Even in autumn, indoor waterparks offer taste of summer
Summer may be over, but that doesn't mean you have to pack away your swimsuits until June. It's always warm at these indoor water parks, where your kids can spend the day splashing around and you don't even have to worry about reapplying sunscreen.
Mayan Adventure Indoor Waterpark, Holiday Inn Chicago-Elmhurst, 624 N. York Road, Elmhurst, (630) 279-1100, mayanindoorwaterpark.com
Hours: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday
Admission: $30, $20 half-day Friday and Sunday
Food: Mango's Restaurant offers a wide range of Mayan themed burgers, steak and fried shrimp along with a kids menu.
At 24,000 square feet, Mayan Adventure has features to entertain kids of all ages while even giving parents a way to relax a little. Younger kids can splash around in their interactive play area, which features wheels to spin to make water come out, a 300-gallon dump bucket and small slides. Thrill seekers will enjoy the dark and totally enclosed two-story tube and body slides that dump into a lazy river, where the whole family can relax a little by gliding along. You can also shoot some hoops in the activity pool, and there's an 18-and-up hot tub within sight of the rest of the action if you want a soak while your kids play. If the kids want some dry fun, there's also a huge arcade.
The Water Works, 505 N. Springinsguth Road, Schaumburg, (847) 490-2505, parkfun.com
Hours: 5:30 to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 4 to 8 p.m. Friday, noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday
Admission: Residents $7, $5 for kids; nonresidents $9, $7 for kids
Food: Barefoot Grill has hot dogs, hamburgers, nachos and other snacks.
The most popular feature of Water Works may be their play structure, part of a zero-depth pool where kids can climb ropes and slide down while getting sprayed by jets of water. The park also features a twisty slide, two drop slide and a diving board. For a little change of pace, grab an inner tube and coast along the small, horseshoe-shaped lazy river or take a soak in the large whirlpool hot tub. Kickboards are also provided if you want to race through the lap pool, and kids are welcome to bring along their favorite water toys.
Pelican Harbor, 200 S. Lindsey Lane, Bolingbrook, (630) 739-1705, bolingbrookparks.org
Hours: 4 to 8 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Friday; noon to 8 p.m. Saturday; noon to 6 p.m. Sunday
Admission: $8, $5 residents, free for kids 2 and under
Especially friendly for younger kids, Pelican Harbor features a zero-depth entry pool with tumble buckets and a special tot slide where kids plunge out of a pelican's mouth. The pool also features an enclosed slide and a second lap pool with a drop side. Part of that pool is roped off for lap swimming if you want to teach your kids some strokes. The park also sets aside some time for parents with children under 7 to splash around the tot pool without worrying about older kids pushing them around.
Food: There's no food on site, but guests are welcome to bring their own and eat at their birthday party area tables.
Splash Landings, 2400 Chestnut Ave., Glenview, (847) 486-5372, glenviewparkdist.org
Hours: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday; 4 to 8 p.m. Friday; 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday
Admission: $5.75
Food: Vending machines
The play pool at Splash Landings starts at zero depth and peaks at 3.5 feet. Activities include an air traffic control-themed waterslide and lots of fun ways to get wet including jets coming up from the ground. There's also a 25 foot lap pool and a whirlpool to soak in. An onsite store sells water diapers, noodles and other swimwear you might have forgotten. A small cafe is expected to open in the building by November.
CoCo Key Water Resort, Sheraton Chicago Northwest, 3400 W. Euclid Ave., Arlington Heights, (847) 394-2000 or Clock Tower Resort & Conference Center, 7801 E. State St., Rockford, (800) 358-7666
Hours: Arlington Heights: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday; Rockford: 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Admission: Arlington Heights: $25 Monday through Thursday, $39 Friday through Sunday; Rockford: $25 Sunday through Thursday, $35 Friday and Saturday
Food: Both locations include Pizza Hut Express and restaurant serving a full menu of salads and American entrees. The Sheraton resort also has an A&W and Starbucks.
With eight locations nationwide, CoCo Key offers 65,000 square feet of wet fun. The resort features different levels of thrills geared toward kids 12 and under. Younger kids might want to stick to the spray cannons and tipping buckets while there are four raft and body slides for older ones. Other features include a fast paced river tube ride, a large whirlpool and activity pool that features lily pads, basketball and an animated coral reef. The spot regularly holds movie nights where you can watch family films while floating in the pool.