Does your family get the winter blues? Consider visiting an indoor waterpark, where the fun continues year round.

While we usually associate water parks and amusement parks with warm weather, there are now many exceptions to that notion. For throughout North America, Europe and Asia -- sometimes in some very unexpected locations -- there are a number of indoor water and amusement parks that are certain to melt winter chills away. Conversely, your family can also escape sizzling summer temperatures and simulate outdoor fun by enjoying an air-conditioned amusement park, or even skiing, year-round -- indoors!

Indoor water parks have become a growing phenomenon over the past decade. The resort town of Wisconsin Dells, about 40 miles (67kms) north of Madison, is where indoor water parks had their birth nearly two decades ago. Currently boasting the largest concentration of these family-oriented sites, including four major indoor water parks located in hotels and resorts, along with many other indoor waterplay areas representing the largest and most comprehensive indoor water facilities in the nation.

Some practical notes: Entry fees for water parks are often, but not always, included in a resort's room rate; day rates are often available for non-hotel guests. Slides are rides are marked age-appropriately so please respect the park's guidelines and safety measures. These indoor water parks and pools are open and heated year round; bring your own towel and watershoes.

Water Play in the Wisconsin Dells

The Wilderness Hotel & Golf Resort, Mt. Olympus Water & Themepark, Kalahari Resort Water Park and Great Wolf Lodge are among the major water park hotels in the  Wisconsin Dells area, and they have pioneered many of the water play features seen elsewhere.  All are covered in more detail in FTF's story about Wisconsin Dells Hotels. These parks range in size from 250,000 square feet to mere puddles (only kidding) and the variety of rides, slides and family games is truly astonishing. Take note of the imaginative theming, as certain themes -- like Pirates -- are big this year but may fade in the future. Vampire pools anyone?

The Chula Vista Resort (800/388-4782), The Polynesian Resort Hotel & Suites (800/272-5642), and Blizzard Bay at the Wintergreen (800/648-4765) are among the other top resorts. There are also much smaller and simpler water play areas at other Dells hotels worth noting. The Atlantis Hotel's (800/800-6179) Aqua Kingdom, for example, now has two indoor waterparks featuring hands-on water and slide activities for lots of family fun.

The Holiday Inn Express Wisconsin Dells (608/253-3000) features a Kiddie Kastle with numerous interactive water games. At the Skyline Hotel & Suites (800/759-8475), the Serp'N' Dippity water area has three swimming pools, three kiddie pools, and a serpent with two slides and a waterfall cascading from its tail.

The Copa Cabana Resort Hotel & Suites (608/253-1511), Grand Marquis (800/447-2636), the Meadowbrook Resort (877/993-3557) and the Alakai Hotel & Suites (800/593-9392) also have their share of slides, bubbling geysers and water-sprouting palm trees.

Keep in mind that the larger the resort and more impressive the facilities, the more it's likely to cost. With little ones, almost any of the small hotels have facilities that will provide great fun.

Elsewhere in Wisconsin & Iowa

Hilton Milwaukee City Center
509 W. Wisconsin Ave.
Milwaukee, WI 53203
414/271-7250
Wisconsin features America's first urban indoor water park, Paradise Landing. We toured the 20,000-square-foot tropical-themed site and found four twisting water slides along with manifold water activities for all ages. Little ones will enjoy a squirting turtle or a pirate ship slide, while older children and adults will get a kick out of "shooting" each other with water cannons or trying the lily pad walk over the water. The Hydro-Therapy Spa offers pure relaxation for parents or anyone taking a break from the waterslides. For those hooked on the electronic age, there's also a game room next to the pool area. While the water park is housed in a new addition, this classy hotel was originally built in 1927 and has been lovingly refurbished. Another indoor waterpark located near Milwaukee is Timber Ridge Lodge and Waterpark (866/636-4502). The park is on the grounds of the Grand Geneva Resort & Spa in Lake Geneva and features a 50,000-square-foot waterpark, 30,000 feet of which is indoors.

Madison offers an indoor waterpark at the Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites (608/826-0500), and Green Bay is home of the recently opened Tundra Lounge Resort (877/TUNDRA-L) whose waterpark is the largest north of the Dells. While in Northern Wisconsin, check out the Waters of Minocqua (877/992-8377), in Mosinee the Lodge at Cedar Creek Resort and Waterpark (888/365-6343) and in Sheboygan, the Blue Harbor Resort & Conference Center (920/452-2900), operated by the Great Wolf company.

Located on the Mississippi River in nearby Dubuque, Iowa is the Grand Harbor Resort and Waterpark (866/690-4006) which offers the Huck Finn II, a four-story steamboat/tree house, a lazy river, waterslide, water squirting paraphernalia, and a WaterSquirts Kids Club for 3-12-year-olds.

