Water Park Suggestions

We love blue habor in WI, we have gone since it's opening 5 yrs ago.

www.blueharborresort.com

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We just returned from a weekend at Blue Harbor in Sheboygan. Its great for little kids. And the restaurants, etc. were good for families. We stayed in a 4 bedroom villa with another couple and our three toddlers. Its only 2 and half hours from Chicago. A great babysitting service available for $10 an hour plus $1 per kid. Very fun! And clean!!!

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For the Dells, I'd suggest Grand Marquis for those with little kids. I took my own a few years ago at the suggestion of another parent. It's tame compared to the other, bigger parks. You can google their web site and check it out.

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For toddler aged children, I'd recommend the Hilton Hotel's waterpark in Milwaukee. It is ideal for younger children (infant through age 8 or so), as it is far calmer than the pools in Wisconsin Dells (we used to take our 6 year old daughter to the Wilderness in the Dells, but it is a long drive and enormous and a bit overwhelming for small children, as were the other waterparks we checked out in the Dells--the Kalahari and Great Wolf). We took her to the waterpark at Lake Geneva once, and swore we'd never go back--too many people in too small an area, so the indoor park area is always loud with older kids racing by younger ones who are easily knocked over (I believe they let people in by the day, as do many of the waterparks in Wisconsin Dells, so things get crowded quickly).

The Hilton's waterpark in Milwaukee is an easy drive, and when we were there for a weekend about three weeks ago, we praactically had the waterpark to ourselves. There is a huge toddler area and the medium sized slides appeal to kids up to about age 8, but empty into shallow water, so your child does not even need to knwo how to swim to go down them. This was the first park that our 6 year old actually felt confident going down the slides on her own (she is timid about the water). And there were a couple larger slides adjacent to this shallower pool that we adults could go down when we got bored with the smaller slides...all in the same compact area. Highly recommended.

the dells, theres a hotel in arlington heights, il they have a indor water park, it looks real nice its fairly new, the news sowed it when they opened its called http://www.cocokeywaterresort.com/, i might even call and see about a get away for my self, its close to where i live, CoCo key water resort, its a Sheraton Hotel, you can google water parks to let me know how you liked the coco key website,

We took a trip to Timber Ridge in Lake Geneva. It was perfect. Close by, and really good for little kids. We had a blast. You can also access all the resort facilities of the Grand Geneva. - Check for "hot dates" we stayed in one bedroom suites for $109 - we had a little kitchen and bedroom with a door that closed - all great when travelling with kids.

We stayed at Timber Ridge in Lake Geneva over New Years. It was a great place for kids. My son is 20 months and he was a little too young to be able to take advantage of all they offer, but he did enjoy the water!
There is a kids room where they are almost always showing movies or having a "make your own cookie" activity, or something like that. It was a nice place for the kids, and since it's a part of the Grand Geneva, there is plenty for mom and dad to take advantage of, as well. The spa is fantastic; the gym/weight room is amazing; and if the weather is decent, there's great golfing!

Depending on when you go, there is also a new water park opening on Feb. 29th in Gurnee, IL. I think it's called Key Lime Cove and it's tropical themed. The pictures on the website look pretty cool, but it seems pricey. But you could look into that, too. if you're one of the first ones to stay there you can post to all of us what you think of it!

Have fun!
~P.

Hi, N.!

Our family ( five years old gilr, three years old boy and baby 7 months old girl)always go to the one in Wisconsin. The Kalahari Resorts. The place is huge for all ages. They have area for big and little ones. They even have several restaurants, snack shop, arcades and also theater inside. The little ones love the place. They always have good promotion during the off seasons. You can check their web site for more information and promotions.
K.

We have stayed at the Wilderness in the Dells many times and loved it. We always go with a big group and rent one of the cabins, so I couldn't tell you how nice the individual rooms are - but the different little water parks they have there are very nice and appropriate even for the little ones. Have fun!!

I recently visited the COCO KEY Water Resort. It is an indoor waterpark in Arlington Heights at the Sheraton Hotel. It was very accomodating for all ages. You should check out there website. I will definately go back.

We just got back from a long weekend at Blue Harbor in Sheboygan with 18 month old twins and a four year old. Beautiful hotel right on the lake and nice water park well-suited for younger kids.

It's been years, but I thought the Kalahari in Wisconsin Dells was wonderful! The kids loved that place!!

M.

We've been to a few waterparks over the years, and I'd say there are lots of decent choices out there for little ones. The water parks themselves are very similar, with usually a toddler area, and bigger slides and play areas for the older ones. The water can be harsh on skin, so we found it nice to have a few other things planned too. Timber Ridge in Lake Geneva is a very short drive, rooms and restaurants are fine, though the food is probably better at the sister hotel, the Grand Geneva. There's a water park at Starved Rock, which we thought had very mediocre food, but it's close to the state park, so you could enjoy a little hiking in addition to the water park. We've also gone to the Dells, which has the best water parks, but a much longer drive. I'm afraid I don't remember the details of the toddler areas, so you might want to look at the parks online to get a sense of which is best for your little ones. Have fun!

We just visited CocoKey's in Arlington Heights a few weeks ago and I have a 7 year old and 12 year old. They have fun for all ages. You will enjoy it.

Key Lime Cove is in Gurnee and opening at the end of Feb, 2008. Looks pretty swanky for this type of place! http://www.keylimecove.com

Glacier Canyon in Wisconsin Dells is great! We have been there twice with our two kids and have been very happy with it both times. When we went last summer our two girls were 3 1/2 and 10 mo. and we had a blast!