Highland Aquatic Center: Great pool and splash pad

Looking for something that a 2-year-old and 5-year-old will both love? Take them to the Highland Park Aquatic Center in St. Paul. They'll both have a blast!

There were 2 water slides in the little kiddo area, and both my kids loved them. Plus there was a fish with fountains sprouting out around it, and other fountains on either side. The pool bottom sloped in this area and got to about 2 feet in the deepest part. On the other end was a deeper pool area with basketball hoops where some older kiddos were hanging out. Those that wanted the full pool experience had the pick of two other pools: a 50-meter, 8-lane lap pool with a 2-story water slide and another with water slides, climbing wall and diving boards. PLUS there was a splash pad in the middle of it all.

Highland Park Aquatic Center really seems to have a little bit of everything! All they're missing that other water parks have is a lazy river. At the age my kiddos are, this place suits us much better than either Cascade Bay in Eagen or Bunker Hills in Blaine (neither of which have much for the smaller kids). I also heard that it's more fun than the Richfield Aquatic Center, but we haven't been there yet.

They also have a row of cabanas and plenty of shaded areas so you don't have to worry about sunburn. And one Friday a month, admission is just $2.

There are 2 waterslide options for the little kiddos.

The splashpad stayed open during the 20-minute break that started at 2:25, giving the kiddos something to do.

#20 - Princeton Splash Pad

This is our most favorite splash pad. It's too bad it isn't closer to the Twin Cities area! (Princeton is about an hour's drive north of Minneapolis.) It costs $4 each to get in. The area is pretty big and it's all enclosed. There is no standing water.

The fence and lack of standing water make this a worry-free zone.

I can feel good about letting my 12-month old and older kids run loose. I love a water play area where I don't have to hover.

The splash pad is a bit hidden in Mark Park. Just drive all the way to the back; it's behind the park building. 11th Ave. So & 5th St. So. The place opens at 11 a.m.

I've written about it before at: http://drivingwiththewindowswideopen.blogspot.com/2010/07/splash-park-2-princeton-minn.html

Learn more at the city's web site: http://www.princetonmn.org/index.asp?Type=B_BASIC&SEC={17341848-BF64-49BA-80C3-8DC7B0C35755}

#32 - Swim at Como Park

This is a great pool, complete with waterslides that kids of all ages (including Pre-K) can go on. There aren't many pools like that. I think it'd also be fun to bring bigger kids and try out the zip line and cliff jumping area. Plus, the cost is less than most places (such as Cacade Bay and Bunker Beach).

Plus, if it rains, your admission is good at the indoor city-run pool just a ways away. (Great River Waterpark at Lexington and 94)

Click here to view a news story I wrote on Como. http://www.monitorsaintpaul.com/affordable-family-fun-at-como/

Click here to view city web site with details on pool hours. http://www.stpaul.gov/index.aspx?NID=2672

Aquatic zip line and climbing well

Zero-depth entry

The 25-yard 6-lane lap pool features 2 basketball hoops. My 4-year-old just wanted to jump in and swim to dad.

My 1-year-old loved this area. He fell asleep before I could snap a photo of him there, however!

Traveling? Live like a local

I've found that living like a local when you're traveling means that you'll get out of the tourist traps and enjoy yourself more. I love to travel. But I hate crowds. And so, living like a local works best for me.

When we travel down to Naples, FL next month with our kiddos, we plan to take advantage of the city's park system. Here are a few places we aim to check out:

River Park Aquatic Center has a splash feature and zero-depth entry pool.

RIVER PARK AQUATIC CENTER

(239)213-3040
301 11th Street North, Naples, FL 34102
http://www.naplesgov.com/index.aspx?NID=572

Not open for general admission when the day's forecast high temperature is 59 degrees or lower.

Amenities:
6 lane, 75' lap pool
Water slide
Children's splash play feature w/ zero entry
Swim lesson area

Fleischmann Park has sun shades in its new playground.

