Considering an old-fashioned road-trip to the Dells this summer. Planning a few water parks, some lumberjack show, and probably a few excursions on boats with the kids. 10-11 year olds. Then maybe swing thru Milwaukee and Green Bay before hitting the Mall of Americas.

Any tips for anyone that's done something similar?

ETA: Sorry -- Driving from Colorado...mainly b/c last year we had too many flying trips and neglected roadtrips so I want to balance it out for my kids. Like the idea of passing through Lincoln, Omaha, Des Moines, etc. The route should essentially be a straight shot out east and then a loop around. But like I said above, looking for tips along the way. Two nights ago a Wisconsin girl was really hyping going up to Sturgeon Bay where her family has a lake house.

Timing -- pretty flexible. I'm a road warrior, so I can handle 8hr shots through Nebraska each way...probably doing this over a 12-day period.

Where you driving from? If you don't mind skipping Milwaukee and Green Bay I'd suggest any of the resorts in the Brainerd, MN area, then you're swinging through the Twin Cities and can see stuff there as well.

Driving? if so what route from where how long is your trip?

Not been to the Dells, but we drive to Wisconsin a minimum of 2 times a year. Sitting in Northern WI right now. Can't give tips in Milwaukee or green bay, but can likely give tips on driving/routes.

Twin Cities resident here...From the Dells, Milwaukee/Green Bay and the Twin Cities are opposite directions. I would go one direction or the other. If you went Milwaukee/Green Bay, drive down to Chicago and then home from there. If I was doing that trip, what I would probably do is go from the Dells up to Duluth. Tons of cool things to do up there, then come down 35 to the Twin Cities and then back to TX from there.

Also, biggest tip is to decide your routing soon and book your Lodging ASAP. The good places fill quickly in the summer.

Sooner Born said:

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Twin Cities resident here...From the Dells, Milwaukee/Green Bay and the Twin Cities are opposite directions. I would go one direction or the other. If you went Milwaukee/Green Bay, drive down to Chicago and then home from there. If I was doing that trip, what I would probably do is go from the Dells up to Duluth. Tons of cool things to do up there, then come down 35 to the Twin Cities and then back to TX from there.

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Not a bad suggestion if you're set on the Dells

Appreciate all the tips so far. Should have noted my basic path initially -- also that we're looking at being there over 4th of July.

Strawman:

• Jun 29/30 - Denver to Omaha
• Jul1 -- Get squared away in the Dells ... stay there min. 5 nights (few water parks, shows, boat rides, etc.)
• Jul 7 -- Leave and take my sweet time to see things I want to see: Milwaukee, Green Bay, Duluth and Brainerd were interesting ideas I hadn't considered. Keep it coming.
• Mall of Americas is a must. For some strange reason, I've had a ton of clients in my career based out of MSP & I've always bought little gifts at that place and showed my family photos. Will be cool having them with me finally.
• Need to be home by the evening of the 10th

Thanks!

Brainerd would take the place of the Dells, not really a stop and see place. If you went there and cut out WI entirely, and spent more than a day in the Twin Cities you'd easily fill your time.

Didn't realize you were in Denver. On that itinerary, I would go Dells to Duluth to MSP. You could swing through Mount Rushmore in SD on the way home.

dreyOO said:

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Appreciate all the tips so far. Should have noted my basic path initially -- also that we're looking at being there over 4th of July.

Strawman:

• Jun 29/30 - Denver to Omaha
• Jul1 -- Get squared away in the Dells ... stay there min. 5 nights (few water parks, shows, boat rides, etc.)
• Jul 7 -- Leave and take my sweet time to see things I want to see: Milwaukee, Green Bay, Duluth and Brainerd were interesting ideas I hadn't considered. Keep it coming.
• Mall of Americas is a must. For some strange reason, I've had a ton of clients in my career based out of MSP & I've always bought little gifts at that place and showed my family photos. Will be cool having them with me finally.
• Need to be home by the evening of the 10th

Thanks!

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as someone who has done the Dells with kids 5 days is WAY to much

I would take at least one if not two of those days to spend elsewhere

also at least a 1/2 day at Omaha Zoo, arguably the best in America

I suggest -2 day dells, 1 day Maddison, 1 day green bay, 1 day door county (just don't spend Sunday night in green bay, nothing is open).
I didn't care for Milwaukee.

We did a bit of Wisconsin a few years ago. I wanted to see FLW's Taliesin.

We happened to stop at The House on the Rock, and boy, was it something. I was overwhelmed. It had a little bit of everything. The guy that created it was a little "out there."

