27012 Taste of Wisconsin

Day 1

Day 1: Thursday, September 23, 2027
Winery Heritage, Local Flavor, & Cranes of the World
Your Wisconsin getaway begins as you board the motorcoach and head north with fellow travelers. With convenient departures from Fort Madison, West Burlington, Mediapolis, Wapello, Muscatine, and Davenport, the first morning is a comfortable start to a scenic fall escape.
As the miles roll by, settle in and enjoy the changing views from your window. This is the kind of trip that invites you to relax right away — no driving, no planning, no guessing where to go next. Just sit back and let Wisconsin’s autumn charm come to you.

Wollersheim Winery & Distillery – Prairie du Sac, Wisconsin
Your first featured stop is Wollersheim Winery & Distillery, a beautiful and historic destination set in the scenic countryside of Prairie du Sac.
This experience begins with a delicious taste of place. At Wollersheim Bistro, food is made from scratch using as many locally sourced ingredients as possible, from eggs and flour to meats and vegetables. It is a wonderful way to begin the tour: fresh, regional, and thoughtfully prepared.
After lunch, enjoy a guided tour of the winery. Wollersheim is more than a place to sip and stroll. It is a destination layered with heritage, craftsmanship, and scenic beauty. As you explore, you will learn about the winery’s rich history, its vineyards, winemaking process, and bottling operation.
A special highlight is the visit to the underground limestone aging cellars in the historic winery building. There is something wonderfully atmospheric about stepping into a cellar where time, stone, temperature, and tradition all play a role in the final product. It is part history lesson, part behind-the-scenes tour, and part sensory experience.

Whether you are a wine enthusiast or simply enjoy visiting places with character, Wollersheim offers a memorable opening to the trip.

International Crane Foundation – Baraboo
In the afternoon, continue to the International Crane Foundation in Baraboo, a unique and meaningful stop dedicated to a world where cranes can flourish and people can thrive.
Here, you will have the opportunity to observe all 15 of the world’s crane species and learn about crane biology, habitats, and conservation. The experience is peaceful, educational, and visually striking. Cranes are graceful, expressive birds, and seeing so many species in one place gives visitors a deeper appreciation for their beauty and importance.
This stop adds a wonderful nature-focused element to the tour. It is not rushed or ordinary. It is the kind of place that encourages curiosity — the kind where you may arrive knowing very little about cranes and leave with a new favorite bird.
After the visit, continue to the Mauston/Tomah area for check-in at your hotel.

Group Dinner and Evening at Leisure
This evening, enjoy a group dinner before returning to the hotel for the remainder of the evening. After a day of travel, winery heritage, local food, and wildlife discovery, you can relax and recharge for a full day in Wisconsin Dells.

Day 2

Day 2: Friday, September 24, 2027
Canyons, Downtown Dells, River Cliffs, and Dinner Entertainment
After breakfast at the hotel, depart for a day filled with classic Wisconsin Dells scenery and entertainment.

Lost Canyon Horse Tour – Wisconsin Dells
Your morning begins with the Lost Canyon Horse Tour, a peaceful and memorable ride through one of the most scenic natural areas in Wisconsin Dells.
Travel in comfortable, quaint horse-drawn carriages through a magnificent mile of cliff-walled gorges. This is a wonderfully relaxed way to experience the dramatic rock formations and tucked-away beauty of the canyon. The pace allows you to take in the details: the textures of the stone, the narrow passageways, the cool shade, and the feeling of being carried into a hidden corner of the Dells.
The group will split into carriages, creating a cozy and intimate experience as you travel through the canyon. It is scenic, easy, nostalgic, and unlike a typical sightseeing stop.
For travelers who enjoy gentle adventure without strenuous activity, this is a perfect fit.

Downtown Wisconsin Dells
Late morning brings free time in Downtown Wisconsin Dells, a lively and walkable area filled with shops, casual restaurants, sweet treats, souvenirs, and local personality.
This is your time to explore at your own pace. Browse for gifts, enjoy lunch on your own, pick up a snack, or simply wander along Broadway and soak up the energy of this beloved Wisconsin vacation town.
Downtown Wisconsin Dells has a fun, classic travel feel. It is cheerful, a little playful, and full of places that invite you to pop in “just for a minute” — which, of course, often turns into finding something delicious or unexpected.

Dells Boat Tours – Upper Dells
In the afternoon, experience one of the signature attractions of the Wisconsin Dells: the Upper Dells Boat Tour.
As you cruise the Wisconsin River above the dam, you will travel through a channel carved by ancient glaciers. The scenery is dramatic and beautiful, with pine-crowned cliffs, narrow passages, and iconic sandstone formations rising above the water.
This is the Wisconsin Dells at its most memorable.
The adventure includes two exclusive shore landings. First, step into Witches Gulch, a dramatic and almost mysterious passage carved by wind and water. Its narrow walkways and sculpted rock walls create an atmosphere that feels cool, shadowy, and a little magical.
You will also visit Stand Rock, a towering sandstone pillar famous for the legendary dog leap to the top of the tall rock. This iconic formation has long been associated with the history of Dells tourism and continues to be one of the area’s most recognizable sights.
The boat tour is scenic, historic, and relaxing. It gives travelers a front-row seat to the cliffs and formations that made Wisconsin Dells famous.

Dells Dinner Adventures
This evening, enjoy dinner and entertainment at Dells Dinner Adventures.
Known as a premier entertainment destination, this venue offers a rotating lineup of shows designed to appeal to a variety of tastes. From lively concerts and family-friendly productions to seasonal performances, the evening promises food, fun, and a shared group experience.
The final show and menu are to be determined, but the format makes for an enjoyable night out after a full day of sightseeing. Sit back, enjoy the entertainment, and let the day end on a festive note.
After the show, return to the hotel for the remainder of the evening.

Day 3

Day 3: Saturday, September 25, 2027
Warrens Cranberry Festival and Marsh Tour
After breakfast at the hotel, set your luggage out for pick-up and depart for the final featured experience of the tour: the Warrens Cranberry Festival.

Warrens Cranfest – Walking Marsh Tour
Wisconsin and cranberries go hand in hand, and this morning gives you a wonderful chance to experience that connection up close.
At the Warrens Cranberry Festival, begin with a walking marsh tour. As you pass cranberry reservoirs and ponds bordering the road, you will learn about the landscapes where cranberries are grown and harvested. These marshes are not only agricultural spaces — they are also habitats for wildlife such as bald eagles, trumpeter swans, whitetail deer, otters, and coyotes.
Many cranberry marshes in the area are multi-generational, family-owned operations, which adds a meaningful layer to the experience. This is not just a look at a crop. It is a look at tradition, stewardship, family history, and a deeply rooted part of Wisconsin’s identity.
There is something wonderfully autumnal about cranberries. Their bright color, tart flavor, and harvest-season charm make them feel like little jewels of fall. Seeing the marshes and learning about the process gives new appreciation for a fruit many of us usually only meet at the Thanksgiving table.

Festival Free Time
After the marsh tour, enjoy time at the Warrens Cranberry Festival with lunch on your own.
This is your chance to explore, shop, taste, and take in the festive atmosphere. Browse vendors, look for cranberry-themed treats, enjoy local foods, shop for handcrafted items, and soak up the energy of one of Wisconsin’s most beloved seasonal celebrations.
A festival like this has a special kind of charm. It is lively, colorful, and full of small discoveries — the kind of place where you might find a jar of cranberry jam, a handmade decoration, a warm snack, or a perfect gift you did not know you needed.
After enjoying the festival, board the motorcoach for the return trip back to Iowa. A rest and refresh break will be made along the way before returning back home.