Close your eyes and imagine the perfect escape from those chilly January temperatures and snow. Did you know the ideal family destination can give you 80+ degree temps inside while making sure your kids don’t go stir crazy? Indoor water parks are an ideal year-round tropical destination the entire family can enjoy. From thrill rides to mild activities for toddlers, the weather is always perfect at these top indoor water destinations, especially if you are looking to warm up during the winter months.
Photo Credit: Great Wolf Resorts
With numerous locations spanning the United States, you are guaranteed to find family-friendly entertainment around every corner at Great Wolf Lodge. Each resort is a first-class, water park experience for families that is perfect for the youngest of children as well as adults. Their latest and greatest park in Colorado Springs, CO, is home to a 50,000 square foot indoor water adventure featuring the Howlin’ Tornado™, a six-story funnel slide, and the Wolf Tail™, a 360-degree thrill ride complete with a trapdoor and vertical plunge. While there are plenty of slides and rides to thrill older kids and adults, Great Wolf Lodge is always accommodating for the younger members of the family thanks to the Cub Paw Pool, a zero-depth entry children’s pool with fountain and spray features.Great Wolf also has kiddie slides and a water playground exclusively for kids. The water park is only the beginning as the resort is home to quality, themed accommodations for all family sizes, delicious dining, shopping, and entertainment, as well as the Scooops® Kid Spa – a “yummy” spa complete with ice cream-themed manicures and additional “dessert” spa treatments.
Photo Credit: Wilderness Resort
Imagine having access to not only one, but four indoor water parks in the Wisconsin Dells, known for their world-famous water parks and attractions. The Wild WaterDome spans over 70,000-square-feet and is also home to the nation’s largest indoor wave pool, The Great Wave. This water park also features a zero depth play lagoon, Margarita’s Swim-Up Bar (for the adults) and the Dueling Mammoths family raft ride. Cubby’s Cove, a 35,000-square-foot indoor water park, features an interactive kids’ play structure and body slides that are perfect for toddlers and young children. The Wild West water park features the Black Hole, an outrageously fun two-person tube slide with a 45-foot drop into a large bowl. The park also houses The Fantastic Voyage, a four-person raft ride journies through twisting and turning tunnels. Klondike Kavern, a 65,000-square-foot indoor water park has The Hurricane, the Dells’ tallest indoor 4-person raft ride, complete with fog machines and strobe lights as passengers plummet down a 45-degree angle to a 58-foot drop. You can also check out two slideboarding rides that incorporate gaming into the full waterslide experience. For a relaxing alternative, the 400-foot lazy river is a must to catch your breath and enjoy a moment of pure enjoyment.
Photo Credit: KeyLime Cove
There’s truly something for everyone at KeyLime Cove Indoor Waterpark Resort. Located in Gurnee, Illinois, KeyLime Cove offers an 84-degree, tropical getaway that is both convenient and affordable for families. When you enter the 65,000 square-foot park, you will feel as if you are instantly transported to the Florida Keys. The Lost Paradise water park packs in the water attractions with more than a dozen waterslides and pools that kids love, with the highest level of safety for a stress-free vacation experience in the water. If you have a family of thrill seekers, the Vortex is always a fan favorite - make sure you hold on tight! Visitors can now “glow” their way around the water park with Luma Tubes. Featuring a LED light manufactured within the tube, kids can control the tube’s color and effects during an exciting water journey. The ride is especially fun in the dark, fully enclosed slides where the tube provides the only source of light. Watch out for the new Raging Rapids, a 40-foot bubble up rapids effect in the Lazy River. On the dryer side, Dude’s Tropi-Golf, a 9-hole blacklight mini golf course, is a perfect break time activity the entire family can enjoy.
Photo Credit: Kalahari Resorts and Convention Center
With locations in Wisconsin, Ohio and Pennsylvania, the water fun never ends at Kalahari Resorts. These resorts, known as some of the largest indoor water parks in the world, feature beautiful themes, rides galore, and even extra fun for the adults. In the Wisconsin Dells, the biggest indoor water park in Wisconsin, you can glide down the 920-foot lazy river or go extreme on the 570-foot uphill water roller coaster. You can also dry off and enjoy the 100,000-square-foot Indoor Theme Park or Spa Kalahari to relax and rejuvenate after a long day. The world’s largest indoor water park in Sandusky, right outside of Cleveland, is home to the Zip Coaster, Kids Safari, and Rippling Rhino which is the longest tube slide in the Kalahari family. In March 2017, the Poconos location will officially hold the title of America’s Largest Indoor Water Park. The newest of these African themed resorts, the Poconos features a retractable roof, Tiko’s Watering Hole toddler play area, the Anaconda water coaster as well as private indoor cabanas featuring flat screen tv’s, chaise lounges, and fridges perfect for a day of relaxation or a break from the numerous water activities available.
Photo Credit: Boyne Mountain Resort
Michigan’s largest indoor water park has the wow factor from the moment you enter. For the ultimate thrill seeker in your home, The Big Couloir will get your heart pounding as you launch from a 10-degree vertical angle through a trap door. As you zoom through the tunnel, the 360-degree Super Loop will give you the thrill of a lifetime before you complete your journey. You can also jump on the Rip Zone Surf Simulator for a taste of the waves or board the Vertigo Cannon Bowl where you flush into a giant bowl on a single or double raft of your choice. As you explore the park, keep your ears open for the horn blow and mountain roar. Confused? These sounds signal an 800-gallon water avalanche that will have you completely soaked and giggling from the towering water surprise. Of course, if the younger children need a break from the water activities, Fritz’s Snow Fort is the perfect spot where kids 12 and younger can participate in art projects, games, stories and play structures.
Photo Credit: Matt Vielle
Idaho’s largest indoor water park will let you surf the perfect wave or just relax as a family as an amenity at the Morning Star Lodge. During the winter, skiing and snowboarding rule the outdoors while the multi-level indoor water park brings the tropics to the forefront with a pleasant 84-degree daily temperature. Board a raft and laze along the 315-foot North Fork Lazy River or grab the entire family for the Moose Sluice for a twisting and turning adventure. The water park is also home to some of the best attractions for the youngest members of your family including Cub Cove and Pollywog Pond. You can even experience a simulated hot spring right next to all the main water action. For the sports lovers, Hoop Lagoon is an activity pool complete with a water-based basketball court and hoops!
