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Kalahari-Sandusky

By Arthur Levine, About.com

The Zip Coaster zips past as guests lounge below in the lazy river at the Kalahari Ohio.

ŠJeremy Levine, 2006. Licensed to About.com
Location: Sandusky, Ohio
Kalahari-Sandusky Phone: (877) 253-5466
Admission Policy: The water park is open to both registered hotel guests and to the general public.
Indoor Water Park Square Footage: 173,000

The Kalahari Ohio has bragging rights (for now) as one of North America's--and the world's--biggest indoor water park resorts. Do you want to see who else lays claim to "the biggest indoor water park" title? See A Lotta Water: Who Has the Biggest Indoor Water Park? .

Kalahari Sandusky Indoor Water Park Features: Two surfing simulator rides, water coaster, lazy river, bowl ride, wave pool, body slides, tube slides, raft rides, interactive water play structure, activity pools, and indoor/outdoor whirlpool saunas.
Directions:
From Cleveland and Toledo: I-80 to Exit 118, 250 N towards Sandusky. The Kalahari is a few miles on the right.
Official Web Site: Kalahari Sandusky
Overview: The massive African-themed resort features one of the world's largest indoor water parks. Among its many attractions are the two Kalahari Surfaris (FlowRider surfing simulators), the world's first (indoor or outdoor) uphill Zip Coaster, indoor-to-outdoor spas, the Wild Kingdom interactive water play area, and a ton of slides. The park's family raft ride, Victoria Falls, careens wildly in the dark and is particularly thrilling. The park also features one of the longest--and best--indoor water park lazy rivers.

A full-featured resort, the Kalahari offers a host of activities beyond its world-class water park, and is a veritable family vacation paradise. Kids will love the huge arcade, indoor mini-golf, a pottery-making shop, and the enormous Tree Top dry play area complete with foam ball cannons. Adults will appreciate the luxurious day spa, and everyone will enjoy the hotel's spacious suites. In addition to the permanent attractions, the Kalahari offers a daily schedule of activities that might include complimentary movies (with popcorn!), craft making, contests, or scavenger hunts.

For dining, the Kalahari offers the Great Karoo Marketplace, which features a buffet, the Candy Hut, which is overflowing with tempting treats, and a sushi bar. The resort's full-service eatery is Kahunaville, a surprisingly good chain restaurant that features signing waiters and bottle-tossing bartenders. The stir-fry dishes are particularly tasty.

The Kalahari also features a large convention center, meeting facilities, and onsite condominiums.

As is common in the travel industry, the writer was provided with complimentary accommodations for the purpose of reviewing those services. While it has not influenced this review, About.com believes in full disclosure of all potential conflicts of interest. For more information, see our ethics policy.
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