Bigger is definitely better when it comes to lots of stuff (namely bank accounts, wine inventory, and closets) and the same rule applies to water parks, actually (just ask your kids) which is why you'll want to check out a record-breaking huge one that's just 90 miles away.
You may have already visited (or at least heard about) the gargantuan African-themed Kalahari Resort in the Poconos, a kinda' man-made marvel with 100,000 square feet of indoor water fun including (of course) slides galore, a FlowRider wave generator for stand-up surfing and bodyboarding, a lazy river, and a retractable roof that turns the place open-air in the warm weather months. But get ready for more. Phase II, which is scheduled to be completed in early March, will bring the park to a crazy 220,000 square feet, making it the largest indoor water park in the world, even bigger (and better!) than Kalahari's fabled behemoth of a park in Sandusky, Ohio.
The expansion will also more than double the number of existing rooms and suites at the property's hotel, bringing the total to 1,000, so booking a little overnight winter getaway shouldn't be a problem. They'll also be expanding the arcade to 40,000 feet (that's a lot of games) and look for a super-cool virtual reality arena to open next. And if you're worried you'll be relegated to snack bar fare and Chuck E. Cheese-style pizza during a stay there, don't be: There are three brand-new restaurants opening in March too, including the swanky steakhouse the Doublecut Charcoal Grill and Sortino's Italian Kitchen, focused on giving old-school Italian dishes a modern spin. And, if the water park excitement gets to be a bit too much and you want to leave the kids in the hands of that other perfectly capable parent you brought along with you, there's also a day spa complete with a roster of amenities like hydro-jetted whirlpools, an herbal-infused steam room, and something called a multi-sensory experiential shower. Now that's our kind of water park.
Kalahari, 250 Kalahari Blvd., Pocono Manor, PA
