Block out the cold weather outside and book a few nights at one of these resorts that have balmy indoor waterparks just waiting for you to splash down

There’s something special about resorts with indoor waterparks because you can be guaranteed that the kids will have fun. What is it about zipping down a slide that gives kids of all ages such glee? With so many different locations across the US from huge Great Wolf Lodge properties to smaller resorts with that unique small-town flair, you can definitely find one that fits the bill for your next family vacation. 

 

Great Wolf Lodge | Niagara Falls, Ontario

The proximity to Niagara Falls downtown, the majesty of the falls on the Canadian side, and the ability to check out some of the best wineries in the Niagara region are a few of the reasons this Great Wolf Lodge is a great spot for the whole family. The lodge itself is just one big playground for kids. At Great Wolf Lodge, the waterpark is just the start.

Fun for kids: This whole place is fun for the kids, no matter their age. Activities include the Forest Friends Show, laser tag, MagiQuest, mini golf, arcade, PJ party, character photos and more. The list really does go on. 

Online: greatwolf.com/niagara

Related: 18 Tips & Tricks to Make Your Great Wolf Lodge Visit EPIC

 

Kalahari Resort | Poconos, PA

Kalahari Resorts takes your regular indoor waterpark and adds some pizzaz! Located in the stunning Pocono Mountains, it's hard to say if parents go here for the kids or themselves. They've found a way to cater to parents, individuals, couples, and kids simultaneously. Whether you are drinking in the way mother nature paints the trees in the fall, enjoying the snowglobe effect or skiing in the winter, or relaxing in the sun in summer, there is something special and unique throughout all the seasons. With 220,000 square feet of fun, the kids will be ready for bed at the end of the day.

Fun for kids: There's something for all age ranges from Rides & Slides, Big Game Room, escape rooms, mini bowling, mini golf, VR, and a 7-D motion theatre. For adults, there is a world-class spa! That's what we call a win-win

Online: kalahariresorts.com

 

Jay Peak Resort | Vermont

Jay Peak might be the ultimate all-season resort; located in Northern Vermont, it's a hot spot for nature lovers year round and a thrill for skiers in the winter. Thanks to a see-through ceiling, the Waterpark is balmy in the winter, making it feel like a day at the beach. If you are going specifically for the waterpark, staying at Hotel Jay is an excellent option as you can access the waterpark without having to go outside in the cooler months.  

Fun for kids: There is a wide variety of activities to do, including surfing, climbing gym, movie theatre, and arcade. There's even childcare if you want to check out the spa or have an adult dinner without the kids. 

Online: jaypeakresort.com

 

Splash Lagoon | Erie, Pennsylvania

Whether going for an overnight getaway or a day trip, Splash Lagoon packs a punch and offers options that fit every budget. Their main attraction, the Treehouse, got a million-dollar upgrade with new slides, multiple colorful water sprayers, and mini dumping buckets. 

Located less than two hours from Pittsburgh, Cleveland, and Buffalo, you won't have to worry about hearing, "are we there yet?" They even have special mommy and me rates offering a free adult ticket with the purchase of a child ticket.

Fun for kids:  Virtual reality games, an arcade, and a kids' area top the list.

Online: splashlagoon.com

Related: 30 Family Resorts with Jaw-Dropping Water Features

WaTiki Indoor Waterpark Resort | Rapid City, South Dakota

WaTiki is the largest Indoor waterpark resort in the Dakotas and is open year-round. You can visit for the day, stay overnight at a nearby hotel, or you can even host a birthday party for a lucky kid. There is something for everyone, with five hotels and several restaurants within the waterpark complex. Choose one of the two hotels that are connected to the waterpark during the winter months for easy access. 

Fun for kids: The arcade has over 50 classic and modern games; it's perfect for when you need some dry land activities. 

