The wife & I will be passing through the Dells area in a couple weeks and we're thinking of staying a night in the Dells.  No kids along, don't care about waterparks.  It would be nice to get a room, maybe within walking distance to somewhere good for dinner, a little shopping, etc.  Any recommendations on where to stay?  

We were going to stay farther west in the Black River Falls area, but evidently everything is booked for a cranberry festival?  Might be fun to check out if it's not just a big craft show...

Weekend rates are the highest in the Dells.

The hotel at Ho-Chunk casino is nice.  It is outside of town but it is a quick ride into town.  We stay here at least
twice a year to just get away.  No water park so room rates are reasonable, even on weekends.
They have multiple bars, buffet and a food court (and gambling  ;)

Shopping downtown is your typical tourist stuff.  There is an outlet mall.

Large choice of food, from cheap to decent.  Easiest way to pick something to eat is to grab
the tourist magazine when you get there and look through the restaurant section.


And Cranberry Fest is in Warrens, about 60 more miles north.  I have heard it is a giant mass of
people all selling crafts and antiques.

I'll second the casino hotel. Decent prices for weekends compared to the usual tourist hotels. Very clean too.

Not too far to drive to places to eat. There's some resturaunts on site, but they tend to be expensive, and crowded on weekends.

Beware - lots of overpriced, CCW posted places.

If you're looking for something different, try Gollmar house B&B in Baraboo. Baraboo's downtown is a great place to visit (or Circus World, if you're into that). I know the proprietors of Gollmar house, and they'll take good care of you. No idea if they're booked, but I know summer is busier.