FLEISCHMANN PARK

1600 Fleischmann Blvd. Naples, FL 34102
Phone: 239-213-3020

Amenities: new playground (one for toddlers 1-5 years and one for school age children 6-12 years) with sun shades and a water splash zone, racquetball courts, base/softball fields, sand volleyball courts, basketball courts, football field

Hit the beach at Lowdermilk Park.

LOWDERMILK PARK

1301 Gulfshore Blvd North Naples, FL 34102
Phone: 239-213-3029
Concessions: 9-5

Amenities: plenty of metered and unmetered parking spaces, a concession stand, sand volleyball courts, two children's playgrounds, picnic tables, benches, restroom and shower facilities, and two gazebos for rent.

If you're lucky, you might hit upon free outdoor music at Cambier Park's bandshell.

CAMBIER PARK

755 8th Ave. S. Naples, FL 34102
(heart of downtown Naples, just South of the prestigious 5th Avenue South)

Amenities: playground, pavilion, green space, shuffleboard, bocee courts,tennis courts, bandshell, Norris Community Center

 

WE WISH IT WERE OPEN... 

This place isn't open in the winter (as all the kids in Florida are in school), but we sure wish it was! It looks like tons of fun.

The Sun-N-Fun Lagoon is closed from October to President's Day weekend, but if you're traveling outside that time, have fun there!

SUN-N-FUN LAGOON

One million gallons of water fun will thrill children, parents and grandparents alike at Collier County's premier water park, Sun-N-Fun Lagoon! Fun always starts at Sun-N-Fun Lagoon, a key destination by all. Sun-N-Fun Lagoon includes four pools, a long lazy river, a lit splash playground or interactive water feature, five exciting water slides, and a concession stand.

Address: 15000 Livingston Road, Naples, FL 34109
Phone: (239) 252-4021
Hours: Closed October to President's Day Weekend; Summer hours 10am-5pm; Fall Hours 10-5 Saturday & Sunday
http://www.napleswaterpark.com/

Admission Fees:
Under 3 Free
Persons less than 48" tall $5.50
Persons 48" or taller $12.00
$2 discount with a valid Florida Driver's License with Collier County address
Seniors 60+ $8.00

Get cool at Blaine's Lakeside Commons Park

Get cool in Blaine this summer. The city runs a fantastic park along in the heart of The Lakes development near 109th and Radisson Road.

The park is free for Blaine residents (who show proof of residency with a driver’s license). For non-Blaine folks, the fee is a $5 parking permit. Or, opt for a $25 season pass. It’s a pretty good deal when most splash pads charge per person.

Lakeside Commons Park has both a splash pad and a sandy beach. There’s also a picnic pavillion, concessions stand with kayak rental, and playground. The only thing it doesn’t have is shade.

The three-year-old park was busy on the 90º-plus day I went with my sister and our kids, but because there’s so much open space it didn’t seem too crowded. We appreciated the grassy area around the splash pad and north of the beach because it gave people room to spread out. We camped out there and made forays to the beach. Who wants to bring a stroller in the sand? Next time I will bring a sports umbrella, however, so that we have some (man-made) shade.

The splash pad doesn’t have all the tricks many do — there weren’t any buckets that dumped gallons of water or giant mushrooms that sprayed water. Instead they rely on simple fountains. The experience is like running through a bunch of spinklers.

As moms, we appreciated that the beach was roped off into two areas (shallow and deep) making is easier to tell the toddlers what their boundaries were. 

The splash pad and beach is a bit of a trek from the parking lot. You’ll either want to pack really light (which is tough on a beach excursion) or you’ll want a stroller. 

Have fun!

Lakeside Commons Park 

3020 Lake Parkway, Blaine 55449 

(3/4 mile down Lakes Parkway off Radisson Road)

HOURS:

Beach: 10am to 8pm

Splash Pad Hours:10am to 6pm

Park Hours: 5am to 10pm

Boathouse: Monday thru Wednesday, Friday:  1pm to 6pm; Thursdays:  Noon to 9pm; Weekends: Noon to 6pm

