Sand County Service Company

Attraction & Lodging Price Guide

Price It Out, Then Plan It

This section allows you to download the Wisconsin Dells area price guide. We're certain you'll land on the right dollar figure.

http://www.wisdells.com/wisconsin-dells-family-vacation/search-guides/2015-Price-Guide.htm

Make It A Family Reunion

Planning a family reunion has its own set of distinct challenges but none that keeps the organizer awake at night more than wondering whether there will be enough activities to keep everyone in the group occupied, from tots to octogenarians. That’s why this trip planner idea for holding a family reunion in Wisconsin Dells is so perfect. There are activities galore, so sleep easy.

The family reunion trend in the Dells has really picked up in the last several years. Certainly the waterparks have something to do with that.  There are waterpark resorts of every size and style in this community and they are vacationland for anyone traveling to a reunion with kids ages toddler through teen. But let’s not stop with the waterparks, because lots of other places are set up very nicely to accommodate big groups. In fact, some of the most popular family reunion spots are the low-key resorts that rim Lake Delton. Baker’s Sunset Bay Resort is a prime example, as are the vacation rentals through Sand County Services. Away from the lake and more secluded in the woods, Meadowbrook Resort has its own indoor water playland and several outdoor pools, and they have lots of packages with passes to the larger outdoor waterparks in the area. Their evening bonfire provides a chance to catch up with the cousins. We also suggest the Spring Brook vacation home community. They offer fully furnished homes for rental and the grounds there include pools, playground, fishing lake, golf course, restaurant and gathering rooms.

Honestly, family clan members can be as busy as they like all within the 20-mile radius of Wisconsin Dells. There’s mini-golf, go-karting, bowling and horseback riding. The area has two full-size quest-style games that blend elements of the most popular video games with wizard movies - they’re called MagiQuest and Wizard Quest. If anyone in the group likes magic, they should take a seat at the Rick Wilcox Magic Theater. Train buffs will be fascinated with the Riverside & Great Northern Railway living museum with its 15-inch steam trains that take riders on a three-mile trip through canyons, woods and rock cuts beside the Wisconsin River. The locomotive is turned on a hand-operated turntable for the ride back. For hands-on exploration, it’s none other than the Wisconsin Dells staple, the Tommy Bartlett Exploratory - Interactive Science Center.

While lots of photos are bound to be snapped over the course of the reunion, add to the album with a family photo at one of the two old-time portrait places downtown - Old Abe’s Old Time Portraits or Prof. Porter’s Old Time Portraits - where you’ll even find costumes for infants and sets large enough to fit 30 or so of your favorite relatives.

Of course, while there may be a potluck dinner or two, you’ll need some restaurant recommendations for your stay. Big groups will like Pizza Pub for its buffet, Monk’s Bar & Grill for its famous burgers and Buffalo Phil’s Pizza & Grille for its great southwestern flair.

Happy Holidays from Wisconsin Dells

When you’re known far and wide for your wildly fun waterparks and classic attractions, you can’t back off just because it turns cold. After all, it’s Wisconsin where winter makes up a big chunk of the calendar, so why not kick it off big with the holidays and then continue strong all the way through to spring thaw?

For winter lodging, you can’t go wrong with a big cabin, like those on the grounds of the Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort, or a vacation home rental from Sand County Service Company. They just feel, well, Christmas-y. New Year’s Eve bashes are hosted from one end of town to the other. Choose a cozy party or an all-out countdown celebration, whatever suits your fancy.

But that only takes us up to January 1 and there’s a lot of winter left to fill.

Consider a cure-cabin-fever getaway to a weather-proof indoor waterpark resort - the community has plenty to choose from. There's something so satisfying about swimming indoors in 80+ degree temperatures when there's snow falling outside. A mid-winter getaway would be a good time to test out the new waterslides at the Kalahari Resort. Or perhaps you could set a goal of riding every waterslide within Mt. Olympus' indoor waterpark.

If you prefer not to get wet, there are other indoor adventures to consider, like rock climbing, ropes courses, laser tag, mini-golfing and go-karting, to name a few.

A little fresh air is a good thing too, as in tubing, boarding or skiing at Cascade Mountain Ski, Snowboard & Snow Tube or Christmas Mountain Ski, or how about a little ice skating on Lake Delton. The area has lots of snowmobile trails as well. Outdoor outfitter Chimney Rock Park Zip Line Tour - Vertical Illusions will take you on a frozen waterfall climb to experience the beauty of the area like you've never see before. Snow shoeing and cross country skiing are other options for taking in the natural wonders of Wisconsin Dells in the winter.