MidWesterners Want Water Park Fun!

Great Wolf Lodge
1400 Great Wolf Drive
Sandusky, Ohio 44870
609/253-2222, 800/551-9653
Ohio's first indoor water park, Bear Track Landing was built in Sandusky, near the awesome (but summers only) Cedar Point theme park. Following the theme of all Great Wolf Lodges, the Sandusky water park has similar features including: two four-story 300-foot tube slides, three kiddy slides, five pools, two whirlpools, and a lazy river. Another section of the lodge hold the very popular, Fort Mackenzie, a greenhouse fort with 12 levels of waterplay, this North Woods-themed water park has plenty to keep children entertained. As of 2008, there are midwestern and southern Great Wolf Lodges located in Traverse City, Michigan; Kansas City, Kansas; Mason, Ohio; and Grapevine, Texas; plus the newest one in the Pacific Northwest region of Grand Mound, Washington.

Castaway Bay
One Cedar Point Dr.
Sandusky, Ohio
419/627-2106
In 2005, the Cedar Point amusement park introduced a waterpark resort. The hotel has 240-plus bright, comfortable rooms and suites with balconies, a mini-fridge, coffeemaker and microwave, and Internet access but you'll want to check in so you can enjoy a second day of fun in 38,000-square-foot tropical-themed indoor waterpark, open daily 9am-10pm. The park had activities for all ages, including the Rendezvous Run, an intense water coater, various water slides, the Grotto Spa/Hot Tub and the Toddler's Tide Pool for the little ones. The hotel also has a game room and large arcade, fitness center for ages 16+ and a more ordinary pool and Jacuzzi. Other family-friendly touches include soda machines, an ATM, guest laundry, luggage storage and day lockers for check-out day. Supervised kids' programs include Camp Castaway, open daily, with drop-in crafts and other activities by day, and games, dance parties and movies in the evenings. Of course, several pre- and post-season packages (ie: not July or August) bundle in a stay with tickets to Cedar Point and Soak City (the outdoor waterpark), and day passes are sold Monday to Thursday. Kids under 14 must have parental supervision.

CoCo Key Water Resort
2299 Cherry Valley Road
Newark, OH 43055
800/788-8008
A popular addition to the Midwest's theme parks, CoCo Key Water Resort boasts 50,000 square-feet of indoor waterpark adventure.  Themed after historic Key West, there are three thrilling water slides including Shark Slam, Gator Gush, and Barracuda Blast. Guests can float down Coconut Grove Adventure River on a tube ride with splashy surprises along the way. There's also a fun Dip In Theater where families enjoy watching movies projected on a giant screen all while floating in their own tubes. For the smaller ones, there are several activities, including the Parrot's Perch-Play Structure and the Coral Reef Cavern both water interactive play centers for every child -- not to mention an on-site kid's club. Water-logged kids can hit the arcade and dry out, while adults can escape the action at the Palm Grotto Spa featuring giant whirlpools in a tropical haven. The water park is located at the Cherry Valley Lodge, about 30 minutes from Columbus and includes lots of dining options from Pizza Hut Express to the Wet Rooster Bar.

Kalahari Resort Water Park
7000 Kalahari Drive
Sandusky, OH 44870
877/525-2427
Just when you thought indoor waterparks couldn't get any bigger, Sandusky unveiled the world's largest indoor waterpark in 2008. This whoppping 173,000 square foot property boats a 12,000 square-foot wave pool with eight ocean-like wave settings, the world’s largest behemoth bowl, extreme mat racers with a 55-foot decline, indoor/outdoor spas with swim-up bar and more.

East Coasters Want Water Park Fun, Too!

Cape Codder Resort
1225 Iyanough Rd.
Hyannis, Massachusetts 02601
888/297-2200
The newly renovated resort in Hyannis, Massachusetts opened an 8,200-square-foot indoor wavepool waterplay area complete with New England seascapes painted on all the walls. This small Atlantic-themed area features two spiral slides (one measuring 80 feet), a wave pool, water falls, dancing water fountains, and spouting water mushroom.

Great Wolf Lodge
Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ontario Canada
800/551-9653
The Great Lakes Companies Inc. also operates a lodge in Wiliamsburg, Virginia with an indoor waterpark featuring eight waterslides, a four-story treehouse fort, a wave machine, and the new Howlin' Tornado an extreme tubing experience through the 6 story spiral through the mouth of the 'tornado.' There are eastern Great Wolf Lodges in Williamsburg, Virginia; the Pocono Mountains, Pennsylvania; and Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada.

Global Indoor Oases

As you can see, indoor waterparks have sprouted up in extreme climates, populous regions far from the beach, and many unexpected places. Here's a look a few more; please send us suggestions for ones we haven't heard of!

