September 8, 2019
Did you know: Nearly 40% of visitors to the Dells come without kids in tow. Surprising, right? Clearly there’s a grown-up side to the “The Waterpark Capital of the World!®” that’s still a bit under the radar. Here are your insider finds for a fall escape sans children.
A Getaway Just for the Grown-ups
Grown-up Wisconsin Dells. Not an oxymoron. Not by a long shot actually, when you consider more than one-third of all travelers to “The Waterpark Capital of the World!®” come without children. That includes groups of friends, couples, solo travelers and parents too. What is the big attraction? Well, it’s the waterparks for starters, with indoor waterpark resorts like Wilderness Resort and Kalahari Resort serving up super-fun extreme rides and relaxing luxe cabanas to balance out all that exhilaration. Pro Tip: enjoy some time in the swim up bars!
But what else?
Golf is high on the list. Wild Rock Golf Club at the Wilderness hosted a qualifying round of the U.S. Open earlier this summer. Trappers Turn Golf Club was designed by Andy North and Roger Packard and Cold Water Canyon Golf Course at Chula Vista Resort has the feel of Scottish links. In total there are seven courses, they can all be found here…one-week getaway anyone?
Spa-goers from around the country are discovering that the Dells is a hot spot for spa-dom. The spa landscape is anchored by Sundara Inn & Spa, a destination spa with a new 40,000 square foot expansion. There are lovely on-site spas at Chula Vista Resort-after a day on the links order up a golf massage, it’s heavenly, Kalahari Resort and Great Wolf Lodge and day spas including Spa Serenity and Sun Mountain Spa dedicated to stress-relief.
Looking to layer on even more relaxation? Head to New Life Lavender & Cherry Farm for a tour and to learn about this calming purple plant. Be sure to stop in the farm store for homemade lavender ice cream and to purchase lavender products to take home.
Here’s another fact that surprises many: The Wisconsin Dells area is home to six distinct wineries. Book the Wisconsin Dells Trolley Tour to see Fawn Creek Winery and Baraboo Bluff Winery. Balanced Rock Winery and Broken Bottle Winery are the two newest additions to the winery scene. Prairie Hawk Winery serves hard cider and lemon mead in addition to wine. Finally, there’s the historic and much-awarded Wollersheim Winery & Distillery in nearby Prairie du Sac with vineyards overlooking the Wisconsin River Valley.
Adults can also try their luck at Ho-Chunk Gaming, Wisconsin Dells or sit back, relax and enjoy a romantic meal at one of the many fine dining establishments in the area. Live music and a night cap at Riverfront Terrace, in front of their outdoor fire pits, is the perfect ending to a crisp fall evening.
Perhaps it is time to get that grown-up escape to Wisconsin Dells on the calendar after all.