Online: watikiwaterpark.com

Massanutten Resort | Virginia

Massanutten Resort is another beautifully situated resort in nature, offering all-season resort activities. You can hike, bike, ski, golf, and splash as a family.  Choose from condo- or hotel-style accommodations to suit your family's needs. When winter comes, you can combine your waterpark visit with skiing. They have some great learn-to-ski programs for little ones who are new to snow sports. 

Fun for kids: Kids will love cooking demonstrations, art classes, and even music classes. 

Online: massresort.com

Related: 9 Epic Resorts near DC with Indoor Waterparks

Boyne Mountain Resort | Michigan

At Boyne Mountain Resort, you can choose your adventure whatever the season; skiing in the winter, golf and riding in the summer, and a spa. If your kids are more adventurous, you can check out activities like zipline tours, fat biking, and other seasonal activities. Horseback riding tours are offered all year long.  Dive into fun at Avalanche Bay Indoor Waterpark where we know the kids will not want to leave. 

Fun for kids: Rides and slides, simulated surfing, glacier hot tubs, a kids' pool, and an arcade are favorites at this spot.

Online: boynemountain.com

Wilderness at the Smokies, Tennessee

If you are looking for a luxury vacation in Tennesee, Wilderness at the Smokies Waterpark Resort and Family Adventure Center is home to Wild WaterDome, Tennessee's largest indoor playground. Even better? They have both indoor and outdoor waterparks just outside your room door.  The extended family can join in on the fun with accommodations ranging from hotel rooms to villas that sleep 16.

Fun for kids: Their family adventure center keeps the fun going with a three-story ropes course, multi-level laser tag, mini golf, and a mega arcade.

Online: wildernessatthesmokies.com

Summer is here, and that means lots of long afternoons trying to keep everyone happy and cool. Enter: the backyard waterslide. The perfect departure from the repetitive visit to the neighborhood pool, these waterslides will up your summer playtime in a big way.

From amped-up slip ‘n slides and baby-friendly pools, these outdoor inflatables turn your backyard into a hot-weather paradise. Keep scrolling to see our faves.

Rave 20-Foot Sports Turbo Chute

Target

This slide is for serious riders. Stretching 20 feet, each section is extra slipper and measures 46" wide x 9" high. You can attach it to another section of the slide for a super long ride, use as a traditional slip 'n slide or even use on a lake.

Available at Target, $600

 

Little Tikes Rocky Mountain River Race Inflatable Slide

Amazon

There are plenty of surprises in this bright water slide! The two slides allow for up to four kiddos at once, and the climbing wall and surprise bucket means lots of summer fun.

Available on Amazon, $389

Deluxe Inflatable Water Slide Park

Target

Who needs a fancy water park when you have this in your backyard? This deluxe water slide boasts a climbing wall in place of steps, shower pump at the top and water gun at the bottom. With eight stakes and an air pump, you have everything you need to let the fun begin.

Available at Target, $300

WOW Watersports Super Slide

Want another super long slide for your space? This 25 foot long slide by WOW Watersports fits the bill. It has a zig zag spray pattern sprinkler system the entire length of the slide to ensure maximum sliding, connects to your backyard hose and has eight inch high sides so riders stay on track.

Available at Dick's Sporting Goods, $180

Candy Zone Inflatable Water Slide

Wayfair

What goes better than summer and candy? Slide into the sweet zone with this kiddie-perfect water slide that is great for littles three to four. It comes with six balls and hooks up to your house for endless fun.

Available at Wayfair, $72

Inflatable Racing Outdoor Water Slide Track

Target

Race into summer! This outdoor track comes with two surf riders and a built in spray for fast-paced fun.

Available at Target, $80

H2OGO! Inflatable Backyard Outdoor Mega Obstacle Cours

Target

Can you handle all the fun this inflatable brings? The huge inflatable water park comes with everything you need, including a blower, a repair kit, sprinkler sprayer hose, 10 ground stakes, PVC ball sprinkler, 6 small flags and a storage bag. Kids will love the extra-large pool, integrated flag relay race game and slides.

Get it at Target, $520

Note: At the time of publication, all products were available for purchase.

