What to do in Wisconsin Dells Besides Water Parks or Tacky Attractions

The Wisconsin Dells are a really popular tourist location, especially for all the swimming attractions that make it the water park capital of the world. For some reason there are also a lot of really tacky attractions tagging along with the water parks. But if you look a little deeper there are actually a lot of non waterpark, non tacky, activities to check out. To help you weed through it all we have compiled our list of what to do in Wisconsin Dells besides water parks or tacky attractions.

Boat Tours

Wisconsin Dells has an abundance of boat tours. If you are looking for more of an adventure , try the jet boats which spin and splash for a thrill seeking tour. For beautiful excursions, try the Upper Dells boat tour for the usual sites in addition to two excellent stop offs. Read more about it in our post here. Or try the iconic duck boats which drive WW2 vehicles right from the road into the water. Either way, the beauty of the Dells, which is what originally flocked tourists to this part of Wisconsin, will be sure to impress.

Deer Park

I have loved this place since I was a kid. Nothing like being surrounded by animals to make you feel like a Disney princess. We just went with our toddler nephew and he had a great time. It was so sweet to watch him pet and feed the deer. It’s essentially a large petting zoo with lots of deer and also goats, elk, horses and other animals. what’s unique is that the deer roam the park, giving you close up access to these beautiful creatures.

Paul Bunyan’s

Paul Bunyan’s Cook Shanty is a lumber jack themed restaurant based on American folklore hero Paul Bunyan. They serve all you can eat meals family style and their breakfast donuts are absolutely to die for. Luckily they sell them packaged as well so you can bring some home. The entire restaurant from their food, decor and gift shop follow their rustic woodsy theme. They have also added lumber jack shows which sounds fun but I have yet to check out.

Mt. Olympus

While Mt. Olympus does have a water park it has made the list for it’s go-karts and roller coasters. The perfect stop for thrill seekers wishing to stay on dry land. This Ancient Greece themed park is home to 7 Outdoor Go-Kart Tracks and 5 Outdoor Roller Coasters. More information about tickets or staying at their resort can be found here.

Wineries

There are several Wineries in the Dells area and even a trolley tour to visit them all. We recommend tastings where you can try all or many of the wines they have to offer for a nominal fee. Fawn Creek Winery has a really fun vibe with live music and yard games. While Praire Hawk Winery has beautiful outdoor space for a relaxing tasting and pretty photos.

Mini-Golf

A classic family activity, the Wisconsin Dells has several outdoor and one indoor course. They have fun themes and reasonable pricing for some family friendly fun. This was particularly great for our large group of all ages to enjoy.

Shopping

Back when I was a kid the shops on the main drag were pretty solidly in the tacky realm selling t-shirts and other cheesy gifts. Now however there have emerged some cute boutiques as well which breaks up all the graphic tees. As they always have been the candy and fudge shops are not to be missed. And if you are looking for more retail type shopping there is also the outlet mall, technically in Baraboo but a brief drive from downtown Dells.

Old Time Photos

Ok so this one is leaning into the tacky side but it honestly was so much fun. Plus we came away with a great souvenir and silly memories. There are a couple locations on the main strip that offer numerous different old time themes like the Western one we chose or 1920’s mobsters and flappers, 1950’s sock hop or a victorian scene. It’s just the right amount of tacky.

Did we miss any of your favorites in our list of what to do besides water parks and tacky attractions? Let us know in the comments below. Though I have been many times there are always new attractions popping up or hidden treasures yet to be found.