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We want to thank the Wisconsin Dells CVB and Circus World for hosting our visit. Rest assured all opinions are our own.

The Fantastic Five

In the 1800s it wasn’t uncommon to have large families. Being a mostly agricultural-based society required a lot of hands to complete the chores. The Ringling (originally Rüngling) family included seven boys. What started as a small group of touring performers would become one of the most recognizable attractions in America. After witnessing a traveling circus in McGregor, Iowa, five of the seven brothers decided to venture into the entertainment business. By late 1882, they had launched their vaudeville-style show. The profits from this endeavor would be funneled back into the business.

Early Days

By the late Spring of 1884, the Ringling brothers opened their first circus. We can imagine that it was quite small, but residents of farming communities would have still been intrigued to see it. Within a couple of years, they had expanded to include their first animal acts. By now, the other two brothers had joined them in this family endeavor. In 1887, the show was renamed “Ringling Bros. United Monsters Show, Great Double Circus, Royal European Menagerie, Museum, Caravan, and Congress of Trained Animals”. We can imagine that this type of bravado would have drawn quite the crowd.

Coming to Town

With each brother bringing their specific talent into play, the circus would continue to expand. Crafty planning ensured the brothers avoided clashes with competing carnivals and circuses. They would often focus on small, neglected villages and towns, where the lack of entertainment meant bigger turnouts. While we have seen circus wagon trains portrayed in movies, we never got to witness one in person. It must have been quite a sight to observe the pageantry proceeding down Main Street, with amazing music, performers, and fantastic creatures in tow.

Wild West meets Circus

By the turn of the century, the Ringling brothers had built one of the largest traveling shows in America. Their largest competitor, Barnum and Bailey, was purchased by the brothers but kept separate for a while. They continued to expand both circuses, until the start of World War I. With attendance diminishing, the brothers combined the two circuses into “The Greatest Show on Earth”. In the meantime, there were still plenty of other sideshows competing for entertainment dollars. Circus World Baraboo has a large warehouse filled with wagons from various circuses and traveling sideshows. As we wandered through the collection, I saw many familiar, and lots of unfamiliar, names. One that I think would have been amazing to witness was Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show.

Changing Perspective

When we hear the word circus, a certain set of images arise. Most involve human and animal acts performed under the big top. In the early days, there was another aspect to the traveling shows. Many included sideshows that showcased human oddities or disfigurements. Often referred to as “freak” shows, they were a secondary form of entertainment. Assembled under their own tent, hawkers would call out to the passing crowd in an effort to pique curiosity. Sometimes the exhibits were artificially created and touted as something like a mermaid mummy. We saw quite a few examples of these during a visit to the Uranus Sideshow Museum. Over time, the public’s opinion of these types of acts changed, laws were enacted to prohibit them, and they disappeared from the circus.

Clowning Around

While we were touring Circus World Baraboo, some of the staff members informed us that their daily circus was scheduled to begin soon. In fact, one was kind enough to offer us a ride over to the big top. Once there, we made our way inside to witness the magic. It wouldn’t be a circus without clowns and sure enough, there were a couple of acts included in the schedule. While we adults enjoyed the comical humor, it was the children in the audience who were enchanted by the hilarity of their actions. Many acts are fairly simple in design, but the smiles they elicit are timeless.

Majestic Acts

The circus is a truncated version of the three rings we witnessed as children. They still include some thrills and chills. Seeing the elephants marching around the ring reminded us of the intelligence of these giants. In the earlier days of Ringling Brothers Circus, the staff would have been tasked with caring for nearly 30 of these creatures. Of course, there were also 500 horses, 15 camels, and a menagerie of lions, tigers, and other animals. That is why there were 25 structures that made up the winter headquarters of Circus World Baraboo. Another exciting display of talent came from the air. While it wasn’t on the scale of a full-blown trapeze act, it was still thrilling for the audience.