Your kids would probably LOVE it. There's a LOT to see and it's like a maze.

We tried to make a quick morning tour of it, and had to run to get through it in a couple of hours, so if you decide to go, give yourself a full day to see it all properly. There's a restaurant inside, so you can get a bite for lunch there. I don't think they allow you to bring in food, but we didn't try.

It's south of the Dells near Green Spring.

https://www.thehouseontherock.com/

if you are going to Duluth, I'd suggest making a side trip to Apostle Islands on the way in/out, depending on your route.

Damn there are a lot of good nuggets on here now. Making me want to really explore. I will say 5 nights is probably overkill for the Dells, but my wife hates moving hotels every 1-2 days. So I was trying to have a good respite somewhere in there. Even if the Dells is a central hopping off location for day trips.

We went during fourth of july time as well.

Madison had a decent fireworks show as our plans changed from watching in Chicago

Without knowing anything about you orevious trips and knowing what you want to do and see i would tell you
dont skip a day in Omaha at the zoo even if you have to push driving the following day

Dells is three days at most IMO we did duck boat tour which was kinda fun and both indoor and outdoor waterparks with Noah's Arc being the best

a new ride opened up at Mount Olypmus water park that seems pretty cool

https://www.mtolympuspark.com/specials/americas-first-coming-in-2022/

I would either break up the Dells part into two parts and hit up Milwaukee and Green Bay on side day trips
and schedule a tour of Lambeau if you can If the kids like baseball you can hit up Milwaukee for a Brewers game and Target Field when you go to the Twin Cities after for Mall of America, Both have home series while you are in the area

I also echo the poster who said Mt Rushmore (not needing more than an hour or so honestly) but include the Western part of South Dakota which has some great state and national parks and then head south back home

I had to jump into the response on this one as it is rare to see WisDells in this forum. I live NW of Chicago and close to the Wisc border. A few thoughts and happy to connect offline and help with more details, if needed.

Dells - 3 day / 3 waterparks is good. If you stay longer to break it up a bit as there are some excursions close by that you can do. Madison, Devlis State Park. This part of Wisc will feel more like Colorado than typical flat Midwest.

Chicago - I would not venture there unless you and family are dying to go. If you do it is Millennium Park, Museum, Aquarium, Navy Pier. Best thing in the summer is Ravinia (outdoor concert every night in the upscale Highland Park area.

Milwaukee - Brewers game is good but avoid a gave vs. the Cubs. Harley Davidson Museum is cool. Hit a beach one day (better in WI that Chicago). Cold water but Lake Michigan Beaches are nice. Brewery tour.

Wisconsin - A lot of water, river, lake things to do across the state. Book early as all of Illinois goes North in the summer. Minocqua is a great lake town with many summer things to do.

Green Bay - Many people go to Door County near by but I don't get it.

Kohler - well for Kohler history and great golf. Factory tour, good beaches in Sheboygan. A bit of Americana

I would stay away from the southern trip through Iowa / Illinois and get North. A good stop along the way is Lake Okobojii in NW Iowa coming out of Nebraska. Rochester MN not a bad stopping place either.

Thanks man. How much time would you slot for Milwaukee, Kohler and Green Bay? I'm trying to figure out if I should just trim the Dells nights or make them like individual day trips.

appreciate the thought on squeezing in a ballgame. That would make my trip to slow it down and enjoy it a bit. The tour at Lambeau might be stretching it though

Really depends on what you and the family want to do on the trip. Milwaukee / Kohler is 2 days total depending on how much time at the Beach or walking around Milwaukee you want to do. For Green Bay I am not sure what to do up there as I have never been. The positive about Wisconsin is everything is close by for driving so no long trips.

Going to come down to what you and kids want to do.

Curious question if no Lambeau tour what do you want to go to Green Bay for ?? Just curious because although a bucket list stadium for me I don't think I would explore that area in not for Lambeau

There isn't anything in Green Bay.
Day trip at most.

Selfishly, Lambeau your and goofing around town for lunch sounds great to me. Just gotta convince the fam

Best summer Wisconsin trip we did was on Lake Superior at the Inn on Madeline Island. We explored the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore and took a kid friendly Northern Lights Adventures fishing charter( that might have been the best part). One of the best summer trips of all time for us. We always consider the Dells because they are close to Madison and we always stop in Madison. However we've never made it to the Dells.

Bump…just in case there are any other tips

We leave on Wed by way of South Dakota. Gonna hit Rushmore and a few things along the way. Fair amount of "winging it" to this one.

This sounds like a great trip! Can't wait to see the results!