Suggestions for the Dells?

A week from today we leave for the Dells. I haven't been to the Dells in about 20 years! Obviously, we plan to go to Mt. Olympus, and I would like to ride the "Ducks" again. I pretty much know what the Dells has to offer. What attractions are worth going to? What attractions should I avoid? Any great places to eat?

Jeff...if you disapprove of this, I understand if you delete it.

Thanks!

Noah‘s Ark is well worth the day if you like water parks.

Also Pizza Pub, which is right across the street from Noah's Ark has fantastic Chicago Style Pizza.

Edited to add Pizza Pub. *** Edited 6/14/2006 5:36:33 PM UTC by Touchdown***

I really enjoy the Riverside and Great Northern Railway miniature train museum a few blocks north of where Timber Falls is located.

http://www.randgn.com/

If you like role playing and searching for clues and trying to figure out puzzles you would like Wizard Quest.

The obvious ones that one would do up there are Timber Falls for Avalanche, but you might want to do at least one round of mini-golf. Also Mt. Olympus for all of their coasters. If you have time and like waterparks Noah's Ark is great.

AVOID:
Wonder Spot
Top Secret

Don't go to Top Secret. You will be disappointed. I was. Also, try this. http://www.ratethedells.com Make sure you go to the Lost Canyon tour though because it was great! *** Edited 6/14/2006 5:51:07 PM UTC by stoogemanmoe***

A friend of mine highly recommends Wonder Spot, so if you're into magic/paranormal stuff, consider that.

But make sure you don't pass up Avalanche at Timber Falls. Take advantage of their evening discount--great deal!

I went to Wonder Spot and it to me was just a rip off as on obvious optical illusion that did not fool me at all.

The Ducks tour was pretty good, but there are several companies that do tours. I recommend the original Duck company right across from Mt. Olympus. We did the lower part of the Dells.

I also liked the Moose Jaw Pizza and Brewery Company, and I'm not really a pizza and beer person. They have other things on the menu besides pizza, the raspberry creme ale was quite good, and the rustic interior was interesting.

It's been mentioned already but this point can't be overstated. DO NOT MISS AVALANCHE! Like AV said, go in the evening for the reduced rate and ride to your heart's content. You can get as many rides as you want on this little gem. I got well over 30 rides in my 2 hour stay along with several log flume rides and some 'chillin' time.

If you're into gambling, there is a casino just outside of the Dell's. I can't remember the name of the town it's in, but it's not that far away and it's good for a little late night action.

*** Edited 6/14/2006 11:14:30 PM UTC by Incidentalist***

^You obviously dont live anywhere near the Dells, the name of the casino is the Ho Chunk Casino (their billboards are everywhere across the state.)

If you'd look at my profite you would notice that I indeed do not live near the Dell's. I've only been to the Dell's once. Sorry I didn't remember the name of a random casino in the middle of Wisconsin that I visited over a year ago. But like you said, you can't miss the ads and that's how I ended up there late one evening.

^It wasnt ment as an insult (well actually it was at the casino, I hate places that pepper the surrounding 200 miles with billboards) sorry I offended you, I was mearly pointing out to the OP that as he got closer to the Dells he would get very familar with the name.

A rep from Timber Falls told me last week that they have discontinued the night pass. However, the regular all day deal was lowered to $14.95 (which was the nite only price) so it is really a good deal! Add to that the 2 for 1 coupons available on Dells sites and you really have a great deal.

Timber Falls Log Flume is fun as well.

Definately schedule a trip on the Original Dells Experience Jet Boats. These guys started the jet boat tours in the Dells. They are NOT the ones that you see in the tourist area of the dells. They are the red boats, and they are located on the outskirts of the dells. A real redneck mom and pop group. Their boats have the largest motors and the pilot is insane. Doing 360's across the water at high speed, plus they will get real close ( a few feet ) from the rock walls along the dells. Informational and a thrill ride all in one.

I rate these guys just a step behind Avalanche. Sit in the front three rows and get soaked.

Check them out at www.dellsjetboats.com or 1-608-254-8246

Heres a two day plan to hit the Amusement parks of the dells.

Day one, Drive one hour south and do Little Amerricka. Its not a big park by any means but it can be fun, The minature railway is Astounding and on weekends runs live steam. About 3pm head back to the Dells and do Timberfalls evening package. You will get the flume and about as many rides as you can handle on Avalanche, You might even take on a game of mini golf on their accross the street course which are far better than the one in the middle of the coaster/flume.