Circus World Baraboo

We enjoyed our visit to Circus World Baraboo and found it to be quite intriguing. While we have enjoyed the circus in the past, we hadn’t given much thought to the amount of work required to keep it running throughout its busy season. When we learned that the winter headquarters were in Wisconsin, it really surprised us. I suppose that facing a cold winter would help you focus on the tasks at hand since there would be fewer distractions. Wandering through all of the exhibits can keep a visitor busy for quite some time, so be sure to allot plenty during your visit. This family-friendly attraction is a good way to see how the public’s perspective of entertainment has changed, yet some parts are still just as thrilling.

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Funky Vibe

It’s not uncommon for us to visit a locally-owned restaurant that has grown into its first brick & mortar. We love finding places like that because we know they got there by being embraced by the locals. It was a little different at Grateful Shed, as here we found food trucks being used in the design of the permanent structure. Stepping through the doorway, we discovered a colorful interior design that begs to be explored. Scanning the room, we spotted a variety of iconic images from days gone by. It was a little like Laugh-In meets roller rink with a side of food truck fun.

Perfect Perch

We decided it would be best to find our seating preference before selecting our food. The list of choices is vast, so it would take a little firsthand knowledge to decide. The floor level has bar seats, as well as booths built into the converted VW microbuses. Heading upstairs, we found more options to choose from. Perhaps we should dine inside a repurposed Greyhound bus. It was almost too much for us, but we finally agreed on our favorite. After our evening of sensory overload, at Wizard’s Quest, we should have been prepared for this type of scene.

Groovy Choices

With this decision made, we were ready to scope out the food truck fun. We’ve attended a few food truck frenzy events, where a variety of trucks all descend upon one location. At Grateful Shed they offer a micro version of that experience. So now we were faced with more choices. Perhaps a couple of slices of pizza would hit the spot. Oh wait, there’s a grilled cheese truck serving up a variety of handheld options. There was also a sweets provider, but we had already made plans for our dessert of the day at a later stop.

Food Fiesta

It was finally decided to check out the Mexican cuisine scene. We have tons of great street taco restaurants in Kansas City, so why not sample the ones in Wisconsin Dells. Pasqual’s Cantina was a popular stop, so we joined the line. They offer six street taco versions and allow customers to mix and match sets of three. We chose Carnitas, Chicken Fajita, and a Gringo. A side of Chips and Guacamole provided some additional protein for our upcoming afternoon of exploring.

Food Truck Fun

Out of all the fun seating options, we couldn’t pass up the VW microbus. Talk about a blast from the past. Our family had one of these during my youth. I can remember the camping trips we took and the excitement they provided, even if we kids usually slept outdoors. We were enjoying our walk down memory lane with all of this food truck fun. Wisconsin Dells is designed as a family-friendly destination. Grateful Shed helps keep the fun rolling with its unique style. What are your favorite food truck dishes?

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Hidden Gem

Lost Canyon Horse Tours have been operated by the same family for the past 55 years. Needless to say, they are well versed on every nook and cranny along the way. We arrived near the start of their day and found this offered us a tour for two. After getting acquainted with the steeds who would be hauling us, it was time to climb aboard our chariot. The surrounding landscape shelters public views of the treasure awaiting beyond the tree line. Our guide welcomed us for our memorable excursion into the Wisconsin Dells version of the Magnificent Mile.

Wisconsin’s Deepest Canyon

As our wagon slowly progressed, we moved into the beginning of the cliff-walled gorges that make up Lost Canyon. The trees didn’t so much disappear as they just migrated up the cliff walls. All around, we were surrounded by the green vegetation and shaded crevasses. Seeing the sandstone layers stacked one upon another was something that we never expected to find in Wisconsin. We sat in awe as the ravine ebbed and flowed like an invisible river. All around us, the beauty of nature unfolded in front of our eyes.