 

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If you’re already making your holiday gift lists, another big retailer has dropped a Top Toys list to help you narrow it down! Zulily released its list this morning, with plenty of familiar brands making the cut. Read on for all the details!

An new model of an evergreen toy topped this year’s list. Barbie’s Three-In-One Dreamcamper cashes in on the increased popularity of family camping. Kids three and up can change the shape and functionality of the camper to create their own imaginative trips. The set is packed with features like sleeping bags and fishing gear and it’s retailing for $79.

 

Other toys in the top five:

PicassoTiles 101-Piece 3D Magnetic Building Tile Play Set by PicassoTilesDesign, build and let imaginations soar with this colorful, magnetic toy set that little ones will love. Suitable for ages 3 and up.

Fisher-Price® Giant Rock-a-Stack® Toy by Fisher-PriceHelp strengthen and develop your little one’s fine motor and problem-solving skills with these stacked rings in bright colors. Suitable for babies 12 months and up.

Joybay Sky Blue Premium LED Swing Car by JoybayBoasting vibrant hues and a dynamic design, this sweet ride-on just needs kiddos to turn the steering wheel from left to right to get racing. Able to be used indoors and out, this super quiet ride features light up LED wheels for a dazzling drive by display. Suitable for ages 3 and up.

LEGO® Marvel Studios The Guardians’ Ship by The LEGO Group: Transport kids into a universe of imaginative adventures with this rewarding model-making project, perfect for any fan of the Marvel Universe. Suitable for ages 14 and up.

For the rest of this year’s top toys, head over to Santa’s Workshop and start shopping! Zulily found that 71% of moms start buying their holiday gifts in advance. Shopping data from Zulily also revealed moms are stockpiling Christmas décor and other holiday items as early as July, so it’s never to soon to start checking off those lists.

—Sarah Shebek

Photos courtesy of Zulily/featured image courtesy of Thandy Yung/Unsplash

 

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He has the perfect last name as the fastest man alive. And Usain Bolt and partner Kasi Bennett have definitely capitalized on that when naming their children. In a sweet post over Father’s Day weekend, the track and field great announced new additions to the family: twins Thunder and Saint Leo.

Thunder Bolt and Saint Leo Bolt join sister, aptly named Olympia Lightning Bolt, who was born last May. Bennett added her own post featuring the whole family, adding the caption: “Happy Father’s Day to my forever love! You are the rock of this family and the greatest daddy to our little ones. We love you world without end!”

The Bolt babies came just in time for the upcoming Summer Olympics. It will be their dad’s first time in the stands after he retired from racing in 2017. During his career Bolt racked up eight gold medals and 11 world championships. It looks like he’s excelling at fatherhood, too!

—Sarah Shebek

Featured image courtesy of Salty View / Shutterstock.com

 

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Parenting isn’t a sprint, it’s a marathon. Unless you’re a mom qualifying for the Olympic track team! On Sunday night, Quanera Hayes and Allyson Felix finished first and second in the 400-meter dash to secure their tickets to Tokyo and celebrated with an impromptu playdate on the track.

After the race, Hayes brought her son Demetrius to meet Felix’s daughter Camyrn. An adorable moment ensued, of course. “Guys, we’re going to Tokyo,” Felix said and Hayes added “Super mommies, yeah!”

The two moms gave birth to their children within weeks of each other in Fall 2018 and didn’t let that stop them from returning to top speed. Hayes won the race in 49.78 seconds, her fastest time since winning the 2017 U.S. title in a personal best 49.72. She told Team USA that it was tough to come back after giving birth and progress was slow, but her hard work paid off with the victory over a stacked field.

The most decorated woman in American track and field history, Felix qualified for her fifth Olympic Games and her first since becoming a mom. She clocked a season’s best time of 50.02 after racing past several runners down the stretch. It wasn’t easy—she suffered severe preeclampsia during her pregnancy and had an emergency C-section to deliver her daughter, but after a long hospital stay and recovery she’s running at elite speed once more.

