Summer In Sandusky

Family fun is just a short drive away.

WRITTEN BY LYNNE KONSTANTiN

So many waterparks, so little time. Here's one way to narrow down your watery destination: If you've only got a night or two to spend on
a quick family getaway, two of our favorite destinations for the whole family to splash around, Great Wolf Lodge and Kalahari Resorts,
are just a two-hour's drive from Metro Detroit, in Sandusky, Ohio. They're easy to get to (and a 10-minute drive from each other), plus
centrally located just north of the Ohio Turnpike near an assortment of other family-friendly sites (see sidebar).

GREAT WOLF LODGE A national

family of indoor waterpark resorts that
originated in the Wisconsin Dells, it
now offers locations including Texas,
Virginia and Traverse City (which
also offers two spas — one for adults
and one just for kids). But for a quick
dip into chlorinated fun, check out
the Sandusky location — Ohio's first
indoor waterpark. Designed to re-create
the rustic setting and adventure of the
Northwoods, the log-sided resort offers
a kids club, two themed restaurants, an
arcade, fitness center and all-suite guest
rooms, some with fireplaces and bunk
beds. In addition to the "weatherproof"
indoor waterpark, where it's always a
balmy 84 degrees, summertime visitors
can also take advantage of an outdoor
pool. It's also the first national hotel
chain to have all of its U.S. properties
Green-Seal Certified and has created
Project Green Wolf, its own environ-

P 1 4 • JUNE 2010 •

JN platinum

mental sustainability program. Among
the not-to-miss highlights:
Water Works The main attraction, of
course, is the waterpark, 41,000 square
feet (one of America's largest) of indoor
splashing thrills. Attractions include
Fort Mackenzie, an interactive treehouse
waterfort with a 1,000-gallon tipping
water bucket (watch as guests of all ages
line up underneath, awaiting the timed
spill); nine waterslides, including two
tube slides, four body slides and three
kiddie slides; three pools, including a
zero-depth-entry children's pool and
much more watery fun.
Little Cubs Check out the Cub
Club, for kids ages 5-12, where water-
logged little ones can partake in special
nature-themed programs, make craft
projects, play games, read books (come
in your PJs for a nightly storytime) and
watch a family-friendly movie.
Sweet Dreams Kids will love the

Wolf Den Suite, an in-suite cave-
themed area with a bunk bed and their
own TV, or the KidCabin Suite, their
own Northwoods log cabin, also with
a bunk bed and TV, nestled within the
larger family suite.
Plan Your Trip Rates at Great Wolf
Lodge start at $179.99 per day dur-
ing peak season, and include waterpark
admission the days of arrival and depar-
ture. Visit greatwolf.com for more infor-
mation.

annual visits to the continent's markets
to hand-select authentic art and artifacts
to display. With eight on-site dining
options (including a swim-up bar),
indoor cabanas and outdoor bungalows
(with flat-screen TVs, refrigerators and
wait-staff service) available to rent,
enticingly comfortable and spacious
guest rooms (many with whirlpool
tubs, fireplaces and private patios) and
a green initiative that earned them the
2006 Partners for Clean
Above left: Great Wolf's
Air Recognition Award,
Fort Mackenzie, a
KALAHARI RESORT
Kalahari works hard for your
four-story interactive
America's largest indoor
money.
treehouse waterfort
(173,000 square feet) and
What's New Just opened
outdoor (77,000) waterparks interconnected with
last month, the Safari
suspension. bridges and
offer an all-encompass-
Outdoor Adventure Park,
web crawls, dumps a
ing resort experience. Also
an outdoor theme park,
waterfall of 1,000 gal-
originated in the Wisconsin
was added to the existing
lons over everyone in its
Dells, Kalahari highlights
outdoor area. Featuring zip-
path. Above right: Surf's
African culture and wild-
line
rides over 60 feet in the
up on a FlowRider at
life, investing in a team for
continued
on page P16
Kalahari Resort.

