When traveling, most people simply book a hotel near their chosen destination and enjoy the nearby amusement parks, museums or other attractions. Sometimes, however, the hotel can be the destination, and The Buckeye State of Ohio has a variety of hotels that offer guests more than a place to lay their heads and go far and beyond traditional entertainment amenities such as a small outdoor pool and cramped game room.
The Kalahari Resort, located in Sandusky, bills itself as America's largest indoor waterpark. Waterpark attractions include numerous water slides and a water roller coaster. Daily admission to the water park is free for all registered hotel guests.
Accommodations, decorated with an African theme and including authentic artifacts, fit any size party and include single rooms and suites with two, three or five bedrooms.
If you are hungry after exploring the waterpark, choose from nine restaurants and lounges. Take a break from the water park excitement and relax at Spa Kalahari and Salon or shop at the numerous retail outlets on site.
Kalahari Resort
7000 Kalahari Drive
Sandusky, OH 44870
877-525-2427
kalahariresorts.com
Fort Rapids Indoor Waterpark in Columbus, offers 60,000 square feet of "wet and wild fun." In addition to 12 unique water rides, the waterpark highlights include a lazy river and a tipping bucket that dumps 1,000 gallons of water on guests.
The hotel offers standard guest rooms sleeping two or four guests, in several configurations including a family room with bunk beds for the kids or a two-person room with a Jacuzzi. Suites, sleeping six to 12 people, include multiple televisions, microwave, mini-fridge and specially designed swimsuit dryers.
If you want a break from all the wet activities, you can play games in the 5,000 square-foot Gold Rush Arcade or dine in one of the resort's restaurants. The resort also offers live music, sport-watching parties and holiday themed events.
Fort Rapids Indoor Waterpark
4560 Hilton Corporate Drive
Columbus, OH 43232
877-337-7527
fortrapids.com
Great Wolf Lodge's waterpark in Mason offers attractions for toddlers up to adults. Young children enjoy child-sized water attractions, story time and a Cub Club where they can learn about nature. Tweens and teens and adults may enjoy a number of water adventures, slides, twists and turns along with basketball and other activities in the activity pool.
Rooms at Great Wolf Lodge sleep four to eight people and are available in a variety of formats. Some rooms are set up as a typical hotel room while others, such as the Wolf Den Suite, feature custom areas for children that include private sleeping areas with bunk beds and televisions with video game systems.
If you tire of the waterpark, spend your time relaxing in the adult spa or the specialized Scoops Kids Spa. The hotel provides multiple dining options on-site.
Great Wolf Lodge
2501 Great Wolf Drive
Mason, OH 45040
800.913.9653
greatwolf.com
