KCKidsFun

Looking for something new to do with the kids around Kansas City?

Be one of the first to check out the new Schlitterbahn Vacation Village Waterpark in Kansas City, KS!

After months of construction and anticipation, the park opens for a sneak peek beginning Thursday, July 16. Construction is still on-going so the sneak peek offers limited attraction availability (but they’ve discounted admission prices).

Discounted admission is $19.99 (kids 2 & under are free). Regular admission will eventually be $32.99 for ages 12 and older and $24.99 for kids 3 to 11 and seniors (55 and older).

Once construction is complete, the first phase of the new Schlitterbahn Waterpark will have 13 signature attractions with more than 24 slides and chutes. The park is located just off of I-435 and I-70 near the Kansas Speedway and The Legends shopping district.

For now though, the sneak peek attractions include:

• Bahnzai Pipeline – Climb to the top of a 42-foot-tall tower and take an open-air tube ride down a twisted pipeline.

• Black Knight – Plunge in a tube down a dark and warped fully-enclosed coiled slide.

• Henry’s Hideout Hot Tub Bar – Unwind in a giant hot tub that incorporates a swim-up refreshment bar and in-water seating that creates the perfect place to take a break from all the action.

• Kinderhaven Kids’ Area – Splash and play in an area designed especially for families with smaller children. This shallow water playground includes ten mini-slides and is separated from the rest of the “big kid” activities by being conveniently located in the center of the park surrounded by shaded seating and open-sun lounging areas. Kinderhaven lets both kids and parents have fun together as they explore the Wyandotte Express choo choo train, a friendly frog, a mammoth turtle and a giant fountain.

• Torrent Beach – Whether guests just want to catch some rays, cool off in the surf, or embark on a journey through the canyon of the Torrent River, Torrent Beach is the perfect spot to enjoy a great day.

• Torrent Cove – Relax on an island surrounded by the Torrent River and Torrent Beach.

• Torrent River – Float the world’s longest tidal wave river which combines a continuous, endless float with ocean-sized waves creating an ever changing experience. Guests enter this attraction without waiting in line!

• Wolfpack - Take a tube and surge through an extra-wide pipeline of wild water. This oversized slide provides an experience that is different every time you ride!

Additional 2009 opening schedule and ticketing information will be announced soon. New retail, lodging and other entertainment elements will be introduced during further phases through 2011.

If you head out there with the kids, stop back by here and let us know how it was!!

*photo courtesy of Galveston.com (Galveston is home to another Schlitterbahn waterpark)

We had our first visit to Great Wolf Lodge (The Legends, KCK) over the weekend and I have to say we had a ball! The weather couldn’t have been better (for being inside, that is…freezing cold, windy and even some flurries) and we were ready to get out of the house. My husband and I, along with our 6-year-old son and his friend, stayed in one of the “Wolf Den Cabins” which was really fun for the kids. There was a full-sized bed, in-room microwave, refrigerator, and the highlight was the Wolf Den itself–a bunk bed enclosed in its own ‘forest’ with a kid-sized television inside. There was even a Nintendo available for rental. As surprising as it sounds, we actually used it at the end of the day when the kids were completely exhausted from the waterpark.

The waterpark itself was awesome. Lots of slides, buckets, fountains, etc. I have to admit, it was total chaos in there. It was more of a ‘vacation’ for the kids and a ‘trip’ for the parents if you know what I mean! My husband and I were exhausted by the time we checked out. It’s constant noise, watching kids near the water, fun, swimming, snacks, and did I already say constantly watching the kids?!?!

Although we didn’t get to venture outside, it looked like there was lots to do when the weather gets warmer. It was a terrific weekend. It was a little on the pricey side, but we were lucky enough to have a gift card that my parents had given us for Christmas. **Early Christmas suggestion–when asked, “What do you want for Christmas this year?” suggest that your family members to go in on a gift card to Great Wolf Lodge. We really appreciated it, and we’ll always have the memories!