More Than A Game. A Bonafide Getaway.

Parents of tweens and teens will be able to relate to this: Weekends on the road, car piled with sports gear and overnight bags, traveling to yet another tournament in yet another unknown city. This scenario is repeated every week by parents of pitchers, goalies and point guards. Is there a way to make the tournament trek a bit more fun for the whole family, including the siblings who’ve been dragged along? Just as in real estate, the key is location, location, location. In Wisconsin Dells, there are new facilities to accommodate sports teams, so coaches will be satisfied. There are some 8,000 hotel rooms, so accommodations are never an issue. And during the down time -- and there is usually plenty of that -- the waterpark resorts and more than 90 attractions will keep idle minds and bodies enthralled. Feeding those hungry athletes is a breeze too, with over 80 restaurants ranging from deep-dish pizza to vegetarian to hearty German fare.

In 2007, the Dells plays host to the AAU State Girls Gymnastics Championships in April, and the USA Triathlon Youth National Championship in August. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The community is equipped to host youth basketball, softball, gymnastics, cheerleading, golf, hockey, volleyball, the list is extensive. An added bonus is that the local Visitor and Convention Bureau offers assistance with the bidding process, site inspections, and securing hotel accommodations. When you choose Wisconsin Dells as your sports destination, complimentary pre-event mailers that include the Wisconsin Dells area travel guide and map are sent to all attendees, so they’ll know where to sleep, eat, and play before they get to town.

This could be the one weekend all sports season that everyone actually looks forward to, kids and parents included.