It’s been a long winter and when I say long, I mean lllllloooooonnnnngggg. Did I mention the brutal below zero temperatures and wind gust up to 50mph? Yes, winter in Michigan has taken its toll on many families, including mine so when we had the opportunity to get away to 80 degree temperatures and only have to travel 90 minutes from home, we JUMPED at the chance. With the promise of warmth and fun, we headed south into Ohio to visit the Kalahari Resort & Spa in Sandusky, Ohio and am I glad we did!
This was our first visit to Kalahari Sandusky, home to America’s largest indoor waterpark (the size of more than 3.5 football fields). I can honestly say that it will not be our last. The resort is mammoth and you know from the minute you pull into the parking area that you are about to embark on an adventure. The theme begins outdoors, with African design on the outside and tube slides that twist and turn from the inside to the outside and back in again. The kids could not contain their excitement as we pulled in to the valet and were greeted by the helpful Kalahari staff members. We arrived on a Sunday afternoon and could tell the resort was bustling with fellow guests trying to escape the bitter cold. Despite the crowds, the check in process was fairly quick and we were able to start exploring. The lobby area is home to many of the treasures of Kalahari. There are multiple gift shops selling everything from toiletries to Kalahari goods and stuffed animals of all kinds.
Our favorite lobby hot spot was the Candy Hut, which featured hand scooped ice cream, decadent candy coated caramel apples and handmade chocolates. We made sure to grab some goodies to bring home as it’s a perfect treat!
The lobby area was beautiful, with many places to sit and relax, and a giant window allowing guests to get their first look at the enormous indoor waterpark below. There are African themed artifacts and giant animal statues providing great photo opportunities. Want to see and get up close to real animals? In the lobby we were fortunate enough to have our family photo taken with a baby Cougar named Gunner. Such an awesome moment!
With five of us traveling, we were so pleased to find our accommodations to be very spacious, with enough room for all of us to be comfortable. When we entered our 2-bedroom family suite, we were so excited to see two bathrooms, two separate sleeping areas and a fireplace. There was ample counter space, a small refrigerator and wet bar area that was perfect for traveling with the kids. Kalahari has well-appointed guest rooms with beautiful African decor. Guests of Kalahari have a variety of rooms to choose from, including suites with up to 10 bedrooms. Despite the luxury of the resort, guests were perfectly at home walking around in flip flops and swimwear as they made their way from the waterpark to their rooms and back.
The dining at the resort is fantastic. We were able to try out three of the dining choices within the resort during our stay and enjoyed everything we had. The boys would say they loved the frozen yogurt and toppings they were able to fill their cups with the best. Since we spent both days inside the waterpark, we ate lunch there and had excellent service. The resort offers cabana rentals which we highly recommend. In the cabana is comfortable seating, a refrigerator, television and more. You also get a personal server and ours made our day even more fabulous. She was attentive and really got to know our family. It was a true highlight of our time there. We never had to worry about waiting in line for our food or having to leave the fun to go get something to eat. For dinner, we went up to the Reserve at Kalahari. The service and food was amazing and so much attention to details! The kids loved the “kids only” buffet and free arcade cards they got with their dinner. We enjoyed resting from an afternoon at the waterpark and I loved not having to get into the car to find somewhere to go for dinner. Kalahari offers everything you need so we never had to venture back out into the cold. The breakfast buffet at the Great Karoo Marketplace was delicious. The kids especially loved the smoothies! We were never at a loss for great food and the resort offers wonderful options for everyone.
Another superb feature that Kalahari Sandusky has to offer is Spa Kalahari & Salon. This relaxing retreat offers an escape from the hustle and bustle of the resort and waterpark for everyone in your family. Adults can enjoy a variety of treatments, while kids age 3 and up can get pampered at Spa Kalahari Junior. The staff at Spa Kalahari & Salon was fantastic and made the experience very special for me and my mom. When we arrived, we were given plush robes to wear and a quiet place to relax while we waited for our treatments to begin. My mom opted for a facial and pedicure, while I relaxed with a massage and pedicure. They were fabulous! We were so fortunate to experience the luxury during our visit and plan to make it a part of all of our Kalahari stays. With treatments ranging from massage, skin care, nail care and more, it is a wonderful way to relax, especially when your kids keep you running all day!