Red Ridge Ranch Riding Stable is open year-round, so maybe you'd like to opt for a trail ride through their 250 acres of rolling farmland and wooded hills. Ask about their sleigh rides too. Same suggestions goes for Canyon Creek Riding Stables, where riders enjoy a guided tour with an old west theme.

There are plenty of things to do in Wisconsin during the winter. Those winter months will whiz by.

See All Wisconsin Dells Winter Attractions

A Winter's Embrace from Wisconsin Dells

We’re not terribly eager for spring thaw at the moment.  Why? Because there are so many wildly fun winter attractions and activities to keep us happy!

See All Wisconsin Dells Winter Attractions

Family Reunion That Is Sure To Make A Splash

It’s OK to have your solitary moments, to ponder the universe, dive into that book that’s been sitting on your nightstand for months, or have a marathon session of watching a full season of your favorite TV series.

Then there are things that just beg for company, like vacations. In Wisconsin Dells, there are signs of “togetherness” everywhere you look. At the waterparks. In restaurants. On the beaches. At events. Shopping. Sightseeing. Like we said, everywhere.

The Dells has long been a favorite for family reunions and it’s no wonder since it’s one of those rare places that actually lives up to the promise of having enough variety to keep everyone in the group happy.

Perhaps it’s that basis in family reunions that has started drawing in other groups to the Dells. An informal survey of resort and vacation home rental owners turned up fun facts that college alumni are choosing the area for reunions, only now they’re bringing their children along. Destination high school reunions? Yes, that’s a trend too. Even neighborhoods traveling together in a modern twist on the old-fashioned neighborhood block party.

Dana Krueger, vice president at Sand County Service Company, an established vacation rental company in the area, said it’s not unusual to see groups, especially extended families, staying upwards of a week during the summer months, which bucks the trend of shorter vacations. “Even the floor plans of our vacation homes were designed to encourage togetherness,” said Dana. They have one stretch of homes along Lake Delton that are within walking distance of each other. “It’s like a moving gathering for people who book these as a group, with a real neighborhood feel to it.”
At Moonglow Vacation Homes, their Moonglow Beach property on Lake Delton sleeps 18. Owner Donna Hartsing says that property even has a grandparents’ suite on the first floor. “Creating lasting memories is our job,” said Donna. She also mentioned another reason for the allure of the Dells as a location for family reunions and milestone wedding anniversaries. “We’re a central location when family members are flying in from all over the country.”

Girlfriends’ getaways continue strong, especially bachelorette parties. For the guys, it’s golf outings, with the guys grilling out after a day on the greens. At Spring Brook Vacation Rentals, where last year they added new villas to their rental options, they get lots of guys’ groups visiting, often tied to a bachelor party/golf weekend. “It’s funny, some even call these weekends their ‘manniversary’ since they come year after year with every upcoming wedding,” said Mira Lyubomirov, reservations manager. There’s also a golf course and club house with restaurant to serve guests booking one of their 70 units. “Meals are a big group event here at Spring Brook,” added Mira.

Tourism events bring people together in Wisconsin Dells as well. It’s not unusual to see several generations rolling into town together for the spring Automotion car show. Dells on Tap, a microbrew festival that takes place every autumn, has a strong following among groups of friends who share an affinity for Wisconsin craft beers.

Even the holidays are a popular time for extended families to head to the Dells. The condos and cabins at the waterpark resorts are perfectly suited for Thanksgiving meals and Christmas morning gift openings.

We asked all three for ideas on group activities to keep the togetherness theme going and the common thread was this: Guests like the manmade attractions during the day and then the chance to slow down and enjoy simple pleasures in the evening.

Here are some ideas for both.

During the Day

• Go for the multi-person tube rides at the waterparks or float the lazy river together.
   
• Enjoy an afternoon performance at the Rick Wilcox Magic Theater. Who knows, master illusionist Rick Wilcox may even make a member of the family disappear.
   
• Get teams together for some serious mini-golf competition.
   
• Challenge the daredevils to go zip-lining.
   
• Head downtown for souvenir shopping on Broadway.
   
• Round up the group for a scenic tour of the Wisconsin River aboard a land-to-water vehicle known as Duck. These on land – in water tours are available with Original Wisconsin Ducks® or Dells Army Duck Tours.
  
• Ask about renting a pontoon boat or a fishing boat for the day.
   
• Bike around Lake Delton – there’s a nice bike path loop all the way around the lake.
   
• If it rains, play indoors at a theme park or amusement park

In the Evening

• Get out the bean bag toss game and the croquet set.
   
• Divvy up assignments for a grill-out or potluck.
   
• Take in an evening performance of the Tommy Bartlett Show. The ski tricks are still amazing after 60+ years of performing.
  
  
• Carpool to a double feature at the Big Sky Twin Drive-In Theater.
   
• Make s’mores around a campfire and reminisce.