As you might have seen from my Instagram stories, I spent 4 days in Wisconsin Dells last week with Cole’s family. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect in Wisconsin Dells off-season…would I spend every day at a waterpark? Or an arcade? There must be more to do than just that, so I set out to see what else the area had to offer.
We got SO lucky with weather (high forty’s at the end of November – amazing!!), but all of these activities could be done year round!
Looking for more must visit spots in Wisconsin Dells? Check out my favorite wineries and distilleries!
Bella Goose Coffee
Whenever I go somewhere new, a coffee shop is always the first stop. I heard that Bella Goose Coffee was one of the best in the area, and we weren’t disappointed! Bella Goose roasts its own coffee beans and is one of the cutest spots to sit down and escape the craziness of the Dells. Can you say “Instagramer’s paradise?” On top of it all, they have so many sweet treats to try (like the gluten-free blueberry scone pictured above). YUM.
Carr Valley Cheese Store
There’s only a few shops open downtown in the off-season and Carr Valley Cheese is one of them. And thank God because when in Wisconsin, you absolutely have to get some cheese curds! They’re made fresh every day and are as squeaky as ever. (BONUS: they will even deep fry them for you in shop!) We sampled all the different varieties of cheese and didn’t leave empty handed. Side note – how awesome is the packaging??
Devil’s Lake State Park
This was by far my highlight of the trip. Who knew Wisconsin Dells had such great hiking?! We hiked the East Bluff Trail up the bluffs on the East side of Devil’s lake. To get to the trail from the park office, take a right after you cross the railroad tracks. There is a parking lot right at the trailhead and signs that will point you in the right direction. The views are spectacular along the entire trail (did you see how blue the water is??) and is a perfect moderate hike.
Hidden Valley Mushrooms
If you’re looking for something different to do and are up for an adventure, check out Hidden Valley Mushrooms. This small, family-owned mushroom farm is located on an old farm and is like nothing I’ve ever done, but we learned so much! Tours are available with a reservation and consist of a first-hand look at their facility. One thing to note – the visit is what you make it! There’s no pre-rehearsed tour, so come prepared with questions and the owners will gladly answer them all!
Macs Macaroni and Cheese Shop
When I heard there was a mac and cheese restaurant in Wisconsin Dells, I had to check it out. There are two locations of Macs Macaroni and Cheese Shop, so there’s no excuse to miss it! With 12 different kinds of mac and cheese, you can order anything from Memphis pulled pork to Jalapeno popper to chipotle chicken. For some reason I was craving the traditional mac and cheese with hot dogs (don’t judge) and it was super cheesy and super amazing.
Wineries and Distilleries
There’s no shortage of fun spots to grab a drink in Wisconsin Dells. We spent some time each day checking out a winery or distillery in the area. Read more about our stops here!
What other must visit spots in Wisconsin Dells have you been to?
I LOVE this post and your title especially, LOL. Beautiful photos and details! I NEED to see that mushroom farm and hike Devil’s Lake. Very cool, Lindsey 🙂
I’m glad you enjoyed it!!
I’ve never had any interest in heading to the Dells until seeing this post!! You obviously know how to do it right! I came across Macs on our way through Wisconsin a few weeks back and my mind was blown 😉 Definitely going to go have to scope out the rest of your top spots some day as well!
I thought the same thing before going! And isn’t Macs awesome? So yummy!
Great ideas! I used to go hiking at Devil’s Lake all the time when I was in school in Madison. Great spot!
You’re so lucky! We had a blast at Devils Lake!
This is so great! I never would have thought of visiting WI Dells other than for the water parks! Great ideas!
Same! I was so surprised with everything we found to do!
I love the non-waterpark ideas. I can only do so much waterpark before I get board. I gotta try these.
Yes! I love a good waterpark, but breaks are always needed 🙂