We’re excited to watch these Super Moms compete in the upcoming Olympics! Here’s hoping for more winning track and field playdates, too.

—Sarah Shebek

Feature image courtesy of Andrew Makedonski / Shutterstock.com

 

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The best family vacations offer a little bit of excitement, relaxation and, if you’re lucky, the chance for your kids to learn a little bit, too. 

A vacation to Florida has lessons your children will remember for a lifetime. 

Start planning your trip today at VISITFLORIDA.com.

The Rockets That Traveled into Space

Kennedy Space Center has been the world’s launchpad for manned space flight for nearly 60 years. The names are iconic and familiar to generations: Mercury, Gemini, Apollo, Atlantis and now SpaceX. At the Kennedy Visitors Center, you can stroll through a garden of rockets or watch one rise into the blue, you can meet an astronaut and see if you have the right stuff to land a space shuttle.

The Half-ton Vegetarian Known as a Sea Cow

On Florida’s central Gulf coast, adventure lovers of all ages can pay homage to a wildlife superstar: the beloved manatee. And there is literally so much to love: The typical adult manatee is 10 feet long and weighs 800 to 1,200 pounds. Which probably comes from eating 10-15 percent of its body weight every day.

The Everglades: Land of the Miccosukee

The Miccosukee have lived in the Everglades for a century and a half. In the 19th century, the Seminoles fought three wars with the United States and never surrendered. The branch of the Seminoles who called themselves Miccosukees settled here. In the 21st century, visitors who drive across the Tamiami Trail pass through their reservation.

A vacation to Florida has something for everyone—including lessons your kids will remember for a lifetime! Start planning your trip today at VISITFLORIDA.com.

The Beach With the White Skeletons of Dead Trees

Big Talbot Island State Park in Jacksonville is renowned for Boneyard Beach, the final resting place for the salt-washed skeletons of live oak and cedar trees.

The History of Stock Car Racing

Like Fenway Park, Pebble Beach, Madison Square Garden and the Rose Bowl and, yes, that other racetrack in Indianapolis, Daytona International Speedway is an American sports shrine. Opened in 1959, the speedway is an annual car-racing epicenter for SpeedWeeks and the Daytona 500. But you can take a tour anytime. 

The Brave Man Who Integrated Baseball

In 1946, the great civil rights icon Jackie Robinson made not just baseball history but American history in Daytona Beach with his professional debut for the Brooklyn Dodgers’ Triple-A minor-league club. A year later, Robinson would integrate Major League Baseball, and a game and a nation would be changed for the better. Once your kids learn the history of Jackie Robinson, take in a game at the Jackie Robinson Ballpark, where you can cheer on the Daytona Cubs or Bethune-Cookman Wildcats! 

There’s much to see and learn in Florida. Nickname? Sunshine State. Year-round temperature of our freshwater springs? 72 degrees. Miles of beaches? 825. Start planning your next adventure at VISITFLORIDA.com.

Sometimes you really just want a slice of cheesecake. Then you remember how long it takes to bake at home—but fighting the restaurant crowds for a slice also makes you shudder. Still, cheesecake sounds so good, preferably blended up with some ice cream. Here comes Sonic to the rescue with new Cheesecake Blasts!

The popular drive through chain is offering two new flavors in its Blast lineup, Cheesecake Blast and Strawberry Cheesecake Blast. Both swirl delicious cheesecake and graham cracker pieces with ice cream, and the strawberry cheesecake even has real pieces of fruit added in.

Sonic Cheesecake Blasts

“From the rich, velvety flavor to the craveable crunch of the graham cracker, SONIC magically perfects the unmistakable experience of indulging in decadent cheesecake, with no fork or plate necessary,” said Scott Uehlein, vice president of product innovation and development for SONIC. “With high quality ingredients from start to finish, our guests can delight in the classic, or Strawberry Cheesecake Blast, to truly capture the delectable flavors of Summertime.”

