Requesting Indoor Water Park Recommendations/Suggestions

WI Dells is always nice for a "true" vacation--many of their hotels now have such huge waterparks you'll never have to leave the hotel!

If you're looking for something more affordable and closer to home (like, for 1-2 nights), we LOVE the Holiday Inn in Otsego. The water park is a little smaller, but way more manageable for little ones. There is a separate zero-entry pool for really little kids, and even some bigger rides for big kids and adults only (I love the big "toilet bowl" thingie!) Best of all, room rates are afforable, and kids under 12 stay and eat free. Have fun!

There is a big one in Tomah, Wisconsin. Can't remember the name of it, but we pass is on the way to Milwaukee. Just opened about a year ago.

I'm sure if you google water park and Tomah, you'll find it.

K.

There is a fun park in Duluth called Edgewater Resort & Waterpark, www.duluthwaterpark.com. Good luck!

There is a great hotel/waterpark in Otsego off of HWY 10 and HWY101. I can't think of the name of it right now but I prefer it to the WaterPark of America for smaller kids! Plus it is cheaper AND not as crowded!

We recently spent the weekend at the Holiday Inn in Owatonna. http://www.hiowatonna.com/ They have an indoor water park that our kids (ages 2 and 3) loved and our kids ate free in their restuarant.

Mount Olympus in the Wisconsin Dells isn't too far of a drive. I have a friend who just took her 2-year-old there and they all had a blast. You can take a look at their website:
http://www.mtolympuspark.com/
It's actually a water/theme park, so there's a big water area, slides, rides, etc. Great for an indoor family vacation.

Otherwise, Brainerd and Duluth aren't too far away either. I don't have recommendations for hotels/water parks in either area, but I'm sure you could find something like that in both places.

Grand Rios is great for local waterpark. But, my family and I went to the Dells over MEA weekend and we stayed at the Kallahari. It was awesome! We had booked a regular family size room with two beds in it, and when we got there they upgraded us for free to a family suite. It was gorgeous. The waterpark had so many great slides, a surfing area, kid area, infant and toddler area, lazy river, hot tubs, everything. There are fast easy foods right in the waterpark, and many different restuarants in the hotel. It never felt over crowded either. They also had a fun Fall festival going on that weekend with hayrides, jumping pits, face painting, pumpkin painting, bonfire, story telling by their big fireplace, and free cider and cookies and cotton candy for kids. There were so many things to do. It was a blast! There are pics on their website. Check it out.

I would NOT recomend Grand Rios in Brooklyn Park--it's fine for a day to play at the waterpark, but it's not great for a vacation or overnite--the beds are way too hard & the hotel is noisy. I have heard great things about the Holiday Inn Waterpark in Otsego/Elk River. Here's the link: http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/hi/1/en/hotel/otsmn?rpb=.... And, if you want to spend a little more money, the indoor waterparks in Wiconsin Dells at the Great Wolf Lodge or the Kalahari are wonderful. The Kalahari is huge--lots to do, but it's a little more spendy. However, you can get rooms/suites that have kitchens or kitchenettes in them, so you wouldn't have to go out to buy food at restaurants.

We have always had fun at the Wilderness Lodge in WI Dells. They have several waterparks to choose from and there's always something for the little ones to do.

By the way, the one near Tomah (Warrens actually) just closed. My husband had to do some business with them last week....that's how I know. :) Too bad. It looked pretty cool.