Allow a full day for Mt. Olympus and while Im sure you want coasters it will take a day to get five or six rides on Hades and still do the rest of the park. Don't miss the Possidon Go Kart track, For adults it's a hoot to blast past the kids on the downhill portion, Also a little airtime :)

We did the Duck tours that are near the entrance to Mt. O on the oposite side of the road, Aobut a hour long and worth every penny. However do be prepared for the begging for tips spiel at the end where they will pass out duck calls and postcards and ask for a three dollar donation to keep em.

I missed that other Railroad someone posted above but loved Little Amerrickas (Mostly cause we got a backshop and roundhouse tour) but they also got a pretty good zoo going as well as the amusement park.

Didn't do the wizards quest and other maze/mystery things as we were on a budget which we actually beat.

Have fun but remember you can do timberfalls and something or many other things in the same day therefore freeing up time.

Chuck

Can't stress Avalanche enough! It is one of those coasters that you can't possibly believe how great it is until you actually experience it. Whatever you do, don't pass it up to save money or time. Make it happen! You will be pleased, unless you don't care for airtime, then AVOID it! ;)

Also, don't just do the coasters at Mt. Olympus. I tend to not get excited about go-karts, especially when there are some great coasters to ride, but I find once I ride one, I really get into it and want to ride all the different tracks they have instead of going back to Hades. They really are a lot of fun!

The same goes for waterparks. Once I get into that mode, before I know it, I've been in the waterpark for six hours (like at Splashin' Safari for HWN). So don't think you can get by with just a few hours at Mt. Olympus. It's easy to spend the whole day there! Take advantage of it and enjoy everything they have to offer instead of cramming in as many stops as you can. :)

You guys ROCK!!! Thank you so much!

Things I will NOT pass up...
Avalanche
Original Ducks
Mt. Olympus

My first experience on a multi level go-cart track was in Pigeon Forge, TN. When I discovered Mt. O, I HAD to go! I'm sooo excited about next week!

We will be leaving Indy after work on Wednesday(6.21.06) and will be staying in Skokie, IL. (my Aunt is a General Manager at a hotel there) Thursday morning, we head to the Dells. We'll have most of the day Thursday, all day Friday and Saturday and we head back on Sunday(6.25.06). I have a feeling we'll have plenty of time to do all the things we want to do at a nice relaxing pace.

I'll make sure I post a trip report about it when I get back. :-)

Thanks again!

I did Avalanche last week about 30 times. It's running really rough this year, especially the pair of turns above the entrance. Really brutal, I still have bruises on my ribs!!! The front two rows had the right hand seat out - one has a problem with the bar, the other has a missing seatbelt. The incredible part for me was that the guy running the train the day I was there said it was his first day, and that he hadn't ridden the coaster yet! But, other than the roughness, it was still fun. It's just really brutal if you ride in the rear car. I don't know how long this coaster will be around at this rate with them having to lower their prices just to get people in the gate, before the season has even started. Maybe it will be better for them and bring more volume, I don't know. IF you haven't ridden it, come ride it now!

Also, do NOT miss the log ride here, it's one of the better log rides out there, even if it's not the biggest or wettest. It moves along nicely, has some small rapids, is themed a bit, and gets you wet on both drops.

BTW, Wizards quest was cheezy fun, and a good way to waste an hour or so.

-Chris *** Edited 6/15/2006 1:34:10 PM UTC by Isca***

Food wise I would suggest Paul Bunyan's. Great "home cook'n" and all you can eat. It's not a buffet. They just keep bringing the food until you've said "enough". Find the Wallgreen's and head towards 94. It should be just on the right.

Also, if you do the boats AND the ducks do not do the lower dells on the boat. The ducks show the same stuff as the boats aside from going on land. And yes, they will try to sell you a pen or post cards mid way through the trip.

So boats upper dells, ducks lower dells.

Noha's Ark is fun but very poorly laid out. Just randomly place slides everywhere. And get footwear to swim in.

Everyone else has some of the same Ideas (Ho Chunk casino, Little-A-Merrik-A) and would only add that leave some surprise in your trip. The place changes a little every year.

Would anyone have a status on Meteor at L-A-M-A?

Yes, the log flume is a great flume. Very fast, turny and nice mountain theming.

Surely Avalanche hasn't changed all that much since last September. I rode it about 30 times in the backseat the Friday night of Labor Day Weekend, and I felt it for about a week later, but it wasn't what I would call brutal. It just tosses you around like a ragdoll and if you sit on the right side, your ribs will definitely get some abuse. :)

I'm actually going to be there the same weekend as you, coasterlover325. I'm taking some friends up Friday night to Timber Falls and all day Saturday to Mt. Olympus for their first Dells experience. Can't wait to introduce them to Avalanche. I hope I don't find it to be in as brutal of condition as Isca did.

I can't believe no one has mentioned Avalanche at Timber Falls. DO NOT miss it! ;)