Save money at Wisconsin Dells & water parks

I was talking with Floridians last week who were puzzling over Minnesotan's love affair with indoor water parks. This time of year--as it's finally nudged past 11 degrees--I would go to an indoor water park just to peel off long underwear, wool socks and turtlenecks. Not to mention bulky sweaters that make me feel as svelte as Frosty the Snowman. There's also this "We're in this together" camaraderie with Midwest water parks. Go to Florida with pasty winter skin, and you risk blinding the locals. Go to an indoor water park, and, hey, we're all solar-challenged.

If you're ready for an steamy oasis of fake tropics and ecstatic, shrieking kids, here are
a few tips for saving money and making the most of visiting the Midwest's indoor water parks:

• Aim for a mid-week visit if you have toddlers and can take advantage of the often-cheaper rates and lighter crowds.
• If traveling mid-week, make sure the park is open. Some smaller ones close mid-week in the off-season and larger ones have to do occasional maintenance work (such as waxing slides for maximum speed).

• Watch for coupons and online specials, especially in large resort areas such as Wisconsin Dells. (That's the Wilderness Resort's wave pool pictured above. With a clear roof, you'd never know it's indoors.)
• Plan ahead. The most economical and least crowded months to go are May and September. The last week in August is good, too. Wisconsin kids go back to school before Minnesotans.
• Try one of the smaller water parks, usually 10,000 to 12,000 square feet, if you have preschool children or toddlers. Save the big guns--tummy-flipping slides and gotta-scream rides--and the big budgets for later. You can get nickle-and-dimed by all the big resort kiosks (or feel mentally battered by incessant begging). Think hair-braiding, fake tattoos, toys and gadgets and those blingy arcades. This is an ideal time to motivate older kids to earn and save an allowance.
• Most water parks allow a limited number of non-guests in for a day fee. Adults, even if they stay out of the water, usually need to pay admission as well. Always call first for availability in case general admission tickets are sold out.

• Take extra swimsuits so you don’t have to wear a wet one for a second trip to the park. Bring a cover-up for walking through hallways, which tend to be cool, and waterproof sandals. Those flip-flops or Crocs are hard for us to remember in Sorrel season, but you don't want to risk someone swiping expensive shoes or soaking nice leather.
• Bring quarters for lockers if you need them.
• Feed kids well before heading to the park or be prepared to shell out for snack-bar food. It's more nutritious, cheaper and easier to slap together a PBJ and slice up some apples in a hotel room. And how many moms want to go dining elsewhere with water park hair, no make-up and kids without patience for any quick fixes? Did I mention bringing a baseball hat?
• Take a waterproof camera (a disposable one should work) or risk ruining a regular one when some kid aims a water cannon your way. We have a shockproof, waterproof Minolta model, but it shoots better photos of eels in the ocean than kids shooting down a slide.
• Have a pre-determined meeting spot in case anyone gets lost.
• Pack waterproof Band-Aids in case of scrapes.
• Most parks do not allow water toys or floaties, but they do usually provide life jackets, which offer both parents and non-swimming kids some peace of mind.

(Above photo: The Edge at Duluth's Best Western.)

Warm up at Minnesota's best water parks

In the middle of winter, few things feel as good as shedding all the bundled-up layers. Seriously. In the last brutal week of temperatures, I was wearing long underwear just to work at home. So be free! Grab the kids, dig out your suits, and enjoy a weekend at Minnesota's water parks. It may not be a real beach, but at least we'll are pasty white and not blinding any golden-boy Floridians.

Here are my top picks:

Best overall
Waterpark of America at the Radisson, Bloomington. Hands-down, the best option if you have teens. This park claims to be the biggest in Minnesota. As is often said, though, size doesn't matter. Here it's the variety and openess--a lack of claustrophia that plagues many water parks. I also love its Minnesota theme, especially the replica of Split Rock Lighthouse that serves as the centerpiece.

Waterpark of America has the state's only wave pool and surf simulator, plus a fantastic multi-story family raft ride. Be prepared for the 136 steps to reach the top. The slides also are translucent. You don't feel like you're dropping down a black hole.

Unless they're maxed out with guests (a possibility during long holiday weekends), they do take day visitors. That can help with the family budget.

 An obvious bonus: Shuttles to Mall of America. Unexpected bonus: Watching planes take off from the nearby Minneapolis-St. Paul Airport every few minutes. Watch from the water park's second-floor balcony.



Best pick for a vacation area:

Paul Bunyan Water Park, Baxter. You can find a water park on either side of Highway 371 just north of Brainerd-Baxter's commercial strip. The other one, a Holiday Inn Express with its Three Bears Lodge is fine, but I favor The Lodge at Brainerd Lakes. There are bright red hallways and cozy log-themed rooms with fun titles that will appeal to kids. I like the waterpark's Minnesota theme here, too. It has some playful touches, like Paul's giant socks hanging from a clothesline. For kids, the caveat will be the slides with programable holographic special effects. You can slip past butterflies, sharks or get the impression you're busting through a brick wall at the bottom. The onsite Rockwoods Grill and Backwater Bar also has good comfort food options, including Tater Tot hotdish, pot pie and rotisserie chicken.


Best for overall on-site activities:
Arrowwood Resort & Conference Center, Alexandria.
I'm going to be honest. The state's very first waterpark, The Big Splash, is looking faded and a bit tattered. That said, I'd still recommend Arrowwood. Why? It's the best place to enjoy both the fake tropics and have true winter fun. The resort offers snowmobiling, ice skating, ice-fishing and sledding right on site (they even provide sleds), plus other kid-friendly activities. If your kids are old enough for real swimming or in the been-there, done-that camp for waterpark amenities, there is a large indoor pool, too. (I'd have to say waterparks make me miss good old swimming.) Word of advice: Arrowwood's new townhomes are lovely, but you'll want to stay in the main resort rooms or suites for easy waterpark or pool access. You can opt for a full or partial kitchen, too, which is worth it when you have tired kids, wet hair, no make-up and can't stomach any more water park snack food.

Biggest, best waterparks
Crave someplace bigger with more bells and whistles? Check out the four best resorts in Wisconsin Dells.