The Dells

November 5, 2013 Photo of the day: 

After two days of information overload at the 2013 Midwest Google Summit, I needed a walk to clear my head. As I mentioned before, many state and regional educator conventions are held in the Wisconsin Dells, a tourist destination best known as the Waterpark Capital of the World. I am not a fan of the labyrinth of water slides in huge themy resorts like the Kalahari, the Black Wolf Lodge, and the Wilderness at Glacier Canyon. However, once I get past the kitchy family fun, there is also vast, unspoiled beauty, like this sandstone rock formation. For me the real attraction of the Dells is this breathtaking landscape. The unique ecosystem was formed nearly 15,000 years ago during the last ice age. Unusual trees and ferns line the gorges, 100-foot cliffs, and canyons along the Wisconsin River, a true, non-chlorinated water park.