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#EddieBauerPartner Can’t go on an outdoor advent #EddieBauerPartner Can’t go on an outdoor adventure without packing some of @eddiebauer’s warm weather apparel. It has been perfect for our spring and summer outdoor adventures from hiking to kayaking and all the other ways we’ve been sending time outside. Where will you #LiveYourAdventure? 

#EBContributor
Since IG hates on photos gotta get them in how I c Since IG hates on photos gotta get them in how I can! Honestly sunset in the lavender fields is everything, probably one of the most beautiful sunsets I’ve ever witnessed. I don’t have much information to give today I really just wanted to share these photos 😬.

Check out my last 3 reels with @oneikatraveller for information on experiencing lavender season in Provence, France. These photos are from a lavender field in Valensole.

P.S. the skirt is from Amazon and they have multiple colors!

#valensole #valensoleprovence #lavenderfields
Things to do in Provence, France 🇫🇷 besides Things to do in Provence, France 🇫🇷 besides the lavender fields (save + share this post):

🇫🇷Go village hopping and take in the small towns. The first clip of this video was shot in the village of Roussillon and we also visited nearby Gordes.
🇫🇷Explore the ancient town of Saint Paul de Vence
🇫🇷Hike the beautiful Calanques de Cassis
🇫🇷Relax at the beaches of Grande Plage of La Ciotat and the Grande Mer beach of Cassis
🇫🇷Visit Gorges du Verdon, a gorgeous must see lake
🇫🇷Go wine tasting at one of the vineyards like Les Vignerons du Mont Saint-Victoire. Provence is known for their Rosé but you can also taste sweet and spicy wines.
🇫🇷Explore a multitude of ancient ruins, including Roman amphitheaters.
🇫🇷Take a tour of one of traditional perfume factories, Parfumerie Fragonard, Molinard or Parfumerie Galimard and do a workshop where you make your own perfume
🇫🇷Visit the Pope's Palace in Avignon
🇫🇷As you’ll most likely fly into Marseille don’t forget to leave time to explore this city as well, especially the port.

Have you been to Provence? What did you enjoy about the region?

Follow @thetravelingchild and @oneikatraveller for more tips.

#provence #blacktravelfeed
Everything you need to know about visiting the Lav Everything you need to know about visiting the Lavender fields in Provence, France (save + share this post):

Lavender season varies each year but falls between June and August.

Provence is the region but there are various cities with fields. Valensole is the most popular and where the fields we visited were located but there are also fields in Sault, Manosque and Luberon. The time frame that the lavender blooms is different in each city. Our visit was July 3-5th but the bloom and harvest time could change next year.

The best airport to fly into is Marseille. Airlines that fly to Marseille from the US are Air France, British Airways, Swiss, Royal Air Maroc, Iberia, Brussels Airlines, ITA Airways, Lufthansa and TAP Portugal. If you’re already in Europe you can also fly Pegasus, Ryanair, Tunisair, Aeroflot, Ethiopian, Easyjet, Vueling, Eurowings and Air Algerie. 

If you’re visiting from Paris you can take the train to Marseille! 

From Marsielle you will need to take the train or bus to Valensole or Manosque as your home base. As you’ll 100% need a car to get around to all the Lavender fields you can also rent a car from Marseille and drive as finding a rental car in the smaller towns is more difficult. 

What questions do you have about the lavender fields or Provence?

Follow @oneikatraveller and @thetravelingchild for more travel tips.

#provencefrance #lavenderfields #girlstrips
My top 5 favorite international destinations I’v My top 5 favorite international destinations I’ve visited!

1. Botswana- I did an exchange program here where I lived with a family in the village of Oodi right outside Gaborone one summer in high school. It completely changed the way I view travel. Besides getting to learn so much of the countries culture from my host family to learning a bit of Setswana to camping in the Okavango Delta it will always be one of my favorite trips.

2. Turkey- from the people to the food to the landscape to the sea it was everything. I visited Istanbul, Cappadocia, Antalya and Izmir and the country has so much to offer with varying landscapes. 