Traveling Through Time

Our guide was adept at coaxing his horses through the narrow corridors. At times, it felt as though there was no way the wagon would fit. The team slowly plodded along and the clip-clop of their hoofs echoed through the canyon. That was the only sound that disturbed the air. The Lost Canyon Horse Tours was an opportunity to commune with nature in an undisturbed fashion. It was so peaceful that we spotted deer lounging along the path. Clearly, they were used to the wagon traffic and barely acknowledged our existence.

Close Quarters

We began to believe we were the only humans around, until we saw an approaching wagon. Our guide pulled the wagon to the side and we watched the other tour group pass. It appeared to us that the crowds were beginning to increase, as the morning turned into afternoon. The slow pace of the Lost Canyon Horse Tours allows guests to soak in all of the natural beauty. While our boat tour had us rushing to take in the views, here we felt like time was barely moving. We were truly enjoying the relaxed pace.

Lost Canyon Horse Tours

Our excursion into Lost Canyon gave us an up-close view of the unique natural features of the Wisconsin Dells. Add in the backstories provided by our tour guide and we finished our visit with a better understanding of this region. While many visitors to the area are concentrating on the myriad of waterparks, we preferred to embrace the nature of the area. Traveling through ravines, that have barely seen any sunlight in thousands of years, was unimaginable. We left the attraction with a newfound appreciation for slot canyons. It was clear that there is much more to the Dells than waterslides and swimming pools. Who else loves these types of attractions?

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We want to thank the Wisconsin Dells CVB and Wizard Quest for hosting our visit. Rest assured all opinions are our own.

Tempting Paths

Our first stop in Wisconsin Dells had been an exploratory adventure on the Dells Boat Tours. After taking in the unusual landscape, we were ready to explore downtown. Broadway is the main drag through town and the street is lined with restaurants and shops. During our research phase, we had seen ads for Wizard Quest, and we were intrigued by the pictures we found. The idea of banding together to explore a fantasy world filled with clues seemed like a great way to spend an evening. Once we stepped through the entrance, we knew it was a great choice. Admission to the attraction gives guests two hours to solve as many mysteries, as possible.

Intriguing Characters

The attraction is broken into four worlds; air, water, earth, and fire. Each area is decorated according to its theme. Corridors and pathways lead explorers from one adventure to the next. Along the way, we met some interesting characters, who would offer up a combination of quests and clues. I’m not sure how many quests they have, but we found that they present a variety for all age groups. We noticed groups with varying ages of participants, and all seemed engrossed in their quests.

Fantastic Scenes

Crystal and I chose to forego attempting the quests and just explore the space. The creators have done an amazing job of building a space that completely draws you in. We were enjoying seeing the details that make up each of the realms and we spent the first hour just wandering around. There is plenty of space for each team to get lost in their adventure, and we would watch groups scurrying from one area to the next.

It’s All in the Details

While taking it all in from a distance is fun, it wasn’t until we began diving into the details that we began to discover the wonders of Wizard Quest. Countless dioramas are hidden behind windows and tucked away in corners. Each tells a piece of a story that meshes into one of the adventures. While we were not looking for specific clues, it was obvious that many were strewn within these scenes. The level of detail is astounding and we soon became compelled to discover as many of these spaces, as possible. It looks like we were on our own type of quest.

Teamwork for the Win

Wizard Quest was designed to work as a team-building experience. With such a large space to explore, we noticed some of the same teams passed by over and over. It was hard to tell if they were doing one quest or possibly had moved on to subsequent adventures. It was handy having these others around, as we often would piggyback directions off of them. The labyrinth of passageways can certainly get you turned around and we would often wonder how others got into areas we were missing.

A Clue Takes Shape

It was by chance that we spotted a team disappearing behind a hidden door. Seeing this added a new level of intrigue to our visit. Our new mission was to discover as many of these secrets, as possible. In this room, we found that the teapot was the trigger. By tilting it forward, onto the small pot, it triggered a hidden doorway nearby. Now we were getting places. We would need to return to all of the previously explored areas to see what we had overlooked. Before long, we found ourselves completely engrossed in our mission.

