Summer vacation time is here and a waterpark could be a fun trip for families with children of all ages. Even the adults will have a good time cooling off on the water rides. The Midwest has plenty of top notch waterparks to visit.
Whether it is a humid summer day or snowy winter evening, the KeyLime Cove in Gurnee, Illinois, is always a comfortable 82 degrees. The indoor waterpark offers 65,000 square feet of water rides and attractions. The waterpark, just north of Chicago, is inspired by the Florida Keys. Visitors can go on wild water rides or just float down the lazy river. In addition to the water rides, the resort features over 400 kid-friendly rooms and suites.
KeyLime Cove
1700 Nations Drive
Gurnee, Illinois 60031
224-656-8685
keylimecove.com
Thunder Falls Family Water Park in Mackinaw City has body slides, tube slides, speed slides and the best wave pool in Michigan. The outdoor waterpark features 12 slides on 20 acres of water attractions. It also has a lazy river and an interactive play area for young children. Thunder Falls was voted "Michigan's Best Waterpark" by the Detroit News in 2008. The season runs June 19 through Sept. 6.
Thunder Falls Family Water Park
1028 S. Nicolet
Mackinaw City, Michigan 49701
231-436-6000
thunderfallswaterpark.com
It's a tropical oasis in Minnesota. The Edgewater Resort and Waterpark is northern Minnesota's only indoor waterpark that features body slides, tube slides, a lazy river, and a splash playground that dumps 300 gallons of water on visitors every few minutes. The resort also features a 235-room hotel situated by Lake Superior.
The Edgewater Resort and Waterpark
2400 London Road
Duluth, Minnesota 55812
218-728-3601
duluthwaterpark.com
Kalahari Resorts in Sandusky, Ohio, is America's largest indoor waterpark with 173,000 square feet or water adventure. The resort, located just off the shores of Lake Erie, offers a water rollercoaster, lazy river, a surfing area and a 12,000 square foot wave pool. For the adults, the resort offers a swim-up bar. Kalahari has hundreds of African-themed rooms and suites that could sleep up to eight people. There are outdoor water rides for the summer months.
Kalahari Resorts
7000 Kalahari Drive
Sandusky, Ohio 44870
877-525-2474
kalahariresorts.com
Branson White Water is Missouri's premier water and adventure park. This is an outdoor waterpark with super soakers, 7,000 feet of water slides and a wave pool with 500,000 gallons of water. It boasts the largest selection of water rides in the Ozarks. The park features a water area for young children and a sand volleyball court for adults or older children.
Branson White Water
3505 West Highway 76
Branson, Missouri 65616
800-475-9370
bransonwhitewater.com