3. Rio de Janeiro- We loved our family trip to Brazil, the food, the people, the vibrance of Rio was everything. So many beautiful hikes, learning how to dance Samba, learning how to make Moqueca, going to a futbol match in Maracana Stadium, wow the energy!! Oh and the nightlife was 🔥. Can’t wait to return and explore more of the country.

4. Kenya- This country has so much to offer. We visited Amboseli National Park, got to do a walking safari amongst zebras and giraffes in Lake Naivasha and even ran into a hippo 😅. We visited a Maasai Tribe who gave us such a warm welcome inviting us into their homes, teaching the girls how to make fire from scratch and we even say 5 cheetah take down a topi, seeing a live kill was insane! Ended the trip relaxing on Diani Beach swimming in the stunning Indian Ocean.

5. Madeira, Portugal- the landscape on this island is insane. Exploring I often felt like I was in 20 different places, like how is all in one island? Loved the hikes here, being above the clouds, seeing all the waterfalls, spotting dolphins in the ocean, and the food was so good! I also enjoyed Lisbon but Madeira was everything!

What have been your favorite international trips? What country is highest on your bucket list (doesn’t have to be from my list)?

Should I make a list for my favorite US destinations (they’ll probably surprise you).

#madeiraportugal #travelreels
Answering the most asked question on my vacuum sea Answering the most asked question on my vacuum sealed carry-on only reel (save + share this post). This is how my clothes look once I take them out of the bag. Do you think these are really wrinkled? They were vacuum sealed for roughly 22 hours.

If you’re going to visit more than one city the best way to pack these is to pack each bag per city. Then all your clothes for that one city are all together and you only have to open one bag at a time. Then reseal that one bag with all your dirty clothes before going to the next city and don’t worry about the other ones getting dirty or smelling! You can label each bag with a sticky note or tape with a marker to know what bag has what clothes.

The link to purchase the bags and hand pump is my bio.

#packingtips #packinghacks #traveltipsandtricks
#WBPartner The girls are so excited to watch the n #WBPartner The girls are so excited to watch the new @wbpictures DC League of Super Pets. To prepare for our trip to the theater to see it we did a fun activity of making our own super hero costumes for us and our very own super pets. 

Jordyn turns villains into ice cream and eats them, James turns villains into money and spends them and Kennedy shoots lighting with her eyeballs. 

If you or your child could have super powers what would you pick? @dcleagueofsuperpets #DCSuperPets

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Fun Things to Do in Wisconsin Dells in The Winter: Our 3 Day Itinerary

February 6, 2020      Destinations, North America, Wisconsin

This post contains affiliate links. If you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small commission at no cost to you. Please see our disclosure policy for more information. All opinions are my own.

After our visit to Door County in late 2019, Wisconsin stole my heart. Never would I have imagined a girl with Jamaican heritage, born in New York, living in Miami would enjoy a state like Wisconsin. However, I loved it so much that I decided to visit again. So just four months later we headed to Wisconsin Dells in the winter. My eldest daughter and I would be going on our 5th annual mother daughter trip and she requested snowboarding and swimming. While it seems like a weird combination of activities Wisconsin Dells was the perfect place to grant both of her wishes. Here are things to do in Wisconsin Dells in winter that made our three day weekend so memorable.

Mother and young daughter snowboarding

Things to do in Wisconsin Dells in the Winter Day One: Visit Cascade Mountain

Living in Miami (read our Miami guide here), snow activities are not something we have the luxury of experiencing during our winters. However, Wisconsin Dells gets plenty of snow and we spent our first day enjoying it at Cascade Mountain. We arrived at the mountain around 10:30AM and didn’t leave until 5:30PM, there was so much to do.

Winter Activity #1 Snowboarding Lessons at Cascade Mountain

After our ski trip to Keystone Resort last year where my daughter took her first ski lessons she’d been wanting to try out snowboarding. When we arrived at Cascade Mountain I signed up for private snowboard lessons. You can’t make reservations so it’s imperative to arrive early and make this your first stop.

 How much do snowboarding lessons cost at Cascade Mountain?