Canoe and Kayak Rental: $7/hour

More information at:

http://www.ci.blaine.mn.us/index.cfm?id=900797

Water Park of America: worth the price

If you’re looking for a thrill, check out the Family Raft Ride at Water Park of America. And the good news is you can bring the whole family on it, young to old. During a recent visit, we assumed that my 3-year-old wouldn’t be able to go on any of the waterslides outside the Fort Snelling Kids area. We were happy to learn that even kids under 48 inches can go on every water slide — from the body slides (which I would never send my 3-year-old down alone) to the tube slides to the phenomenal 10-story-tall Family Raft Ride. The wee ones just need to be accompanied by an adult. Hey, it is so much fun I hauled by 8-month-pregnant self up the 10 flights of stairs twice! (I confess, I did wish for an elevator the entire hike.)

This promotional photo shows how much fun the Family Raft Ride is. The tube flies down 10 flights of stairs, dashing in and out of the building as it goes, flinging riders up on the sides and splashing them. It's quite the thrill.

We have been to a fair amount of indoor and outdoor water parks. (Click here for a reviews). Many I’ve disliked because they don’t actually offer much for little kids. Chaos Water Park in Eau Claire was the worst; there was one tiny slide for toddlers. There was plenty at the Water Park of America to keep all of us busy for the day: two hot tubs; a long, lazy river that cut through the wave pool; the Fort Snelling Zero Depth Activity area; an activity pool with basketball hoops; and the aforementioned body/tube/raft slides. During the safety breaks, we headed over to the Cascade Falls Flowrider® to watch the staff exhibit their surfboarding skills.

My toddler loved the Fort Snelling Zero Depth entry area with its three large water slides, bucket, fountains and numerous splash zones. The water slides were large enough that adults could slide down, although you couldn't ride down with your kid.

Whosh! All I could see of my husband when he arrived at the bottom was his foot sticking up. We spotted teenagers going down these medium-sized slides, as well. For those who don't want to send their wee toddlers down alone, there are smaller, open slides.

Many water parks annoy me with (what I deem to be) ridiculous rules. I don’t feed my toddler greasy or sugary foods, so I’m not going to frequent concession stands. I want to bring in my own snacks and not be hassled. Although there’s officially a no-outside-food policy at the Water Park of America, no one yelled at us when we ate our own fruit and protein bars. Nor did we have to work around other strange and annoying rules regarding the use of tubes. At Bunker Beach in Coon Rapids, I have to use a double tube to go around the lazy river with my toddler, even though she’s in my lap; the result is an exceptionally uncomfortable ride because with that front spot empty the whole tube is off-kilter. All in all, the staff at the Water Park of America were pretty laid back. That was such a nice experience for a change. Maybe it was because we were there on a Friday before 5 p.m.?

The lazy river was relaxing without being too slow; we stayed on for several trips and just hung out.

The lazy river ran through the wave pool, which was occasionally turned off. It was a bit tough to stay in the "river" and not get caught up in the waves, but they were fun.

Kids were allowed in the hot tub (like you could keep them out). My daughter loves the warm water and could hang out in a hot tub all day. I make sure she doesn't overheat, of course.

The one thing that was obnoxious was the locker room situation. Apparently, the park designers didn’t actually expect many non-hotel guests to use the water park. I have never seen a locker room more poorly designed. To get to the toilets, you have to walk either through the shower area or a narrow hallway outside the tiny changing rooms; you have to walk back through that area to get to the sinks. The sink area is across from the lockers, and there’s almost no space to change to get ready. So, we used the one available family locker room, hidden near the entrance. It wasn’t much better, although there was at least enough space to manuever. The shower head didn’t work at all, and there were no benches or hooks so the only space for our bags and clothes was the wet floor. I really wanted a shower before I left; my skin had been itching since I first got wet. Understandably, they use a lot of chlorine.

Tickets range from $19.95 to $39.95 for a full day, with the average being $29.95. Half-day prices range from $14.95 to $34.95. Thursday and Sundays are cheapest. The waterpark is closed Monday to Wednesday, and is only open from 3 to 8 p.m. on Thursdays.

Someday when my daughter is older, I’d love to get a room and hang out on the overlooking balcony all day while she splashes around with a friend.

