If you've hit it a little too hard, don't drive. The Wisconsin Dells Police Department keeps a pretty keen eye on the local establishments. Give Dells Taxi Co. a call at (608) 253-6746. Calling early to set up a pick-up time is a good bet, because they do get a little busy near the end of the night. Fares are pretty cheap and the company uses vans, providing more than enough space for your posse and anybody else you may have befriended.

Back at the hotel -- and depending on your sobriety -- the night isn't over yet. Ho-Chunk Casino is just a few miles from the Dells area and offers traditional slot and table games as well as off-track wagering options.

It's never a wise idea to play a game of chance with alcohol in your system, but it stands to reason that it will happen. Again, don't hop in your car. The casino provides a 24-hour shuttle to most hotels. You can call the front desk or the casino, itself, to arrange for a pick up.

Rest, recovery and back on the horse

Chances are you'll be asleep come Saturday morning. Nothing wrong with that, it is vacation, after all. When the gang is ready to rejoin the world of the living, the first order of business is food.

There is something for every taste. Our group gave Famous Dave's Barbeque, 425 Broadway in Downtown Wisconsin Dells, a try. Utilizing the "hair of the dog" theory, a couple of pitchers a beer and the "Rip Tip Sampler" (five pounds of rib tips with two pounds of steak fries ... served on a grabage can lid) brought us back to some sense of normalacy.

Another option, especially for those that took a beating at the tables or at the bar the night before, is the lunch and dinner buffet at Pizza Pub, 1455 Wisconsin Dells Parkway. For around $10, you get your choice of pizza, pasta, salad, soup and dessert.

Spend the rest of the day back at the hotel (you stocked up on beer the night before for a reason) and kick back at the pool. Maybe a trip to the outlet mall might land you some new shoes and also provides a good venue for scouting (for the single members of your party).

When it's time to head back out, give Marley's Nightclub a shot. Located next to Noah's Ark on the center of the Strip, it's a Caribbean-themed restaurant by day that turns into a dance club by night. Expect to find a lot of bachelorette parties and fellow out-of-towners, especially from Chicago.

Marley's takes a little time to get going, so be patient. The upstairs bar is tucked away in a corner and is a great spot to settle in and establish a base of operations. The requisite pool tables, dartboards and video games are located upstairs so you can keep occupied until you're confident enough to hit the dance floor.

If things are slow there are other options: Kahunaville at the Kalahari Resort, 1305 Kalahari Dr., is a Jimmy Buffet-style dance club located in one of the area's pricier resorts. Monk's Bar, has locations Downtown and at the Wilderness Resort, the latter being a run-of-the-mill sports bar and grill kind of establishment. Or, you could just end up back Downtown at the Showboat.

No matter what the final destination is, grabbing a post-bar bite isn't quite as easy as stumbling to the nearest George Webb. There is a Country Kitchen located right in the center of town, but it is often closed at night during the winter. Two Denny's locations - one on the south end of town just off Exit 92 and the other near Exit 87 - are both close to many hotels and are open 24 hours. But that's about it.

Back to reality

Prior to checking out, it's always a wise idea to check around for personal belongings. Make sure everybody has their debit cards, car keys and cell phones before you hit the road. Hit up one of the regular fast-food spots to get some much-needed grease and prepare for a quiet ride home.

The Dells in the winter has a lot of benefits in conjunction to a summer vacation. Sure, the number of open attractions is much greater after Memorial Day Weekend, the prices are also higher and the crowds are much bigger.

A winter trip is an ideal weekend getaway for the guys -- and the ladies, as well. It's cheap, it's close to home and there's still plenty of action.