Private lessons last one hour and cost $80 for one and $40 for each additional person.  For it to be my daughters first time I was so proud of her accomplishments, her teacher was great! Cascade Mountain offers lessons for those four years and older. We did a private lesson for two, full-day equipment rentals and unlimited tubing for $290. Group lessons last 3 hours and start at $60 but you can find up to date pricing here.

Tubing at Cascade Mountain

After taking our snowboard lessons we headed to Tube Town as they call it at Cascade Mountain. Here we were able to enjoy unlimited tubing! This was a great treat because when we’ve gone tubing other places like Northstar Resort, they sell tickets by the hour which can become very expensive.

How much does it cost to go Tubing on Cascade Mountain?

Ticket rates at Cascade Mountain range in price from $10-$32 depending on age and day of the week you visit. There are no age or height restrictions for tubing at Cascade Mountain. They leave it up to parental discretion on if your child can safely sit in the tube alone. Making it a great family-friendly activity to experience close to Wisconsin Dell.

How long do you spend in line waiting to ride the tubes at Cascade Mountain in the winter time?

Tube Town at Cascade Mountain has so many lanes it is rare to wait more than 10 minutes to tube. We visited on a holiday and still had this experience. The tubes here move so fast and are so much fun! You can link with other tubes to go down together at the same time. We had the time of our lives. 

You May Be Interested in Reading: Ski Trip Packing List, The Essentials You Need to Stay Warm and Dry

Snowball Fights and Making Snow Angels at Cascade Mountain

Kids just want to be kids and even the simplest activities keep them busy and happy. My daughter absolutely loved just being able to make snowballs, throw them at me and lay in the soft powdery snow making snow angels. The bottom of the mountain in front of the ski school office is the perfect place for being able to do this.

Little girl holding a snowball in her hand

How far is Cascade Mountain from Wisconsin Dells?

The Cascade mountains aren’t located directly in WI, Dells, but they’re only 15-20 minutes away. I highly recommend visiting the Cascade Mountain while you’re in the area. You won’t be disappointed after spending a fun filled day full of winter activities here.

Things to do in Wisconsin Dells in the Winter Day Two: Kalahari Resort Indoor Water Park & Tom Foolery’s Indoor Amusement Park

If you’re looking for things to do in Wisconsin Dells in the winter that are indoor, spending the day at Kalahari Resort is for you. Not only are they home to the largest indoor water park in Wisconsin but they also have an indoor amusement park. If the idea of going to a water park in winter seems odd to you, it won’t as soon as you step foot inside. It’s the perfect winter day activity to liven up your winter vacation! Our entire second day in Wisconsin Dells was spent enjoying both.

Become a Mermaid at Kalahari Resort

If you have mermaid obsessed children like me or are obsessed with them yourself the Mermaid Experience offered at Kalahari Resort is something you have to book. The 30-60 minute experience can be done at 8AM before the water park opens or after the park closes. You’ll be transformed into a mermaid and then hit the pool seeing how it is to swim with a fin. Your mermaid instructor will also toss rings into the pool for you to go and get, a fun little game that will test your mermaid skills.

Little girl who turned into a mermaid at a waterpark

You May Be Interested in Reading: Tips for Taking Family Vacation Photos

During your experience you will have one life guard in the water with you and one outside of the pool there to assist in case of an emergency. Knowing how to swim is vital in this activity. At the time of our visit this 30 minute experience was $35 per person, but check here for current rates. If this sounds like a cool experience but you dream of becoming a shark instead of a mermaid, not to worry. The Kalahari Resort Indoor Water Park also offers a similar shark experience for shark lovers. 

Enjoy the Indoor Water Park at Kalahari Resort

Wisconsin Dells is the waterpark capital of the world! Even when looking for things to do in Wisconsin Dells in the winter you’ll see water parks as an option. As mentioned before Kalahari Resort is home to the largest indoor waterpark in Wisconsin so it only made sense that it be the one we experience. With 125,000 square feet there are multiple water slides for all ages, a flow rider, wave pool, lazy river and play area with basketball hoops and obstacle course.

The water park opens at 9:30AM to Kalahari Resort guests and 10AM to the general public. Closing hours are for the same everyone and Sunday-Thursday it closes at 9PM while Friday and Saturday it closes at 10PM.

