That's me Meaghan Murphy, the editor in chief of Woman's Day, last week at Kalahari leisurely enjoying a colorful frozen cocktail in a souvenir glass with my husband while our teens and tween entertain themselves(!) in the waterpark. What a mom milestone!
You see, the first time Team Murphy visited Kalahari nearly seven years ago, our three kids were in floaties and swim diapers. They had a blast bouncing from the wave pool to the Lazy River to the indoor/outdoor whirlpool, then back to the Lazy River, onto the waterslides and sprayground, then more wave pool. My husband and I were outnumbered and we got a workout trying to keep up with our happy bunch. Look at this collage from our trip! It gives me all of the feels—that brotherly love photo of my boys side-by-side and baby Batman conked out on the lounge chair! We made some beautiful core memories at Kalahari for sure.
So, when my middle son recently suggested a return trip to Kalahari to celebrate his 13th birthday, I was excited. Kalahari Resort & Conventions are full-service vacation destinations that combine America's largest indoor waterparks with the magic of Africa. We visited Kalahari in Pocono Mountains, PA, but there are also locations in Sandusky, Ohio; Round Rock, Texas and Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin. The founders are from Wisconsin and the business is a family affair, which you know I love. Owner Todd Nelson and his wife Shari (they were high school sweethearts who met in driver's ed!) have enlisted their five children to help grow the business from a pizza pub in Wisconsin Dells to the iconic brand it is now. Kalahari is often hailed as one of the best indoor water parks in the world!
This time around, our kids equally enjoyed themselves, but on bigger and more daring rides with complete independence. The VR waterslide was a favorite. Imagine throwing on a headset and experiencing a wet & wild slide through a jungle or float through space! The Anaconda is a thrill for the whole family (I rode twice!) and the Cheetah Racers will inspire a little friendly competition. It was fun to watch my gang revisit old favorites like the Lazy River and the wave pool with a sense of big kid nostalgia. It was also fun to NOT watch my kids and have the opportunity to steal away with my husband for a few grown-up timeouts.
When we were done in the waterpark, the arcade was still a major attraction. The difference? After a few rounds of our favorite water gun game, my husband and I left the kids to eat, play, stay and snuck away to have a delicious adult dinner at Double Cut, followed by drinks at the newly opened Piano Bar. The food at Kalahari is off-the-charts, especially compared to similar venues in the family travel space. That said, our kids don't want to sit down to a fabulous meal when they can quickly feast at MAC, the recently opened macaroni and cheese shop, and play more crane games. P.S. There is a Human Crane in the Big Game Room. Just WOW.
What else can I tell you about our getaway? We only stayed one night, so we splurged on a Penthouse Suite. It was a next-level three-bedroom, three-bathroom suite with a kitchen. The amazing staff at the Emerald Lounge decorated with balloons and treats, earning this mom a thousand thank-you's from a VERY happy birthday boy. If we were to go back, I'd definitely check out the spa and pack gym clothes. It didn't dawn on me that I'd have free time while the kids were occupied until it was too late. If you're thinking of planning a trip, DM me with questions on Instagram @meaghanbmurphy I love sharing the YAY!
xo Meaghan
