When the weather turns cold, indoor water parks are the place to be for families looking for an energy release. Fortunately, there are two nearby public parks: Silver Mountain’s Silver Rapids in Kellogg and Triple Play’s Raptor Reef in Hayden. These parks were built for kids, but make no mistake, parents benefit, too. Whether it’s catching some much-needed relaxation time while the kids play or fully immersing in the fun right along with them, these parks offer something for everyone.
>> Silver Rapids,
Silver Mountain Resort
Just a 45-minute drive east of Coeur d’Alene, Silver Mountain’s Silver Rapids is close enough to go for the day and far enough to make it a fun overnighter. On a recent family trip to the waterpark, we opted for the overnighter.
After we arrived and checked into the resort’s Morning Star Lodge, we immediately headed to the park. Olivia, 10, and Marlowe, 7, were about to burst during the short walk from our room to the park’s entrance. “It all starts now!” declared an eager Olivia. And with that, she flung open the door of Silver Rapids and marched in like a general leading her troop to battle.
It had been at least seven years since we last visited this water park. Then I was very pregnant with my youngest and spent most of the time on a lounge chair while my husband entertained 3-year-old Olivia.
Now we’re back, this time two kids in tow and a big-kid agenda.
I’m all in. Except, I quickly discover I’m not entirely prepared for the level of stimulation that greets us.
The sound of rushing water is intense, and it takes a while for me to adjust. We discover that part of what makes this place so loud is that every couple of minutes an enormous bucket tips and dumps 1,000 gallons of water on anyone standing under it. That and the collective sounds of happy screaming children are a lot for my ears to bear. But I endure.
The girls race over to the Crossing, which is basically a floating obstacle course. While they literally and figuratively get their feet wet on some of the milder activities, my husband and I hightail it to Trestle’s Surfside Bar.
Not surprising, this is the preferred spot for a lot of adults. While there is scattered seating around the park, the best viewing area is from this upper bar. It’s the easiest way to keep eyes on the kids no matter where they run off to. A waterpark with a bar and wide-open view of the action is genius, and we could have stayed here all evening, but we reminded each other that was not why we were here.
Still easing into our water adventure, we hit the hot tub while the girls alternated from the main play structure with the tipping water bucket to the obstacle course. We came together in the lazy river. There, we plotted our next move – the water slides.
There are five: two are geared toward toddlers, while the three others are for anyone taller than 47 inches.
Olivia and Dad trek up several flights of stairs to the Moose Sluice, a family raft ride, and the pièce de resistance we were all working up to.
I hang back with Marlowe, who isn’t quite ready, mostly because of the ride’s daunting appearance. The 6-foot round rafts are hoisted up a few floors at 90 degrees on a conveyor, making it seem like they might also drop at that degree. Instead, the raft glides down a gentler, yet exhilarating, slope.
It’s my turn to hit the slides, so my husband and Marlowe head to the Crossing and the Hoop Lagoon, while Olivia and I get in line for the faster-moving slides, Prosepector’s Plunge and Gold Rush.
Next up is the raft ride, which is tallest slide with the longest line, both of which add to the suspense. When we get to the front of the line, the gapping black hole looks ominous, and I briefly consider backing out. But it’s too late. We step into the raft and away we go, soaring down the dark tunnel until emerging seconds later into the light. It’s fast and fun, and we immediately get back in line to do it again.
When Marlowe spots a younger child getting off the raft, she takes one look at the boy and says “If he can do it, I can. Let’s go!”
She handles the slide like a pro. “Oh yeah,” she shouts when she gets to the bottom.
She grabs her sister and off they go to get back in line, leaving me in the dust.
Marlowe’s newfound confidence opens the rest of the time for solely riding the slides.
“I think we’ve unlocked the key to her fear,” Olivia whispers to me as she and her sister march away.
By this time, my husband and I are worn out and head back to the bar, where we are entertained by the indoor surfing activity Flow Rider.
It’s near closing time, and we had to call it, much to the kids’ dismay, and a little bit ours. At this stage and age in our lives, there aren’t many opportunities to act like a kid. And with so many daily life distractions, this was a welcomed family get-away.
“Funnest day ever!” Marlowe shouts as we leave.
Yes, it was.
>> Raptor Reef, Triple Play
Kids call it “toilet bowl” for a reason.
Raptor Reef’s main attraction is the Velociraptor Vortex, a water slide that dumps into a bowl where your raft swirls and spins before being dumped into another slide and finally spit out into the water.
It’s hard to envision all of this from looking at it. From the outside it resembles a massive funnel. On the inside, it’s a blast of a ride and it’s what keeps my kids coming back to the park.
I have been to Triple Play’s Raptor Reef more times than I can count since it’s so close to home, and I must admit this water ride is probably the most fun. I can say that from experience because I have ridden the slide.
Usually, my M.O. here is to sit in a lounge chair and watch the girls while catching up on email or sometimes chatting with a friend. I chose to sit it out on this trip, which came after our mini adventure at Silver Rapids.
I like Raptor Reef for its size. It’s more intimate than some of the other larger parks, which makes it a nice place for parents to kick back while their kids play. There isn’t a need to track their every move, which I like. And the kids really enjoy the independent play, as do I.
That doesn’t mean there isn’t a lot to do here. There are several slides, a toddler area and a wave pool. On this visit, the kids stuck to the slides with breaks in the wave pool where they enjoyed getting tossed around by the 3-foot waves. Whenever they needed a warmup, they hopped into the hot tub.
They could easily stay at the waterpark all day, but what I love about this park is that you don’t have to. It’s right in our backyard, so we can spend the day or go for an hour and then hop over to the “dry” side of Triple Play, which has tons of activities from arcade games to mini golf.
For those wanting to make it an overnighter, the resort offers lodging on site. Like Silver Rapids, you can tailor the experience to meet the entire family’s needs, which makes both parks a go-to, especially when the weather keeps you indoors. N
Story by Kristina Lyman