I’m going on a roadtrip this weekend to see all the roadside deviations that Wisconsin can afford. First stop, House on the Rock. I’ve been once before, but I’m going with someone hasn’t and it’s a good place to start. After that, heading up towards Madison to see the Forevertron and then to the Dells. I’ve never been there and I’m wondering what to see and do in March there.
You’re going to The House on the Rock a second time???
[sub]the horror the horror[/sub]
Whyn’tcha go to Taliesin or something? It’ll please the senses rather than hurt them.
I wish! They’re not open til May.
The Dells is kind of asleep until Labor Day, being that most of it consists of mini golf, go-karts, water parks and roller coasters.
Most of the other, um, “attractions” are closed until then. I suppose there’s maybe one or two brave souls staying open all winter to provide taffy, moccasins, t-shirts, and pictures of wolves painted on crosscuts of wood, but not too many. If I were you, I’d just head to Baraboo and hit up the casino.
I went to the Wisconsin Dells once. I was driving to Minneapolis and encountered about 250 miles of road signs advertising the famous Wisconsin Dells. So, I figured I’d stop and check them out.
You know how Colorado people feel about New England “mountains”? As if they barely deserve the name? That’s how New Englanders feel about the Wisconsin Dells. They’re OK if you’ve never actually seen a hill before.
My understanding of the Dells (as a Chicagoan who’s never had even the slightest desire to see them) is that it’s a money pit aimed at people with children. Not much to actually SEE. It’s buy, buy, buy. A weekend trip to nearly anywhere would be more fun than THAT, especially in the cold weather. But have fun anyway!
You could try a shoe-leather sandwich at the Sand Bar.
I think they had a quaint name for the shoe leather. Like “beef” or “Steak”, but once you have it, you’ll know the truth. In college we always stopped there for a pitcher and a SL Sammich on the way to Chicago. My Chicago friends would make us stop there, because it was the closest place to Saint Paul that had Old Style on tap.
Aww, not a lot of love for the Dells here. I was thinking of stopping by the Ripley’s Believe or Not Museum. I know it’s gonna be off season, but it’s along the way back home from the HotR too.
When I was a kid, my parents took me there several times.
First time was fun. Second time, so-so, and third time I was bored out of my mind.
Considering this was between the ages of 7-10, that should tell you how exciting the Wisconsin Dells is.
Wisconsin itself is truly beautiful, and there are lots and lots of other places I would rather spend my time.
In the early 70s, before Cheap Trick formed, Robin Zander spent three summers there entertaining the tourists.
[/completely left-field hijack]
My wife and I were in Wisconsin Dells in August of 1998. We had a great time, but most of that was enjoying the Tommy Bartlett Waterski show, which I can’t imagine runs in March.
The Ripley Believe it or Not Museum was fun though if you’ve seen one elsewhere, you don’t need to see this one, and there was also something called Robot World, sort of a mini science museum which left us underwhelmed.
You might want to consider going to nearby Baraboo, where the very nice Circus World Museum is.
Philistine.
My goodness … Wisconsin tourist attractions.
Now I see why the people in Wisconsion drink so much.
You can always stop at the Bong Recreational Area, which isn’t nearly as amusing as it sounds.
The House on the Rock. It makes me think of what walking through Terry Gilliam’s head would be like. Really bizzare. Kitchy and cool.
As a transplant to Chicago, I had never heard of the Dells until a couple years ago. I’ve gotten people to explain the concept to me a few times, but I’m still baffled. Why not just go to regular Wisconsin? It’s pretty, and they have cheese.
Did you see the picture for the woodcarving museum - It’s like a walk through a wooden Bible - one of the figures is hanging themselves.
The Dells did develop around an extremely scenic part of the Wisconsin River, and in the early days, the draw of the place was cruising the river and seeing the rock formations, hiking around the trails, and staying at a lodge near the river to escape summer heat.
Over time it evolved into what it is now. Water parks, go-kart tracks, fudge stores, indian casino, all that is Niagara Falls except no falls to drown out the incessant screeching of the tourists.
But riding the ducks thru the lower dells is still cool.
I’ve been to the Dells three times. Once in winter. It’s closed. Twice in summer with different family groups. Lots of fun for little kids that like water parks.
The ducks were, indeed, cool. But don’t sit in the very back seats. When they go from land to water, a large wave comes over the back and into the passenger compartment.
Trust me.
The Circus Wagon Pavilion alone is worth the price of admission. (NOTE:Not a recommended stop for those having a fear of clowns!)
Since you’l be there on the weekend, though, it might not be open. According to their website, off-season hours are 10-4 Monday thru Friday.