We got two lockers to fit all of our stuff. They were tiny. Each cost $6, and were the type with keys so you could get in and out of them all day.

IF YOU GO

- Bring your own beach towel. The ones provided are tiny and coarse, although they will do if you don’t have anything else.

- Lockers are $6 each, and they are really small. We got two for the three of us (shoes, coats, swim bags, snacks, water). They only accept credit cards for the lockers.

- Kids 11 months and under are free.

- Children under 13 years of age must be accompanied by an adult age 18 years or older while visiting the water park. Children age 13-17 may enter the park without an adult, but must have the Assumption of Risk Waiver signed by an adult who is 18 years of age or older prior to entering the park.

- Bring a life jacket if your little one/s can’t swim. The water is deep enough and the lazy river fast enough that a life jacket will provide peace of mind. There are some available for free at the park.

- Complimentary wireless internet is available throughout the Radisson Hotel and water park.

- Strollers aren’t allowed inside.

- Expect to be slightly inconvenienced if you don’t actually stay at the waterpark hotel. The locker rooms are poorly designed, and not everything works.

WATER PARK OF AMERICA

1700 American Boulevard East  Bloomington, MN 55425

(952) 229-5753

www.waterparkofamerica.com

Get wet - indoor water parks 2 of 2

If you’re like me, you’re mourning the hot weather and want to get back in the water. Tis the season for indoor water parks. There are plenty around.

As a mother of a toddler, I know the things I look for in a water park are specific to my daughter’s age. I want her to be able to splash around without getting too close to really deep water. She likes slides that aren’t too big. Right now one that is about four feet off the ground means we are both happy. I don’t like slides that are covered because I can’t go down it with her.

The first indoor waterpark I took my daughter to in Brooklyn Center (Grand Rios at the Ramada) has been shut down after someone drowned on one of the big slides. This would be a good place to remind folks that if you don’t know how to swim, a waterpark might not be the best place for you. Consider swim lessons first, and use lifejackets and close supervision for the small ones. (The best lifejacket out there is a puddlejumper for kids. Gives them so much confidence.)

Last winter, we swam several times at Lifetime Fitness pools. Most of them are pretty basic (the St. Louis Park one has a saltwater pool!), but they serve the purpose of getting wet and exercising a bit. Plus, when you get out, you can head straight to the hot tub. Ah. So relaxing. Maybe I should be writing a list of best hot tubs...

Here are two indoor waterparks I recommend:

For more information, browse http://www.ci.maple-grove.mn.us/content/149/305/default.aspx

• Maple Grove Community Center, The Grove Cove
This pool with fun features is shared with the adjacent Lifetime Fitness. There are several areas: a lap pool that’s seperate from the others, and another that starts with zero entry and eventually becomes a deep pool. A waterslide empties into that area. I’ve hard that the outside pool is fun in the summer, but alas, we didn’t make it there this year. (Summers are just too short!)

This is pretty much all the little girls had to play on.

The place definitely LOOKS cool!

I loved the decor. The hotel rooms were great. Nothing ugly here.

• Chaos Water Park, Eau Claire, Wis.
Looking for an overnight trip? Eau Claire only an hour or so from the Twin Cities; it’s just far enough that you’ll feel like you’re leaving town but you won’t have to hear too many “Are we there yets?!” I have to confess I was more enamoured of the hotel rooms than the water park. They are just so cool! It’s a brand new hotel and it’s very stylish without being overdone. (But they don’t have mini-fridges in the rooms. Bummer.) There are numerous room/waterpark packages, but mostly just for families of four. It didn’t do my family of three much good. I thought the waterpark area could have been better designed. There was very little for the ones under three to do. I’m not a fan of covered slides because I can’t go down them with my kid, and that’s all they had. They have three big slides — which were tons of fun for the older kids and adults. We were on the lazy river a lot. And that was about it. You won’t want to stay longer than one night, but you’re sure to enjoy yourself.

This is what the way home looks like.

