last thing on your mind when you’re planning for a kids’ vacay, but it’s kind of depressing to get the kids to bed and then realize you have nothing quiet enough to do. Bring a book (and a mini light!), a laptop (possibly with headphones), or some other activity that requires minimal sound/light.

Q: Seasoned Dells travelers, what would you add to this list?

Want to be a part of our Guide?

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P.S. Did we miss one of your favorite attractions in our round-up? Let us know and we’d be happy to add it!

 
Madison Family
Madison is such a cool city. We love it around here. We live here too and our vision is to create a platform where real parents share real stories and we can all learn from one another. You will get to know real moms doing life right here in our neighborhoods and find information on a wealth of topics – local summer camps, preschools, swim lessons, shops and boutiques, events and experiences as so much more.

49 COMMENTS

  1. We always, always, always bring food healthy enough to be considered “dinner” in a pinch. granola bars, string cheese, yogurt, etc. even though our little one is a great eater, sometimes she gets overwhelmed in restaurants and its nice to feel like we have options!

  2. We love going to the indoor waterparks in the Dells and can’t wait to take our little girl there when she is a bit older. I love how many great options Great Wolf Lodge has for the little ones!

  3. We always make sure the kids get outside time/exercise before we get in the car for a road trip. It is so easy to get so caught up in packing and loading the car that it is easy to forget to burn off energy before getting in the car; however, this makes for a much more pleasant trip for all. I’m also not above providing lots of snacks on airplanes to keep the peace.

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