Wisconsin Dairyland Fudge

See the Dells in amusing style. The banter of the drivers is good clean comedy, and the scenery on land and water is a sight to behold, up close and personal.

Let Dells homemade fudge melt in your mouth. Buy a caramel apple, dipped multiple times for good measure, for midnight snacking.

Honestly, the Tommy Bartlett Show is synonymous with Wisconsin Dells and is one of the most fun Wisconsin Dells attractions. Remember, don't try all those tricks at home. Leave it to the professionals.

In addition to being the "The Waterpark Capital of the World!®", the Dells is also considered the country's mini-golf and go-kart capital.

Could be at one of the many Wisconsin Dells water parks, a lake, a motel or a campground. Just make certain to get wet before you leave.

When you think of classic Wisconsin Dells resorts, Meadowbrook Resort has got to be at the top of the list. This tall timber lodge has been run by the Kalcik family, originally from Chicago, for the last 35 years. In fact, Scott Kalcik recounts, "I was just six years old when my parents purchased Meadowbrook and they put me right to work." He said that instilled in him the kind of work ethic Wisconsin Dells business owners are known for. How fitting that this Wisconsin Dells resort, which has grown from the original lodge to now include rows of neatly maintained cabins and indoor and outdoor water activities, hosts more than 150 family reunions each year.

With 25 years under their belt as owners of the Dells Del-Bar restaurant, Jane and Jeff Wimmer could write the manual on the finer points of running a classic Wisconsin supper club. Jane explains that, for a supper club experience to be authentic, it should have a leisurely feel to it, with guests starting at the bar for a before-dinner cocktail, then being escorted to their table to enjoy a multiple course meal. "Years ago, after working hard all week, people dressed up and spent the entire evening with us." Remarkably, even with today's travelers being so time-crunched, Del-Bar guests still make it a point to spend the entire evening at the Wisconsin Dells restaurant.

Ben Borcher is a fourth-generation retailer in the Dells. His great grandparents came from Germany and settled in what was then known as Kilbourn City, now known as Wisconsin Dells. Aside from running some of the Dells' most popular retail outlets downtown, Ben and father Arnie share two other distinctions: Both are former volunteer firemen and both served as mayor of Wisconsin Dells. Today, Ben handles the day-to-day operations for Bailey's Landing and the Winnebago Gift Shop, two establishments known for their selection of fashionable moccasins and turquoise jewelry, and the upscale apparel store Alpha Beta Karma. But father Arnie is always close by for a word of advice or a bit of reminiscence about the early days of tourism in downtown Dells. One other note, Ben's sister Jane Heller is also a local business person running two sweet shops – Swiss Maid Fudge and Wisconsin Dairyland Fudge.

Take the children to see the giant Glockenspiel with a musical re-enactment of the legendary Pied Piper of Hamelin every half-hour, on the hour. The legend goes that the Pied Piper rid the town of Hamelin of its rats and mice by charming them away with his flute playing. When the citizens of Hamelin refused to pay the piper the price they had agreed upon, he charmed away their children in revenge.

The German Glockenspiel with its fairy tale re-enactment is FREE making it one of the best Wisconsin Dells deals. It's located in the 400 block of Broadway, Downtown Wisconsin Dells.

Stroll the Dells RiverWalk with vistas of the Wisconsin River and its sandstone bluffs now easily accessible to the public for the first time in 75 years. This ¼-mile paved path offers Dells visitors not only a breathtaking view of the Dells' unique scenery, but sprinkles in game tables and comfortable benches along its expanse in invitation to sit a spell and take in all of Mother Nature's glory. Walk, bike or run the Dells RiverWalk, but be sure to put this special experience on your Wisconsin Dells itinerary. It's one of the most scenic Wisconsin Dells activities available and it never disappoints.

The Dells RiverWalk entrance is located at the 100 block of Broadway in downtown Wisconsin Dells. It's free and open to the public year-round.

What’s a classic night of fun without a drive-in movie?  Yes, there’s still such a thing in the Dells - at the Big Sky Twin Drive-In Theater.   Haunted houses seem to be scarier after dark, which makes the Ghost Out-Post Haunted House a family favorite when the moon comes out.

There’s evening entertainment for those who prefer late night over matinee, like the Tommy Bartlett Show of water skiers on Lake Delton and the Rick Wilcox Magic Theater magic show.

The Dells' indoor amusement parks keep their lights on late for visitors as well.  Topping the list of family favorite Wisconsin Dells attractions are businesses like the massive Kalahari Indoor Theme Park, the laser bowling mecca known as Knuckleheads Bowling & Indoor Amusement Park and the Downtown Dells Wild Fun Zone.

So forget curfews when you’re in Wisconsin Dells.  And don’t bother with a wake-up call the next morning either.  After all, you’re on vacation.

Enduring. Endearing. Those were the two words that guided the research for this story on the classic Wisconsin Dells vacation. Many of the Wisconsin Dells hotels, attractions and restaurants included below have been building up a fan base for decades and across generations. Others are slightly more contemporary classics that still say “Wisconsin Dells” in a big way. Combined, they make for lots of choices for travelers who like to go classic.

A good starting point is downtown, where classic Wisconsin Dells hotel and motels right on the main street are well maintained and still very popular. There’s Fitzgerald’s Motel, where the front sign reminds you to “Smile, you’re on vacation.” Last year, Fitzgerald’s celebrated its 60th anniversary, and owner Margaret Gewont is 100% sincere when she tells you guests are more like extended family than vacationers. A peek in the guest book proves it, with the first entry reading: “Margaret is the ultimate hostess.” The list of downtown Wisconsin Dells hotels and motels is long and varied, so take your pick.

Downtown Wisconsin Dells

As long as you’re already on the main thoroughfare, keep your car parked and put on your walking shoes for a stroll up and down Broadway. You’ll pass fudge shops like Swiss Maid Fudge and Wisconsin Dairyland Fudge and likely succumb to the sweets being made behind the picture windows. Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Museum, with its quirky and fun-to-read-about displays from adventures of days gone by, is one of the many amusing Wisconsin Dells attractions on Broadway. As long as you’re downtown, go ahead and have one of those old-timey pictures taken. For souvenirs, Bailey’s Landing and Winnebago Gift Shop are both known for their wide selection of Minnetonka moccasins, a fashion statement in Wisconsin and on the runways of New York.