Resort at a Glance: Chula Vista Resort

Even when it’s cold outside, Chula Vista Resort has a place for you and your kids to splash in. When Wisconsin’s trademark winters set in, you’ll find an 80,000-square-foot indoor water park where you can zip down a high-speed water coaster or lie back and relax on a lazy river.

• Splash when you stay: You get daily water-park passes for four people with each stay.
• Added perk: This Getaway includes a $25 dining credit valid at Kaminski’s Chop House or Kilbourn City Grill.
• Relax: Visit the onsite Spa Del Sol, named one of the best boutique spas in Wisconsin by Milwaukee Magazine, for a hydrating body wrap or custom facial. There’s also an outdoor hot-springs whirlpool where you can unwind.
• Historical golf course: Chula Vista’s 18-hole Cold Water Canyon Golf Course dates back to 1923.
• Where to eat: Head to any of several onsite dining venues for cuisine ranging from specialty pizzas to fresh seafood.

Wisconsin Dells: Picturesque Scenery and Family Entertainment

Before the Dells became synonymous with water parks and amusement rides, the Midwestern destination’s claim to fame was its scenery. Visitors in the mid-1940s came to see the craggy rock formations that frame both sides of the Wisconsin River. These bluffs—or dells—are still visible today from the downtown area, which is rife with kitschy attractions, from mini-golf courses to go-kart tracks.

But it’s safe to say that most visitors nowadays come for the water parks. In fact, the Dells area likely has more water slides per capita than any other spot on the planet. The fun doesn’t stop in the cooler months, either, thanks to a slew of indoor aquatic centers, many of which are nearly as elaborate as their outdoor rivals.

For a break from all the chlorinated excitement, take a stroll along the river, where you’ll find antique stores, candy shops, and a Bavarian-themed village. At a handful of German restaurants, you can wash down plates of schnitzel with pints of lager to the sounds of glockenspiels. The H.H. Bennett Studio museum makes for an interesting side trip. Exhibits recount the early history of the Dells through the life of the 19th-century landscape photographer whose work originally attracted tourists to the area. Just down the road, in the town of Baraboo, Victorian buildings and quaint shops lie on the outskirts of Devil’s Lake State Park, where 500-foot bluffs present a challenge for intrepid rock climbers.

Love to travel? Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest for travel tips, inspiration, and photos from around the world.