As others have said, this is a great activity for the price...FREE. Besides looking at the animals (and there's a good variety) there are a number of activities for kids. Tree House and Adventure Play Area; train rides; Conservation Carousel is a must; hands-on Discovery Center; and children's zoo area. You can also go there for Halloween, if you're looking for a safe/fun trick or treating experience!

The Dane County Farmer's Market is one of the best in the Midwest. On certain weekends, there are events geared towards kids, so check the Web site - www.dcfm.org/ -. Great activity for adults with children they push in strollers. You can also visit the Capitol or the Madison Children's Museum the same day.

The Madison Children's Museum moved last year to a new larger building. The old location was good, but this new location has more space and more to offer young kids. It's best for kids from 2-6. Older kids will not find much here. Lots of hands-on activities...water room, climbing areas, musical instruments, garden room, giant hamster wheel, etc. It's worth an afternoon if you are in the area. I wouldn't travel hours to visit as there are better museums in Mpls. or Chicago though.

The variety of courses (5 with 18 holes) is great! There are holes easy enough for very young children and more challenging ones for the older kids. Make sure to pick up discounted tickets or a coupon book (these are available all over the Dells) to save money. You can make an afternoon of it by using the picnic area too.

We live an hour from Kalahari and go there once a year during the long, cold winters for a break. The last few years the hotel service and room cleanliness has gone downhill. For the price (can be $150-200+/night), it may not be worth it. It depends on what you're looking for. It does have an incredible variety of water park rides for kids of all ages. There is also a movie theater and lots of dining options. You might want to book a hotel room nearby and just visit the water park to save some money though!