Hello,
We are driving to Racine, WI with 3 kids (5,2, 3 mo) from the Twin Cities. It's a long drive and we are looking at some where in central WI to stop and let the kids stretch, maybe swim or just expend some energy at the mid way point. We'd like to be close to off the hwy (90/94). I've tried looking at the Dells, but most places are water parks that I wouldn't want to pay a full admission to get out and swim for an hour or two and all the other places are pools where you can swim if you stay the night.
I don't even care if it's a community center in central WI that we could stop at. If we swam, I'd want to shower the kids off before putting them back in the car.
Any suggestions?
Thanks!
L.
International Crane Foundation is right by the Dells. I don't know what the admission is but it is fun to look at all the different types of cranes. New African Crane exhibit just opened last summer with really neat cranes and beautiful habitats for lots of others.
Also in LaCrosse, there is a park called Copeland Park that has a water area for kids. It's free. It's basically a small area with water shooting around. My 2 1/2 year old loves it. There's no showers though. But, they also have a playground. The park is just a couple of miles off of 90 and right on the river.
There are 2 waterparks in central wis that are very nice. One is the Weston aqautic center which has water slides. The other is the Rothschild aquatic center this is smaller than Weston but the water is heated. These water centers are close to one another too. If you want to go to a great playground at a park, there is the KASH park in Stevens Point that is wonderful. I hope you have a great trip!
Most of the Dells area motels have water parks. You may have to pay for a room but then you would have place to shower and change clothes. Also check out the Adams/Freindship area, there are a few public swimmining areas there. I don't know how clean the lakes are though or if they have showers. Also check out the Green Lake area, Green Lake is very clean but also very deep about 500 feet at it deepest point. Contacting the Chambers of Commerce for ideas works too. Look on a map to see which cities you will be traveling through and contact the Chambers in that city.
Be careful of Perkins they have MSG in a lot of their food, IHOP, Mc Donald's, Arbys, Burger King and Wendy's do not.
Sun Prairie (just outside Madison) has a very nice family aquatic center which is probally about a 10 minute drive off the interstate. They could swim, do water slides & shower. But, it maybe be further into WI than you wanted to drive, but it is still about 2 1/2 hours to Racine from SP.
We take our grandchildren (both 6 yrs old) to KY every Thanksgiving (15 hr trip) and since it's usually too cold to stop at a park we stop at several McDonald's or Burger Kings along the way that have play lands. We buy a meal if it's that time of day or if between-meals we get them a snack and let them burn off energy. This has worked for us for 4 years now....plan on doing it again this Thanksgiving....
Good luck,
Devil's Lake State Park near Baraboo is really a beautiful area. You will just need to pay to enter. $10.00 per car. Go to the North Shore. They have a nice beach for swimming, hiking around the lake, a playground, concessions, shower facilities. This is their website. devilslakewisconsin.com
We've stopped at the Black River Falls exit off 94. There's a Perkins to eat, and these HUGE statues of a moose (and I think maybe deer, or mouse and cheese...can't remember) that we used to love to try to climb/play around. It was a huge grassy area where we could just blow off steam, and there's a huge gas station/store next door to stock up on provisions. It was a nice little "oasis" without having to get too far off the highway, or pay to get in anywhere (much less try to figure out where we've packed swim trunks).
Hi, I would check with some of the hotels in various cities - just give them a call and see if they offer that - I was a GM for AmericInn and we would let the public come and swim and charge $4 pp to swim. That way there is a public bathroom, no waterpark to deal with. I know your frustration with that drive as we have family who are in Kenosha and it is a long drive with small kids. good luck!
In Middleton, just west of Madison, there is a really nice splash park off of Allen Drive. It's called Lakeview Park. Also, you could check out Devil's Lake State Park in Baraboo.
I second the Devils Lake State Park, it is beautiful there and has showers. There is a lot of other things in Baraboo the circus museum and there is a really nice petting zoo. Have fun!
There is also an awesome deer park in Wisconsin Dells. We went there last summer or the year before--can't remember. All I do remember is that it was neat and awesome and you can buy food to feed the deer. And it's a relatively big deer park. Sorry, but I don't remember how much it cost. I'd like to say it wasn't too expensive. I know we spent a lot of time there and fed the deer twice.
If you happen to be going though LaCrosse, Wi they have a great playuground buy the university in Myrick Park called Kids Coulee. Its a huge wooden "castle @layground" with mazes, slides, bridges, swing, etc. Perfect for all aged. The park also has a walking path around a marsh where we always see wildlife and also an eco park building.Hope this helps and safe travels to you!
