Wisconsin is a leader in a big family travel trend: the small town of Wisconsin Dells pretty much invented the indoor waterpark resort, and nowadays the place is packed with resorts with massive indoor and outdoor waterworks. Two leading resorts -- Great Wolf Lodge and the Kalahari-- have been colonizing other locations, too. Sandusky OH is now another "node" for waterpark resorts -- adding winter fun to a city that's a hotspot in summer thanks to Cedar Point Amusement Park (a.k.a. roller coaster paradise.) See these and more ideas, below...
1. Wisconsin Dells Waterparks
Wisconsin Dells-- with a population of just 4000-- is the indoor water park capital of the world. Over twenty resorts offer an indoor water park to their guests; some sell passes to outsiders too. A number have outdoor facilities in summer also. Wisconsin Dells has lots of outdoor recreation in summer, as well, and cross-country skiing in winter-time.
2. WI, Sheboygan: Blue Harbor Resort
Built in the style of a grand old beach hotel, this resort is on Lake Michigan in the Harbor Center district of Sheboygan, Wisconsin. Kids activity center, themed suites, Lake Michigan beaches, and -- the big draw for families -- its ver own (not-as-big-as-Wisconsin-Dells, though) indoor waterpark.
3. MN: Resorts With Indoor Waterparks
Other places are getting into the waterpark-resort act, including Wisconsin's neighbor state, Minnesota.4. OH: Sandusky
Sandusky OH -- 55 miles from Cleveland -- may not be as famous a town for family getaways as, say, Orlando, but with some 9M visitors a year, it ranks as a player, thanks mainly to Cedar Point Amusement Park. (Below). Lately a cluster of resorts with indoor waterparks has been extending the fun times through the non-summer months.
5. OH: Cedar Point Amusement Park
If you've ever wondered, "Where's the roller coaster capital of the world?" now you know: Cedar Point, in Sandusky Ohio, makes the claim, and has often been voted the "Best Amusement Park in the World". Cedar Point has a lakeside location on the shore of Lake Erie, about an hour and half from Cleveland. The park has a huge collection of non-thrill rides too, tamer roller coasters, carousels and kiddie rides, and live shows. Soak City water park is included in Cedar Point park too, and adjacent Challenge Park has go-karts, miniature golf, lots more.
6. OH: Sandusky Resorts with Indoor Waterpark
It's easy being popular in summer-time, if you're a town with, say, a beach and a top-rated amusement park (like Cedar Point, above.) But now, Sandusky can party-on after summer's gone, thanks to a new cluster of resorts with indoor waterparks.