RELATED POST: Get wet - indoor water parks

Get wet - outside water parks 1 of 2

Water. Ah. That's what summer is all about. Getting wet. Swimming. Splashing. Cooling off. I love summer and I love water parks. When it isn't summer, I get my water fix by heading to an indoor pool. Over the past two-and-a-half years, my daughter and I have explored a lot of the water parks in the Twin Cities and surrounding areas. Here's some outside waterparks that we like:


• Princeton Splash Pad, Princeton
This is just a fantastic place. It's big enough that there is space for everyone, but you can still keep an eye on all the kids at once. It is completely fenced in so you can't lose anyone. There are tons of fun water features. It is truly a splash pad; there isn't any standing water so it is great for those little tykes who don't swim yet. Pools are so much work. Splash pads -- real splash pads, not the pools that have a splash feature added -- take away the worry of a possible drowning. Click here to read full post on this park.

• Bunker Beach, Blaine
I remember this place as being just a wave pool, but it's a whole lot more now. It's a huge complex with huge watersides, a lazy river, climbing wall, kid area, sand playground and more. This isn't a place for the faint-hearted, though. There's a lot of water in the young kid area; two feet or so. Kids under 2.5 can easily trip and find themselves floundering underwater. Or, just by going down the little watersides, they can get under far enough to get scared. You'll want a good adult-to-kid ratio here. The best part about this place is it's got lots for all ages. So if your group covers a range of ages, you'll all be happy at Bunker Beach. Click here to read full post on this park.

• Oak Hill Splash Pad, St. Louis Park
This neighborhood park is free and has many fun features. It kept kids ages 16 months to 8 years happy. Again, this one is a true splash pad without any standing water but lots of water features. It is essentially like running through a huge sprinkler. Kids love it. Click here to read full post on this park.

• Lake Hiawatha Splash Pad, South Minneapolis
Our neighborhood park had to make the list. For us, it's close and convenient. One of the best parts of living in Minneapolis is that everyone has a park within 6 blocks. Most of those parks have pools and/or splash pads. But do know that these "splash pads" are really just pools with a water feature or two to make it more fun. When you put my 2-year-old in a pool, she doesn't want anything to do with the water features. She just wants to paddle around in her floatie. So, bring the puddlejumper life jacket and the donut floatie and have a great afternoon.

• Wabun Park Splash Pad, South Minneapolis (part of Minnehaha Park)
The splash pad at Wabun park is more like a pool with a center water feature. It gets a bit deep for the tiny ones, but is a great place to sink into on a muggy summer day. We were there on a weekend and it was packed -- until it started to rain slightly. Then we had a bit more room. It's location at Minnehaha Park next to the Vet's home on the Mississippi River make it a pretty popular spot. Plus, it has recently become handicapped accessible (parking, picnic shelters, bathrooms) and plans are to install a universally accessible playground next to the pool next summer.

• Anoka Water Park
This water park falls somewhere between Bunker Beach and the small neighborhood pools in Minneapolis. Get there when it opens or you won't have a lounge chair. But then, maybe you don't really need one. There's a spacious grassy area off on one side. This place has a couple big slides, a couple medium-sized slides and one small one that my 2.5-year-old loved. I could hardly get her to leave. (And she left tucked under my arm as she threw a tantrum.) The other kids behaved well, and it was a pleasant place to spend the afternoon.

• Wild Mountain, Taylor's Falls
We love Wild Mountain and my family tries to make it out there once a year. The big slides are a blast for kids seven and up through adults. And they've got a great, fenced in area with fun water features for smaller kids. There's a huge bucket that dumps water out; keep the toddlers away from that! There are several water spouts that shoot up from the ground; those keep kids entertained for hours. And some slides. A lazy river encircles Adventure Park. It's not as huge as Bunker Beach but definitely as much fun.

• Cascade Bay, Eagan
The jury is out on Cascade Bay in Eagen. We went one day this summer, spent a fortune on tickets (ok, $18 is a lot for one adult and one kid), and left within 2 hours. There were 3 huge groups of kids there and they weren't well behaved or closely supervised. It was absolute chaos. However, when I complained to the managers, they apologized nicely, calmed me down, refunded my money and gave me tickets to return. We'll see what happens next summer.

COMING SOON:
Get wet - indoor water parks