The big main attraction for Kalahari Resorts is the expansive waterpark. Kalahari in Sandusky boasts America’s largest indoor waterpark and when I say it’s big, I mean big! We spent 4 hours there on Sunday and 7 hours on Monday and we still didn’t want to leave. Besides enjoying the 80 degree temperatures, we found so many things to love about the waterpark and everyone in our family had a different favorite.
When you first check in to the waterpark area, there are locker rooms with changing facilities, showers and lockers to rent. From there you go right into the massive waterpark where a 12,000sq ft wave pool and slides galore await. Everything from an uphill water coaster, mat slides, a lazy river and raft rides can be experienced safe and warm from the bitter winter cold. The lazy river was a favorite of ours as we relaxed through tunnels and waterfalls that are themed perfectly to the African resort. My husband and I raced the kids down the Cheetah Racers mat slide and cheered the boys as they raced each other across the rope bridge. With so many things to experience, we all felt like kids.
One ride in particular took our family to a new level of fun; The Flowrider, a boogie board ride where 50,000 gallons of water per minute shoot up to create a 5 foot wave! Yes, I rode it….seriously….a lot! We had a private family lesson and I was very apprehensive. However, our lifeguard instructors were Anthony and Tera and they were fantastic. They were patient and so helpful and helped even a scared mom like me have a blast and try something I would not have tried otherwise. The private lesson is SOOO worth it! The boys were all excited (husband included) and were quick to follow the lifeguards lead and leap into the waves. Me? Well, it took me a few minutes to get up the nerve but I am so glad I did. It was a highlight of our entire trip. If you are going to do one thing for your family while you are there, do this! Book a private lesson and enjoy the alone time on the Flowrider! It was amazing.
What do you do after an hour of boogie boarding? You relax in one of the two indoor/outdoor hot tubs! Imagine relaxing in a bubbling tub of hot water and then swimming through an opening and being outside in the brisk air – all while still submerged. Pure bliss! The kids loved having “frosty” hair. When it was finally time to say goodbye to the waterpark, the kids made us promise we would return. I have to admit…I had just as much fun as they did (if not more!) The waterpark at Kalahari is unlike any other. With so many options, this resort is a true multi-day travel destination for every member of the family.
Sounds like there is a lot to do at Kalahari Resort & Spa, doesn’t it? Well, I am not done. Really…there is more! If you take the staircase or elevator from the lobby to the lower level, you are dropped right into the middle of FUN! Kalahari offers “dry” fun for all ages. There is the Big Room Arcade with video games, bowling and so many claw games you are sure to come away with a prize and the black-lit Madagascar Mini Golf was huge hit with our kids. The resort offers Pottery Pizzazz and Treetop Play Area where kids kick off their shoes for climbing and sliding fun. An added bonus? The staff holds craft and activity times throughout the day. We seriously ran out of time to experience it all. (Since it was winter, we were unable to experience the outdoor offerings but we did our research for next time when the boys plan to hit the outdoor ropes course and zip line.)
Our visit to Kalahari was just what our family needs to rejuvenate and beat the winter blues. From the amazing staff to the beautiful room, we were spoiled. More importantly, we were together…having fun and that is what makes any trip worthwhile. If you are looking for something to do, take a peek at what Kalahari Resorts has to offer. With three locations to choose from, Kalahari is a true family vacation destination where fun and family are the top priority!
For more information about Kalahari Resorts visit their website at http://www.kalahariresorts.com
Kalahari Resort in Sandusky, Ohio: http://www.kalahariresorts.com/ohio
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kalahariresorts
Twitter: https://twitter.com/KalahariResorts
Kamy is a DreamMaker for DreamFinder Travel and a Authorized Disney Vacation Planner at www.doadreamvacation.com
Connect with her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/doadreamvacation and on Twitter at @MossMommy2.
If you are interested in traveling Kalahari or anywhere, please contact her at kamy@dreamfindertravel.net
Disclosure: As a contributing columnist for Mami of Multiples, Kamy Moss, was on a media review trip of the Kalahari Resort and Spa in Ohio, however, opinions expressed here are clearly her own.
What a great vacation destination. Will be adding it to my family’s must-do vacation list. Thanks!
That was a great family vacation. This is my first time reading about Kalahari Resort. thanks for sharing!
Wow! Que lugar tan espectacular, Nunca habia oido hablar de Kalamari. Las habitaciones muy grandes, acogedoras, y ordenadas, el parque es maravilloso, Tengo que ir a conocerlo, lo incuyo para las proximas vacaciones. Gracias por mostrarlo!
This vacation looks great. And the wave pool? Amazing.