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Fifteen miles south lies Baraboo, a former lumber industry town that’s home to Ringlingville, where the synonymous circus-centric brothers started their act in 1884. For a natural respite among the literal circus of tourist attractions, Devil’s Lake State Park fosters 10,000 acres of rocky wilderness replete with swimming holes, hiking, biking and skiing trails — all a few miles south of Baraboo’s town square.
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Al Solomon’s 6 reasons to go
1. Circus World Museum
It’s the museum for people who really, really hate museums. Ladies and gentlemen and children of all ages, no one can hate this one.
2. The Dells
It’s easy to forget what brought tourists here in the first place: those limestone leavings on the lovely Wisconsin River. Take a boat ride or . . . Ride the Ducks!
3. Water parks.
Summer or winter, outdoors or indoors, if you ever get that urge slide down a ramp head-first into churning chlorinated water . . . and who doesn’t . . .
4. Tommy Bartlett Show
A glorious anachronism: jugglers, flying speedboats and stunts on skis. Like Ed Sullivan and Old Comiskey, you’ll miss it when it’s gone. (And unfortunately, it’s gone for the moment, due to the flood-damage loss of Lake Delton.)
5. Wisconsin Deer Park
Amid all the carny-style come-ons, there’s this: a chance for a quiet walk among deer you can pet and feed. And if you have a little kid and a camera, only Santa pictures come close.
6. Al. Ringling Theater
A 1915 treasure. First reaction: What’s this doing in Baraboo? Then enjoy the show.
? What did we miss? Share your tips for Wisconsin Dells & Baraboo.
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