Children under 48″ are required to wear a U.S. Coast Guard approved life vest at all times. You can bring your own or use one provided by the waterpark. They also provide towels for guest use.

Have Fun at Tom Foolery’s Indoor Amusement Park at Kalahari Resort

After spending the first half of the day at the waterpark we showered, changed, had dinner and enjoyed Tom Foolery’s Indoor Amusement Park. It’s onsite Kalahari Resort and open daily from 10AM-11PM. 

How much does it cost to go to Tom Foolery’s Amusement Park at Kalahari Resort Wisconsin Dells?

During our stay the price was $37.99 for those 42″ tall and up and $16.99 for children under 42″ tall. This price includes a full day of play as well as admission to the waterpark!

Resort guests pay a much cheaper rate at $34.99 for those 42″ tall and up, and for children under 42″ tal it’s $14.99 for unlimited attraction passes. The passes are valid for your entire stay! Be sure to check pricing before you go as it is always subject to change you can find up to date pricing here.

What all is included in the price of Admissions to Tom Foolery’s?

Inside Tom Foolery’s you will find go karts, laser tag, virtual reality games, rock climbing, mini golf, obstacle courses, and rides. All of These activities are all included in your entry fee:

  • G-Force One
  • XD Dark Ride
  • Atomic Rush
  • Centrifooled
  • Meteorace
  • Ferris Wheel
  • Kalahari Carousel
  • Legend of the Lost Jungle
  • Toucan Climb
  • Conqueror’s of Mt.Foolmore
  • Laser Tag
  • Lil’ Toucan Climb
  • Sky Rangers
  • RevoFooltion
 

The indoor amusement park also has arcade games but these come at an additional fee. The bowling alley and a few other things are also not included in the fee, including:

  • Volcano Bowling – $4.50/person/game
  • Bowling Shoes – $2.50 rental/person
  • Golf Simulator – $10/ ½ hour driving range
  • Lazer Frenzy – $3.00/(12 chips) person/game
  • Visual Sports – $3.00/(12 chips) person/game
  • Arizona Sunshine – $15 for 15 Minutes (60 chips)

We chose to skip these and still had plenty to do and enjoy. All the activities included are unlimited so you can experience them over and over again.

Things to Do in Wisconsin Dells in the Winter Day Three: Relax at Kalahari Resort Spa

After an eventful two days of non-stop fun I wanted to relax on our last day in Wisconsin Dells. My daughter loves the spa and ever since getting her first massage on our trip to Rio de Janeiro she’s been begging for another one. To say I was excited to find our that Kalahari Resorts has a junior spa menu when looking for things to do in Wisconsin Dells in the winter is an understatement. They service kids 3 and up offering manicures, pedicures, facials, massages and hair cuts and styles. 

The spa is open from 9AM-9PM and children 13 and under must have a parent or guardian present with them for services. They even offer a mother/daughter package including a manicure, pedicure, facial and smoothies for two! It was the perfect way to end our winter getaway in Wisconsin Dells!

Things to Do in Wisconsin Dells in the Winter We Didn’t Have Time to Enjoy

With only 3 days to enjoy Wisconsin Dells we didn’t get to experience all the activities they offer in the winter. Here are some things we considered adding, had we had more days.

  • I Skate at the Keg: This year round outdoor ice skating rink allows you to ice skate even during the summer. The rink is open seven days a week from Memorial Day to Labor Day with reduced hours in the fall and winter months
  • Mid-Continent Railway Museum: The Mid-Continent Railway Museum is an outdoor museum & operating railroad.
  • Winter Zip-lining: Can you imagine going zip-lining through snow filled trees? Well if you want to turn your imagination into reality you can zip line in the winter at both Bigfoot Zipline Tours and Vertical Illusion in Wisconsin Dells.
  • Dells Mining Co: With two locations in Wisconsin Dells you can get hands on experience mining natural precious and semi-precious gemstones from all over the world. Once you’ve mined your gems you have the opportunity to turn them into jewelry if you’d like.

Where to Stay in Wisconsin Dells in the Winter

For convenience we chose to stay at Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells. As mentioned previously, it’s home to the largest indoor water park in Wisconsin Dells and with so many amenities we just couldn’t pass it up.

