Most travelers know Wisconsin Dells as the Waterpark Capital of the World—and it is. This small Wisconsin town is home to 20 different waterparks, the world's largest concentration of indoor and outdoor waterparks. Wisconsin Dells is also a haven for natural beauty. The town sits on the Wisconsin River alongside gorgeous, glacier-carved sandstone formations, aka dells. When you’re here looking for things to do, you can choose which world you wish to explore—or see both.
If you’re here for the waterpark side of Wisconsin Dells, this place is a year-round destination. On chilly days, you can hit the indoor waterparks, visit the Christmas Mountain Village (a ski hill), or go zip-lining, hot tubbing, and wine-tasting. Most visitors come in summer, from June–August, and combine waterpark fun with some time on the Wisconsin River.
Wisconsin Dells—a town of some 3,000 people an hour north of Madison—is all about that car life. Though you could book lodging attached to a waterpark and never leave, you’ll probably want your own wheels to get around and explore area attractions. Tourist trolleys explore parts of town, but renting a vehicle (or driving your own) is the way to go.
If you’re here in the warmer months, it’s a Wisconsin Dells rite of passage to take a scenic tour via duck, aka amphibious vehicle. The Dells has the largest fleet of World War II ducks in the country, and they’re iconic. If a duck isn’t your speed, you can navigate the Dells via riverboat, jet boat, or kayak, but a duck trip gets you an honorary Dells badge.