The official start of the summer vacation season kicks off this weekend with Memorial Day. Hit the road for a weekend your friends or family won’t soon forget. An astonishing array of water parks, within striking distance of many of the larger metropolitan areas, is located right in the heart of America. Many feature indoor, temperature controlled environments with jaw dropping attractions, food outlets and even 4D feature films complete with water effects!
Pennsylvania
The Pocono Mountains lie just 90 miles northwest of New York City, and they have been a resort area for city dwellers for over a hundred years. More recently, water parks have become the featured destination here, and several top-notch parks are clustered close together so you can take your pick. The latest to open is Kalahari, America’s largest indoor water park. With an African vibe, this water park features over 220,000 square feet of fun and wetness. Try stand-up surfing or body boarding on the Flow Rider, check out the twists and turns of the Anaconda and Swahili Swirl water slides, or relax on the Lazy River and the indoor/outdoor hot tub for all ages.
Two more great parks are on offer in this area: Great Wolf Lodge lives up to its name with a temperature controlled 84 degree indoor park – so no family fun will be ruined by inclement weather! The Howlin’ Tornado thrill slide and the Hydro Plunge water coaster will take your breath away. But there are plenty of water activities for the little ones, too, with activity pools and zero-depth playgrounds like the Cub Paw Pool.
An offshoot of the famous Camelback resort, the two year old Aquatopia indoor water park features seven indoor pools and thirteen water slides, plus a nearby adventure course and outdoor water park . This water park was recently voted Number One in the USA. With activities for all ages, whether indoors or out, Aquatopia delivers non-stop fun year ’round.
Wisconsin
The Wisconsin Dells are scenic and impressive rock formations along the Wisconsin River. Long a tourist attraction for that reason, the area of the Dells now books itself as the “Waterpark Capital of the World.” With a plethora of parks to choose from, they may just be right.
Noah’s Ark outdoor water park houses a 4D Dive-In Theater with a brand new feature film “The Lego Movie 4D-A New Adventure”, starring Risky Business, the devious brother of President Business. Fans young and old will love the special effects, complete with water spritzes and wind blasts timed to the unfolding tale on the screen.
Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park receives rave reviews for its tropical feel and its Great Pool of Delphi. The $4 million expansion now features 27,000 square feet of swimming area, four islands, several beach entrances, cabanas, kids’ splash pad, geyser and a massive 50-foot waterfall. This water park features the largest swimming pool in the Dells.
Ohio
Situated along the shores of Lake Erie, Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio has been drawing crowds since the early 50’s, where the most exciting ride was a roller coaster known as the Wild Mouse. (Whee). But today the park boasts thousands of square feet of thrills and spills, with its newest addition Cedar Point Shores Water Park. Over 18 acres of wet and wild fun awaits you with four completely new water attractions, upgrades to food and merchandise options, newer cabanas and more. The all-new six-story plunge and shallow depth play areas will astonish and delight kids of all ages.
No matter when you go, water parks can be a blast for the whole family or an adventurous group of friends. When planning your trip, be sure to check the deals available through All Star Travel for transportation, rental cars, hotels and more. We promise to help make your trip smooth and enjoyable, and you will be awed by our outstanding customer service. All Star Travel strives to be your one-stop travel resource; join our free club today and receive exclusive member benefits and pricing! And for ongoing travel tips, be sure to follow our blog.