Europe

Forest Hill Aquaboulevard
Hotels Forest Hills, Paris, France
33 (0) 1 40 60 10 00

For a classy and très chic water park experience, head to this area located at Porte de Sèvres in Paris, France. With seven water slides, against-the-current river ride, geysers, water cannons, waterfalls, and water mushrooms, Aquaboulevard appeals both to families with little ones as well as teens. Toddlers like the tiny kiddie pools and shallow area which features a whale to climb into and slide out of. Since the water park is open until midnight on weekends, teens enjoy the disco, movie theater, cafes and pool parties which feature hip music. The giant chessboard, trampoline, minigolf, and wave pool with 'beachside' lounge chairs positioned under the sunlit dome are also popular.

Additionally, most of the 17 Center Parcs family resort hotels in Europe have indoor water play areas that, while not as elaborate as many of the waterparks described here, do provide families with a chance to romp in the waves, enjoy a Jacuzzi and sunbathe while admiring the snow falling outside. Check their website for information on hotels in the United Kingdom, The Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany.

Alaska

Freezing from touring glaciers and snow-covered mountains in Anchorage, Alaska? Feel like taking off your mukluks and putting on a bathing suit? Head to H20asis (907/522-4420 or 888/H2OSASIS) in Anchorage where its always 86°, and you will find a wave pool, lazy river, children's lagoon and an uphill water coaster!

Canada

The Canadians love indoor waterparks, and even urban chains such as the popular Delta Hotels often have slides and some waterplay features as part of their indoor pools.  In Banff, a very eco-friendly town, the Douglas Fir Resort Hotel has expanded its indoor waterplay facilities in a very green way. The countryside hotel is easily accessible about an hour's drive from Calgary, and is served by the Town of Banff all-hybrid electric shuttle bus system. As a result of installing a new higher efficiency boiler system in 2008, energy consumption was reduced by an average of 15% on over 100,000 litres of water and water temperatures can be more consistently maintained. The waterslide park features two recently resurfaced, three-story waterslides, plus a steam room, 24-person Jacuzzi and kiddie pool. This resort has studio to one-bedroom units with kitchens; hike in the nearby Banff National Park and when you get back, you'll feel like you're at home. Non-guests may pay a general admission fee; kids 5 and under enter free.

If you ever want to experience the world's largest shopping mall, head for the West Edmonton Mall in Alberta, Canada. Better yet, stop at North America's largest indoor wave pool, which is part of the mall's World Waterpark (800/661-8890 or 780/444-5300). Sample all of the 20 waterslides in the new, 6,000-square-foot Caribbean Cove waterplay area. If that isn't enough to keep you entertained, check out the Tropical Typhoon, and Raging Rapids, an enclosed tube ride. There's even Blue Thunder Bungee, the world's tallest permanent indoor bungee jump. For those less daring, paddle over to Little Caribbean, a children's play area complete with an array of gentler water activities.

Pool Safety Quick Tips!

Water safety is not only important during a family vacation. It can also be a matter of life and death at home, at a classmate's birthday party, or at a neighborhood pool. Read on for important safety tips:

• Learn to swim. Children (and adults) should always be comfortable with the water and swimming before a day at the waterpark, beach, or pool.
• Always follow the rules, read signs around swimming areas, and listen to lifeguards on duty. Remember that running can cause slips, falls, and injuries. For extra traction and protection, try water shoes, which are generally permitted in all waterparks.
• Ensure that there are emergency numbers, a telephone, and life preservers nearby and learn infant and child CPR.
• Adults (not other children) must supervise children in the pool at all times. Always check the pool first if a child is missing!
• Be aware that drowning often happens in silence; don't expect to hear flailing or screams.
• Prevent choking by spitting out your chewing gum and clearing food from the swimming area.
• Remove flotation devices and toys from the empty pool to avoid temptation. These are not safety devices, and a beach ball or smiling dolphin could lure a child into the pool unsupervised. If you need a flotation device, always use a life vest instead of floaties and toys.
• Since infants can drown in a few inches of water, drain wading pools when supervised play is over.
• Before diving in, check depth of pools and waterparks, including shallow play areas for toddlers.
• Always observe a waterslide, diving board, and water activities to know how everything works and what to expect before jumping in.
• If you own a pool, create multiple obstacles to children sneaking in by themselves. A fence, a pool cover, and an alarm can be an effective combination. Also, remove the ladder of an above ground pool when not in use.
• Before a day of water play, choose a meeting area such as the first aid station in the event your group becomes separated.

Educate your children about water safety -- teach them that safety and family fun can go together!

Tips Courtesy: Underwriters Laboratories, Inc and Kalahari Resort