Vacation Review

CallMeAl

Destination: Wisconsin Dells

After doing the Gulf Coast a Gazillion Times, the Mrs and I went the opposite direction...North to the Dells.

A 6hr drive is much better than double to Florida, so that's a plus!

I won't make this too long, so here are the pluses and minuses...

It basically geared towards kids and summer activities. Waterparks rule.

Weather permitting, it would keep you busy. Unfortunately, it rained about half the time for us.

Golf is pretty decent. I would recommend Wild Rock (Wide Fairways but Fast And Demanding Greens).

Coldwater Canyon is good too. But not on the level of Wildrock. Near Chula Vista which is a Recommend stay. Geared towards adults with fewer kids.

Christmas Mountain (The Oaks) is a better course than you think when you're in the clubhouse or at the range. Those are 4/10... the course is 7.5-8/10.

Trappers Turn Is the top in the area, but quite pricey.

Attractions wise, the 2 hour river tour is definitely worth the price of admission! Just be sure to take a jacket. One stop is easily 20* cooler...

Like I said, waterparks, ziplines, go carts are the the norm. If you like those, you'll be OK.

One big regret is going to Ishnala Supper Club. Quite Pricey which would have been fine, but the waitress spilled Balsamic Vinegar dressing down my wife's dress and they done NOTHING to rectify it!

I spoke to the manager who said "Here's my card. Get it cleaned and I'll pay for it"

I told him we were out of town, he said email me....Yea Right! I would Pass, but you do you...

Josés Mexican Restaurant is quite good, Mexicana Rose...Not So Much ( All new staff being trained and weak drinks that Don't fill the glass...)

We also ate at Monks, but they lost power in the middle of our meal. So make that what you will. Food was good though!

Ripley's is worth the look too. Good for a couple hours during the rain (like it did on us).

There's the short version. I'll ammendment as I remember what went on.

Also did a Root Beer Museum. Meh on the museum, but Big Props on the Root Beer!

One Final Thing...Bourbon Hunting. Nil, Zero, Nada. Overpriced and Under Stocked....That's All I Gotta Say...

Overall...With kids 8/10 adults only 6/10 weather dependant. We had a "Good" time...not a "Great" time.

rsvman2

Did you mean Fire Ridge? Can't find a Firerock course in Wisconsin.

Par4QC

rsvman2 😉Wild Rock

CallMeAl

rsvman2
Indeed Wildrock....Been A Looong Day....

ode

Wild Rock is my second favorite course next to Lawsonia Links. Same designers as Erin Hills! A really great view from 5 tee. I always go to the back and take pics....and quite the hole too. #15 the quarry par 3 is fun to play one from each side or one from the back (which is in between the up and next set of tees).....cool you can play a hole from ~ 100* sort of.semi-circle to drive around to get.tomthe green.and dispersed tee boxes.. I dunno if there is one standout whole but 18 damn good holes! Love the back 9 at Xmas mountain it really is beautiful and fun and quiet the contrast from the front, which has a few blah holes. Greens are very good.

If you ever go back, Reedsburg CC is good. I really like Northern Bay ~ 35 minute ride from dells but worth it IMO. A dive bar with good beer = Showboat. And a good brewery Al Ringling Brewing.in Baraboo ~ 20 mins. Quite the piece of property there!

scotts33

Wisconsin Dells as Cheeseheads call it.....the armpit of Wisconsin. It's a FIB destination. Should have gone to The Del Bar for ribeye. Reedsburg CC undulating fast greens and Wild Rock OK.

Bourbon hunting.... waste of time we are beer folks. ☺ You missed the big mixed drink in Cheeseland an Old Fashioned at a supper club The Del Bar. My preference brandy sweet.

Or....

ode

scotts33 armpit

Lol....I was waiting for you to go there🙃

It is beautiful country with the glacier formed rock, etc.

DonM

As a FIB (fuckin Illinois bastard), we liked the traditional up north cabin on the lake vacation, but we did the Dells a couple of times. The kids loved it. I’ve encountered other Wisconsinites who share Scott’s disdain. I told one guy that his kids were missing out on a classic American experience, right in their backyard.

ode

DonM we go every summer once as my nephews boy is that age, although now in his teens.....it might not be quite as big a thing for him. Dad, bro, and I play golf Saturday morning. We should be the ones with the tolls😉

scotts33

ode It is beautiful country with the glacier formed rock, etc.

Nothing wrong with Mirror Lake State Park and Devils Lake State Park and I still log in the Baraboo Bluffs. I am speaking like most Cheeseheads of the commercialism of the Dells. If that's your thing have at it.

DonM

scotts33 Kids don't care about that. They love the water parks, more water parks, even more water parks, mini golf, go karts, and the ice cream bar at the all you can eat buffets. Man I am getting tired just thinking about it. I was surprised that the restaurant scene wasn't a little better. Maybe it is now, 25 years later.