Discover the Wonders

While we have no idea which adventure includes a treasure room, we do know that we found it. Our two hours were drawing to an end, but we felt like we had accomplished a lot. With so many individual quests to embark upon, we can see Wizard Quest as the type of place that begs for multiple visits. Even without any particular direction, we still had a blast. It goes to show that you are never too old to discover the wonders of exploration. Who would you include in your Wizard Questing team?

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We want to thank the Wisconsin Dells CVB for hosting our visit. Rest assured all opinions are our own. 

Heading Out

Dells Boat Tours offers a few options for visitors. Since we only had time in our schedule for one trip, we chose the Upper Dells Tour. The boats offer seating options inside the cabin or on the top deck. With the sun bearing down on this particular afternoon, we opted to remain in the shade. Before long, we headed off on our two-hour tour up the river. The Wisconsin Dells are a 5-mile gorge that was carved into the underlying sandstone. It is estimated that this change occurred about 15,000 years ago.

Aged Formations

During that time, a portion of North America was covered in a glacial sheet. The glaciers never rested atop the Dells, but the melting ice did create a huge lake nearby. The waters were held back by an ice dam, which allowed the waters to build to a depth of around 150 feet. A sudden failure of this dam resulted in a catastrophic flood. As the water rushed through the area, it cut deep grooves into the sandstone resulting in the slot canyons. As the waters receded, the newly formed landscape came into view.

Popular Place

The Upper Dells Boat Tour includes two disembarkation stops. As the pilot guided us toward the first one, we took in the beauty of the surrounding landscape. The Wisconsin River is a popular destination for water enthusiasts. An assortment of nooks and crannies is perfect for exploring. Quite often, we would spot boaters who had parked along the shoreline to enjoy the amazing views. We also noticed that the cliffs allow swimmers to jump from many of the ledges into the sparkling depths. This is a great way for water lovers to beat the summer heat.

Stop #1 – Witches Gulch

Time flew by and we soon found ourselves pulling into our first stop. After disembarking, we filed along a wooden plankway that led into the hillside. In no time, we found ourselves passing through a series of slot canyons where sunshine struggled to reach the bottom. Each turn opened a new world of wonders. I found myself fascinated by the vegetation growing along the walls, as well as the notably lower temperature of the canyon. The walk leads back to a rest area where we found concessions and restrooms. After a short break, we retraced our steps back to the boat.

Stop #2 – Stand Rock

The boat churned across the river and landed at our second stopping point. This would be one of the most well-known formations in the Wisconsin Dells. Climbing the bank, we found the path that led to Stand rock. This singular outcropping was made famous by photographer H.H. Bennett. He began as a portrait photographer but quickly realized that landscape photos were more lucrative. It was his photos that drew many of the early visitors to the area. His creation of a stop-action shutter allowed him to capture movement for the first time. To prove its effectiveness, he had his son leap the small gap over to Stand Rock. It took a few tries, but he was finally successful. These days, they use a dog to replicate this famous event.

Heading Back

After viewing the leap, it was time to make our way back to the boat. The return ride offered more views of the surrounding landscape. It felt like time whisked by, and soon we were docking back at our starting point. As we disembarked, we left with the memories of the amazing adventure. The sun was growing low in the sky, so our thoughts turned to our evening meal and entertainment. After climbing the stairs back up to street level, we took a moment to look out over the Wisconsin River. We knew that we were in for many more thrills to come.

Dells Boat Tour

Our time in our second Wisconsin city had only just begun, but we were already impressed with the area. Being a family vacation destination, many visitors come here for the waterparks. We intended to show how travelers can have an awesome time without getting wet. Our first excursion was a complete success and we were looking forward to what the next couple of days would bring. Having this opportunity to see Wisconsin’s slot canyons up close was the perfect way to begin our visit. Time to see what else we could uncover. Have you ever visited the Wisconsin Dells?

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