Man (and Woman and Boy and Girl) Does not Live by Water Alone | |
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Kalahari Indoor (and outdoor) Waterpark Resort, Wisconsin Dells, WisconsinFeb 10 2004While the indoor water park is the main draw, there are plenty of other things to do at the Kalahari. During the warmer-weather months, the outdoor water park is loaded with more slides, interactive play structures, Pro Bowls, and other features. In 2004, the Kalahari added a lazy river. Like some of the other larger Wisconsin Dells water park resorts, the Kalahari is a veritable kids' paradise. Lest the waterparks become too much of a good thing, the resort offers a daily itinerary of other diversions during the summer months, weekends, and other peak periods, including karaoke, scavenger hunts, movies, cookie decorating, campfires, and animal meet and greets. These activities are complimentary for hotel guests. Additional features include a huge game room, an on-property multiplex theater, a small fitness room, some retail shops, and--a bit of paradise for adults--a day spa. The Kalahari's hotel accommodations come in a variety of configurations and price points. The resort's original building includes mostly standard, albeit large, hotel rooms. After guests clamored for its suites, the Kalahari added a bunch of them when it expanded. We stayed in a "Royal Two-Room Family Suite." One bedroom featured a king bed with a net canopy; the other room had two queen beds, a pullout sofa, a gas fireplace, and an outdoor patio. Each room had its own bathroom. The suite was very spacious and comfortable, if a bit noisy. Because the Kalahari caters to families, the pitter-patter of kids (or the clomp-clomp of older kids) running in the hallways and down the stairs near our room came through all too loud and clear. BYOF: Bring your own foodAll rooms include a refrigerator, microwave, and coffee pot. I saw a lot of families carting huge cooler chests into their rooms. That's a smart move. In addition to high dining prices, the food at the Kalahari isn't particularly great. Its main restaurant, Ingraffia's, has a curiously schizophrenic menu: it offers everything from escargot, macadamia nut-encrusted walleye steak, and South African wines to pizza--at up to $32 per pie. Nearly everything is drenched in butter, deep-fried, or smothered with gobs of cheese (this is Wisconsin, after all). For dining alternatives, consider the wonderful Field's Steak House at the Wilderness or the exotic, eclectic, scrumptious vegetarian fare at The Cheese Factory Restaurant.While it may not be of gourmet quality, the Kalahari has a lovely tradition of leaving candy on the pillow along with its nightly turndown service. We're not talking about a couple of tiny mints. We're talking a whole box of chocolates. It's touches like that that make the place magical for families. It's easy to see why the Kalahari and its Dells' counterparts have become so wildly popular--and why the indoor waterpark resort concept is spreading. Next Page: Kalahari Waterpark Resort Tips Botswana Blast Ride Review
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