Discover, or Rediscover, the Dells River District

Downtown Wisconsin Dells, that one mile stretch of road that runs from Stand Rock Road to Race Street, is where it all started. That's right, the town didn't always boast a slew of waterparks. In fact, those are a fairly new phenomenon. The community actually sprung up around this boardwalk, now called the Dells River District, and grew from there. So, if you want to claim with any degree of authority that you're a seasoned Wisconsin Dells traveler, you must include a stroll among the 200+ downtown establishments the next time you visit. You'll get a great taste for the city's history and longstanding penchant for fun. There are attractions with names like Wizard Quest and Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum, mini-golf courses, antique shops, amusement parks, haunted houses, an historic photography studio and museum, fudge and sweet shops, restaurants, the list goes on and on. You can hop on board a DUCK amphibious vehicle for a tour of the Wisconsin River or take it slower with a dinner cruise.

Here's an insider tip: Be sure to make time for a walk along the scenic Dells RiverWalk. This newly restored path provides guests with views to the river not accessible to the public for the last 75 years. The walkway also includes a bicycle route, benches, picnic tables and special game tables.

Beginning mid-June, and during the months of July and August, when the sun takes its sweet time in setting and the temperatures encourage visitors to stick around, there's also free entertainment downtown between the hours of 7 and 9 p.m. nearly every evening. A wide variety of groups are already booked for 2008, including a swing band, brass quintet, barbershop quartet, street magic performers, clowns and jugglers, even bagpipers.