Hotel at a Glance: Mirror Lake & Tamarack Resort

This family-friendly Wisconsin Dells resort overlooks Mirror Lake, a body of water so clear and placid that you could easily see the ripples caused by a single dropped pebble. Yet just a a 10-minute drive away are the dynamic attractions that make the Dells a destination: theme parks, indoor water parks, and river tours between the bluffs.

• Where you’ll stay: a one- or two-bedroom condo with a full kitchen and a fireplace
• Indulge your competitive side on the basketball or tennis courts or in the game room.
• Winter fun: After the snow falls, hit the snowshoe and cross-country ski trails at nearby Mirror Lake State Park.
• Swim year-round in the indoor pool or relax in the hot tub.

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.

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