Top 11 Things To Do in Wisconsin Dells (beyond the water parks!)
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Wisconsin Dells may be known as the water park capital but there are so many additional activities to enjoy. The region is incredibly scenic too with bluffs, rivers, lakes and rolling hills.
Ryan and I spent a summer weekend exploring the area and loved all the outdoor activities, local cafes, wineries and unique local features like supper clubs and a river ferry. Read on for the Top 11 Things to do in Wisconsin Dells!
Where to Stay
We had the chance to stay at two great properties during our visit and I’d recommend them both!
Note: our stays were hosted. Opinions are my own.
Best Western Baraboo
If you’re looking for a great value, conveniently located hotel with personal service, stay at the Best Western Baraboo. It’s closer to Devils Lake and all of the great Baraboo activities. Our room was super clean and we enjoyed having a grab and go breakfast option in the morning. There is also a Best Western in Wisconsin Dells centrally if you’d like to be closer to the buzzing activity!
Inn at Wawanissee Point
If you’d like a romantic couples weekend, stay at the Inn at Wawanissee Point. Everything about our stay was rejuvenating and wonderful. It’s adults only and meant to be a very relaxing stay. Plus, the view was stunning. Read more about our stay here!
1. Visit a Lavender Farm (seasonal)
I had no idea the region had so many stunning lavender farms and we were lucky to visit New Life Lavender & Cherry Farm at the very end of its season. For optimal lavender time, go sometime between mid June and mid July. In addition to walking through the fields, enjoy a lavender blueberry shake and a slice of lavender cherry pie. The farm grows cherries too and the pie is amazing!
2. Brunch at Bella Goose Coffee
One of the cutest and trendiest cafes in the region is Bella Goose. Their breakfast items are delicious as are their drinks. The oat milk chai was one of the best I’ve had anywhere. And don’t miss their homemade waffle! We loved enjoying our meal on their patio overlooking the Lower Dells.
3. Take an Upper Dells Boat Tour
The Upper Dells area is really beautiful with the limestone cliffs and is full of interesting history. The boat tour with Upper Dells Boat Tour provided tons of great information along with 2 scenic stops. The jokes can be a bit cheesy (no pun intended) but they really did a great job ensuring all the guests had fun.
4. Eat Dinner at MACS
You can’t go to Wisconsin without enjoying some Wisconsin cheese! We indulged in a cheese based meal at MACS – I created a custom veggie cheddar cheese dish that was rich and delicious. Ryan enjoyed his Buffalo chicken cheese sandwich too.
5. Enjoy Old Fashioneds at Ishnala Supper Club
Wisconsin’s number one supper club Ishnala is located right in the area so it’s a must visit! While dinner waits can be long, there’s no wait to visit the outdoor bars which also serve appetizers. We enjoyed a classic Old Fashioned along with cheese curds and spinach artichoke dip.
6. Take a Duck Boat Ride
I was so intrigued by the amphibian vehicle concept so we had to take an Original Wisconsin Duck boat ride. It was really fun going from driving on the road to boating in the Wisconsin River and Lake Delton. The jokes were also a little cheesy on this boat ride but once again they did a great job ensuring everyone had fun. I enjoyed the commentary on the history of the area the most.
7. Paddleboard at Mirror Lake State Park
Mirror Lake is one of the most scenic places in the Dells and the perfect place to paddleboard since it’s a wake free zone. Read more about our paddleboard experience here including where to rent.
8. Hike at Devils Lake State Park
Devils Lake State Park may be one of the best state parks we’ve ever visited. The hiking is scenic, the lake is a blue-green color and there’s a very relaxing vibe overall. We hiked from the south parking lot to Balanced Rock and Devil’s Doorway. It’s a pretty steep rocky climb but the route is fairly short. It took us about 75 minutes round trip. This is also a great spot to paddleboard.
9. Sample Beverages at Wollersheim Winery & Distillery
Wollersheim Winery & Distillery is one of the most stunning estates in the Midwest. It dates back to the 1840’s when the first grapes were planted. Some of the original structures that stand today are from the 1800’s. The current owners began to restore the property in the 1970’s and the winemaker came to the estate from France in the 1980’s. The entire property is beautiful and well worth an entire afternoon visit.
10. Ride on Wisconsin’s only free ferry
The Merrimac Ferry is Wisconsin’s only free ferry and a fun way to get across Lake Wisconsin en route to Wollersheim. It only took about 7 minutes once the ferry was ready to cross. We don’t have ferries in Minnesota that I’ve seen so I found it really fun!
11. Enjoy Vegan Cuisine at Cheeze Factory
Even if you aren’t vegan, check out Cheeze Factory in Baraboo. They make delicious plant based meals and we overheard others say they come there even though they do eat meat.
I hope you’re ready to plan a trip with all these fun things to do in Wisconsin Dells! For more US travel ideas, check out my guides here.
Happy Planning!
