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Midwest and Texas Travel
The Top Kid-friendly Resorts for Family Fun
By Elisa Ast All
Family travel can be as harrowing as it is exhilarating. Traveling together allows you to share adventures only found when you leave the safety of home base. While being out of your comfort zone can pose challenges, there are kid-friendly resorts all around the country specializing in family vacations.
One of the greatest things to happen to families in the Midwest may be the Great Wolf Lodge. This "family of water park resorts" is fast becoming a trusted brand name among parents looking for an exciting getaway close to home. And with four Great Wolfs in the Midwest (there are seven altogether), chances are good there's one within easy driving distance. The Midwest locations include Kansas City, Kan.; Sandusky, Ohio; Traverse City, Mich.; and Wisconsin Dells, Wis.
At the Dells location, the 209-room Great Wolf boasts a 40,000-square-foot indoor water park. Its signature attraction is the four-story treehouse offering more than 60 sprays and geysers that pour and squirt water from 12 levels. At the ringing of a bell, a huge bucket at the top of a 40-foot-tall tower dumps 700 gallons of water on everyone who rushes to gather at the bottom. Fast-action waterslides and water jets combine with more relaxing water fun such as whirlpools and lazy tubing along the winding river.
When you're ready to relax, you can head back to your guest room, which can be one of 12 designs, including the fabulous Great Wolf Kid Cabin Suite. This suite has a children-sized log cabin, including bunk beds, a day bed and television set. Parents sleep outside the log cabin in the king-sized bed. There's a Cub Club frequent stay program for kids, the Loose Moose Bar and Grill restaurant (with a great kids' menu), the Iron Horse Fitness Room, Yukon Jack's Gaming Parlor and Wolf's Den Snack Bar. You'll have a great stay at the Great Wolf!
800-559-WOLF
www.greatwolflodge.com
Chicago is a wonderful city for families. From Navy Pier and the Chicago Children's Museum to the amazing lakefront and the Museum of Science and Industry (not to forget the Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, Art Institute, Millennium Park, Adler Planetarium and Magnificent Mile, among many other attractions), Chicago has it all when it comes to culture, diversity and family entertainment.