Known as the Waterpark Capital of the World, Wisconsin Dells is a kitschy, tourist trap and a fun place for a weekend away. Jamey used to visit frequently with his family as a kid so this trip was in a way his attempt to recapture the fond memories of youth. Zero waterparks were actually visited on this adults only trip.

Campground for “Older Kids”

We had reservations at Country Roads Motorhome and RV Park in Wisconsin Dells. They have a big sign that says “for the older kids” – meaning they don’t have any amenities for kids like a playground or pool, which was fine with us. It was close to everything and dog friendly, all the amenities we need. There were a few kids staying there with their families, it’s the kind of place that is good for a family to just sleep or hangout by a fire,  since everything they need is in town – waterparks, attractions, restaurants and activities.

Once we arrived, the friendly woman working there led us to our site and Jamey did a little happy dance when we realized all the sites were pull-through sites so he wouldn’t have to back-up in the dark.

The campground was well maintained, the site was a good size and there were lots of trees. We didn’t spend much time outside here, but overall it was a very nice campground and I’d recommend it if you want some place a little quieter.

Thirsty bloodsuckers

The mosquito’s were awful this weekend. We stopped for gas about 20 miles from the campground and were swarmed at the gas station. By the time we got to our site in the Dells, we set up in record time just to avoid getting eaten alive. Since sitting outside wasn’t an option, we put the dogs back in the truck and drove to the downtown area to play Wisconsin Dells tourist.

Cruising Broadway in Wisconsin Dells

What I didn’t realize when planning this trip was that it was Wo-Zha Days – Wisconsin Dells annual fall-fest, end of season, town celebration. There were bands, food and beer tents and souvenir vendors set up on several blocks. It was pretty busy downtown, lots of really drunk people staggering down the street and tons of people smoking. We walked the dogs up and down the strip for about an hour with lots of people stopping to pet them and share stories about their dogs, especially Shepherds. This weekend three separate people had to stop and tell me about and show me pictures of the German Shepherds they had recently put to sleep! Heartbreaking stories. I’m glad my dogs could bring happiness to their day.

Buddy is a real traffic stopper since people seem to adore the German Shepherd breed, which makes Toby jealous, he has to go demand the pets. Toby would like to remind you all, he’s half German Shepherd and a big fan of getting pets and treats. If you ever see us out and about, make sure to pay attention to the old guy!

Big Breakfast

The next morning we biked to the Paul Bunyan Cook Shanty for a lumberjack-style breakfast. This was something Jamey used to do with his family, and he couldn’t stop talking about it in the lead-up to this trip. It’s all-you-can-eat eggs, pancakes, biscuits and gravy, sausage and ham, hash browns and fresh made donuts. It’s delicious. If you find yourself in Wisconsin Dells, GO! Biking there was a good idea to help burn off some calories, but a bad idea because we definitely got our money worth! When we left breakfast, I think my average speed was at least 5 mph slower; it’s hard to move a belly full of breakfast!

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Port Huron Brewing

Since we were on our bikes, we had to bike to the breweries. First stop was Port Huron Brewing. We were greeted by a very handsome and friendly husky! First round of beers was ordered and Jamey started chatting with the handful of people who were already there. I had the Honey Blonde, which I thought was very good. It was a light, easy drinking beer; a good refreshing choice and very approachable for any beer-drinker. Jamey had the Twelve Bottom IPA, they described this as a less-hoppy IPA. I had a sip and even I could commit to drinking a pint of that.

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Wisconsin Dells Brewing Co

After some good conversation and quality time with the husky, we got back on our bikes to head out to the Wisconsin Dells Brewing Co, inside Moose Jaw Restaurant. The brewery itself wasn’t open yet, but the restaurant had their beers on tap. They had some good flavored beers; Jamey had a Sconnie Smash, I had a Relaxing Raspberry. Both were pretty good for a surprisingly hot fall day.

Road Rage Rant

On the ride to the second brewery, the bike lane on the road ended, so we were riding as far to the right on the road as we safely could – in keeping with the law. Some asshat in a big pickup truck got right up behind me and laid on his horn. It was a two-lane road, he was free to pass me at any point, he was just being a threatening asshole. I responded in kind by waving my middle finger at him. Look, you don’t have to like sharing the road with cyclists, but that’s the law. I count as a vehicle and you can pass me at anytime. Sorry if you might have to wait an additional 45 seconds before you can safely pass, I assure you, you’ll live. No need to endanger my life. ASSHAT.

Mirror Lake State Park

Once we were back to the campground, we got the boys in the truck and headed out for some hiking at Mirror Lake State Park. The park is lovely and the lake was as calm as the name describes. But the mosquito’s were even thicker here than anywhere else, so we only lasted about an hour before we surrendered and fled those little bloodsuckers. Since standing outside to grill dinner was out of the question, we just went back to the downtown area and wound up having a delicious meal of adult mac & cheese.

Since we were already out, and the brewery was dog-friendly, we went back to Port Huron brewing again for a few more beers. The dogs were very well-behaved and made everyone smile. Jamey was in his element and chatted with everyone. He really enjoyed the “vibe” of this brewery and was even willing to forgive everyone there for being Packers fans on the eve of the Vikings vs Packers game.

Once we got back to the campground, the breeze had picked up a bit and the mosquito’s had thinned, so we were able to have a couple of hours sitting around the fire and relaxing.

Overall, Wisconsin Dells was a fun time. Jamey got to revisit the fun things he did with his family and make new memories with me. Now, can we have a hard frost and kill these darn mosquito’s and enjoy a few weeks of cool, fall camping?