What’s included in a Kalahari Resort room rental?

When you book a room at Kalahari you get admission to both its outdoor and indoor water parks bundled right in to your nightly rate. Of course, the outdoor waterpark was closed during our winter visit but we’d love to return to enjoy it.

I absolutely loved being able to just head down to the water park whenever we wanted to and just walk back to our room after to shower without having to go outside in the cold to get to a different hotel. The rooms are a little outdated in my opinion but they are extremely clean! Here is a tour of our two queen room.

Besides the water park tickets you get free access to the fitness center, and wifi. Standard rooms come with a microwave and refrigerator so you can bring up any leftovers from the restaurants. They do have more luxurious room and board options with their waterfront rentals off of Lake Delton and even those include admission to the water park.

Kalahari resort spa Wisconsin dells shuttle service

Staying at Kalahari Resort proved to be very convenient as we didn’t have a car. For those of you thinking about getting a rental car, Kalahari Resort does offer a shuttle. It will take you to and from surrounding areas and the airport. It’s how we got to and from Cascade Mountain as well as the airport. The shuttle rates vary depending on distance and how many people you have in your group. If you do decide to rent a car, or if you’re on a road trip, parking is free at Kalahari in WI, Dells.

Dining Options at Kalahari: Restaurants and Sweet Treats!

The resort has multiple restaurants on site so we never had to leave to get something to eat.

  • Double Cut Charcoal Grill / Liquor Bar
  • Great Karoo Marketplace Buffet
  • Ivory Coast Restaurant
  • Rattler’s Cantina
  • Wisconsin Brew Pub
  • Trappers Turn Dining
  • Room Service – Ingraffia’s Pizza Kitchen
  • Volcano Lounge & Lanes
  • Waterpark Dining Options
  • Safari Snacks
  • Sweet Hut
  • Java Manjaro

They also offer specialty dining events like Easter & Mother’s day brunch!

We didn’t get bored with the food options since there were so many including a coffee shop and an ice cream/candy store. For dinner we loved eating at Double Cut, which opens at 4PM. It’s more of an upscale restaurant and the Sea Bass is to die for!

Does Kalahari Resort in WI Dells offer complimentary breakfast?

Unfortunately they do now, but they do have several dining options from a full breakfast buffet at Great Karoo Marketplace Buffet, to a lovely bakery & coffee shop the Java Manjaro. For breakfast we either ate at Ivory Coast Lounge for a sit down meal or Java Manjaro for something quick.

For lunch we also enjoyed the options at Ivory Coast Lounge and the Wisconsin Brew Pub. They both offer the cutest table side s’mores for the perfect dessert to fill your sweet tooth.

little girl at table making s'mores

For those without a car, Kalahari Resort does offer a shuttle. It will take you to and from surrounding areas and the airport. It’s how we got to and from Cascade Mountain as well as the airport. The shuttle rates vary depending on distance and how many people you have in your group.

How to Get to Wisconsin Dells in the Winter

Wisconsin Dells is located one hour from Madison Airport. Airlines including Delta, American, United, Frontier, Alaska Airlines, Sun Country, Lufthansa, and British Airways operate multiple flights a day. We found a pretty affordable flight from Fort Lauderdale using these websites. From there you can rent a car or hire a shuttle to get you to Wisconsin Dells. It’s also an easy two hour drive from Milwaukee, WI or three hour drive from Door County, WI and Chicago.

You May Be Interested in Reading Our: Guide to Door County with Kids and our 3 Day Chicago Itinerary

We had the best time experiencing Wisconsin Dells in the winter. One day we will make it back to enjoy the summer activities offered in the city. Until then you can find out things to do in Wisconsin Dells then here. Did you find this article helpful? If so please share it!

The Traveling Child is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, amazon.co.uk, amazon.ca. Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.

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Hey, I’m Monet!

Hey, I’m Monet!

A full time working woman, wife and mama of two. I use every last one of my vacation days traveling with my kids, hubby, friends or solo. Join me as I share my travel experiences and tips to make travel affordable and easier with the little ones. You can read more about me here.

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