One piece of bad news: the new blasts are only available for a limited time at participating Sonic drive ins, through June 27. If that news has you racing to your car, you can also order online or through the SONIC app for contactless payment and delivery. Consider your craving satisfied in minutes, not hours.

—Sarah Shebek

Featured image courtesy of Business Wire

 

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Remember the days when mom or dad would let you sit on their lap and help them drive the car into the garage? Sure you were only driving 5mph, but it was still pretty awesome. If you’ve got a little speed demon in your family, give them a dose of some fast-paced and thrilling go-kart racing. Today’s indoor karts are designed for drivers as young as 5 or 6, and they can drive independently. The only requirement: drivers must be at least 48 inches tall for most karts (some require a height of 50 inches). This isn’t the type of place you’ll find located in a strip mall—these karts are powerful!

Fortunately, indoor kart racing venues are big on safety. All drivers are required to wear a head sock, a helmet and neck guard. All of this gear is provided at no extra charge, but you certainly can bring your own. Most places have an “arrive and drive” policy, but be warned that weekends are popular race times and you might have to wait a while. Prices are pretty standard across the board, so plan on spending about $20 for a multiple-lap race. Also: kids and adults do not race together. Speeds are pretty consistent, as well: most junior races (for kids) are held at a max of 20 miles per hour, while some adult karts go as fast at 45 miles an hour.

photo: SLR Lounge via Unsplash

Here are our picks for an adrenaline-pumping day at the races.

MB2 Raceway
This popular birthday party spot is a hit with kids of all ages. Races are limited to 10 drivers, so kids have plenty of driving space for each 9-lap race around the indoor track. The ¼ mile track has strategically placed bumpers so drivers learn to maneuver their karts while keeping their speed at a steady clip (the cars can be controlled remotely, so if kids are driving unsafely, the operators can slow their kart). No reservations are necessary, and MB2 is open seven days a week. Expect to wait as long as one hour on a weekend. Fortunately (or not!) there is an onsite arcade to keep kiddos busy while they wait.

13943 Balboa Blvd.
Sylmar 91342

1475 Lawrence Dr.
Thousand Oaks 91320

Online: mb2raceway.com

K1 Speed
This indoor kart mecca is located in the South Bay area, so beach babies can get their race on!  The state-of-the-art track is made from etched concrete — a change from the typical asphalt track. Junior racers (from 48 inches tall through 58 inches tall) drive 12-lap races in specially designed junior karts that have emergency shut-offs for extra safety. K1 also has a junior karting league for wee enthusiasts who really want to learn the nuts and bolts of racing. Like most karting venues, K1 gets super busy on the weekends, so plan accordingly. Don’t worry, though, your kids will find the experience is worth the wait. Open seven days a week, but they do close for special events, so be sure to call ahead

19038 S Vermont Ave.
Gardena
Online: k1speed.com

 

— Robin Heinz Bratslavsky

Is your little one obsessed with Barbie dolls? These sneakers have it all, pink, sparkles, hearts and of course, Barbie. DSW’s new Barbie Footwear mini-collection is sure to tickle any fan pink. If Barbie isn’t your thing, there is a complimentary Hot Wheels Footwear collection as well. 

Barbie Marlenny Sneaker

These metallic sneakers feature a velcro closure and heart shaped accents.

Barbie sneaker
 
Barbie Fenris High Top Sneaker

These shimmery rose colored high top sneakers feature Barbie along with whimsical heart shaped beads.

Barbie sneaker

Hot Wheels Light-Up Sneaker

These light-up sneakers come with sporty racing stripes and light-up features.

Hot Wheels sneaker

Hot Wheels High-Top Sneaker

These high-top sneakers feature a flame and a top velcro closure.

Hot Wheels sneaker
The Barbie Footwear by DSW and Hot Wheels Footwear by DSW is offered in sizes toddler 5-12 and retail for $29.99. 

—Jennifer Swartvagher

All photos courtesy of DSW

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