We are "vacationing at home" this year and would like to do some different activities that we don't always have time for on the weekends. I have seen advertisements for Mayan Adventure Indoor Water park in Elmhurst and another that I can't remember the name of in Arlington Heights. Has anyone been to either of these or wish to recommend a water park that would be appropriate for a 2 year old?
We went with Coco Key Water Resort in Arlington Heights. I have high praise for the water park itself. They had plenty of life jackets that were very good quality available. The park is very clean and the lifeguards are very (almost too) attentive to the kids. There's men's and women's locker rooms as well as a family locker room and they are very clean and even come equipped with plastic bags to store your wet swim suits. If you are planning a day trip, you won't be disappointed. Great fun for all ages from infant to adult. We stayed overnight at the attached Sheraton and I was less than impressed with the hotel. We requested a King bed, although we arrived early and they said we could check in immediately if we would take a room with 2 double beds (we did). The furniture was not in good condition, the bathroom was completely outdated and in general, everything but the lobby had a very "industrial" feeling to it. I felt like I was at the YMCA rather than a hotel. The hotel indoor pool (not Coco Key) was actually depressing. There was not a table for us to eat at (we ordered room service and it came on a tray, not a roll cart) so we balanced on the end table and desk. Also, no safe in the room to store wallets/purses, etc. and no refrigertor. I don't know if a different style of room would have better suited our needs/wants, but this wasn't to our liking. If none of the above about the room is important to you, it's not a bad price for the luxury of 2 full days in the waterpark (hotel guests can use the park from opening to closing the day you check in and the day you check out).
Check out
Its about 2.5 hours away from chicago and you could easily do one night there and come home the next the place is fantastic!
We have been to the Arlington Heights one (Coco Key) and it was a blast. The only bad thing for us was that we went on Spring break and it was so busy. There is a cool kiddie pool. If you check out their website http://www.cocokeywaterresort.com/Locations/arlingtonhts/... you will get a layout of the place. This is the only waterpark we have been too and we liked it (although my son is almost 5 and is a good swimmer). They have really good life jackets for kids to use their.
Have fun whatever you decide
We went to the one in Elmhurst (Mayan something) and had a lot of fun. There is a special kids only area, but our 3 year-old loved it all, except the "river." There are two slides and they are WAY to fast for little ones! They have a nice option of a 1/2 day pass for around $20/person so it was reasonable. We really enjoyed ourselves but I have heard the one in Gurnee is better. Have fun!
There's also the new place in Gurnee, Key Lime Cove. Expensive, but more like the Dells resort experience with all the bells and whistles. You could also look into the water park near Starved Rock. The state parks (starved rock and matthieson) are gorgeous and you could do some hiking outdoors as well as the water park thing. That water park looks smaller, but it's less expensive than some and very close to the state park. And for a 2 year old, small is probably just fine!