I golfed at some course that was getting a big makeover, on its way to being a fancy resort course. I want to say it was south of town, adjacent to a hotel. It was spectacular topography, and I played it for cheap at twilight while the kids were winding down at the rented cabin.

scotts33

DonM I golfed at some course that was getting a big makeover, on its way to being a fancy resort course. I want to say it was south of town, adjacent to a hotel.

Devil's Head but it's gone downhill. Trappers Turn is nothing overpriced.

If you want good destination courses at a reasonable prices try the UP. The Dells is not a destination golf area.

My comparison is most locals that are in the Show Me state don't go to Branson. The Dells is a ultra small sized Branson in the same vein.

DonM

The other thing I remember is Minnetonka moccasins. Every single store sold them. In fact, all the stores sold the exact same stuff. That's probably true at every tourist destination like Pigeon Forge, Branson, etc.

DonM

scotts33 I'm always up for going to the UP. Where is there good golf? I haven't been up there in years. I snowmobiled all over the UP. And summer vacationed a few times on Lake Superior in the Keeweenau Peninsula way back when. Man, that was the greatest place. Like the edge of the civilized world.

CallMeAl

scotts33

Go to Branson quite a bit. The wife's cousin has a condo at our disposal.

Golf is 10X better than The Dells (IMO). Also more activities geared towards adults.

Going there in October.

scotts33

DonM I'm always up for going to the UP. Where is there good golf?

Wait till early fall pricing and packages. https://islandresortgolf.com/

If you are in the Iron River area check out Iron River CC cheap and a nice course 3000/9 slope 119 so not hard. I tend to play these kinds of courses and search them out rather than high dollar unwalkable courses. That's me just like I avoid commercialism, America at it's worst. It's all how you look at things. I am on one side and others are on the other side of vacations. I don't go to Acapulco but go to Puerto Escondido or did many moons ago. ☺ It's all how you look at it.

ode

DonM UP.

There is a lot-

Sweetgrass and Sage Run - casino
Gladstone just north of Escanaba
Greywalls and Heritage in Marquette
Timberstone - Iron Mountain
Pine Grove CC -Iron Mountain
Iron River CC - iron river
Youngs recreation - iron river

I have not played either of the iron river courses but plan to get up there this fall.

Oak Crest in Norway is pretty good too.

I've always wanted to go east and cross the macinac bridge and play a few along the way, pictured rocks, there is a casino course that looks ok and one on Drummond island, as well as the 9 hole on macinac island. I've heard good things about Belvedere in northern mi. Could be a good trip.

garyt1957

DonM Go to the Island Casino. They have an unbelievable Stay and Play package. They have two courses, Sweetgrass and Sage Run and you can also play Timberstone and the best of the bunch, Greywalls. With the stay and play price you can play Greywalls and get the room for the cost of the normal Greywalls rate alone. It's literally one of the best deals in golf. https://islandresortgolf.com/packages-stay-and-play/
Wild Bluff in Brimley is also nice and attached to a casino. https://www.baymillscasinos.com/wild-bluff-golf-course/
The Rock on Drummond Island is a great course but absolutely nothing else around. https://www.drummondisland.com/michigan-golf-packages
Lac Vieux is a nice course but not worth going out of your way for. https://www.northernwaterscasino.com/Content/Golf-Course.cfm

rsvman2

CallMeAl I will be there in October, as well.

garyt1957

CallMeAl Go to Branson quite a bit.

I'd like to get out there to play the courses at Big Cedar Lodge but that's a pricey place.

ode

scotts33 Iron River CC

Gonna get there later this year....as I hear it may have a Langford lineage. Likely play Youngs too and make it a 27 hole day.

JoeHatesSnow

Yes, the kitchy parks etc in the Dells are definitely geared toward families entertaining kids. I avoid that stuff now. I agree with Chad though that Wild Rock is a lot of fun to play. I would choose it over Trappers Turn every time. I don't mind Trappers but in the general area I would also choose to play Northern Bay and both of the Lake Arrowhead courses over Trappers. Reedsburg is decent as well though it's been a long time since I've been there. I've only played at Chula Vista and Christmas Mountain once each, didn't care for Chula Vista and thought Christmas Mountain was OK. As far as supper clubs, I prefer the setting at Ishnala overlooking the lake but I think the dining and drinks at Del Bar are superior. I've never had a bad meal at either. When I want some bourbon I usually get it at Costco or Woodman's in Madison, but around that area you could have probably tried a local product from J Henry & Sons that a lot of folks seem to think is pretty solid.

ode

garyt1957 Lac Vieux

Have not heard of this one.....will have to check it out!