Holiday World and Splashin' Safari in Santa Claus, Indiana: A Treat for Your Family!

Do you live near southern Indiana and want a fun weekend getaway that won't drain your wallet? Do you enjoy amusement parks but hate the lines? Then you should consider a trip to Holiday World and Splashin' Safari in Santa Claus, Indiana.

I first visited Holiday World (or Santa Claus Land as it was then known) with my family and grandparents back in the '70s and loved it then. Now that I have kids of my own, I have been privileged to visit three times again. And it's bigger and better than ever! I was thrilled to find some of the attractions from the '70s still there (the nursery rhyme figures and the train). Deja vu is a good thing ...

Why do I love this place so? Hmmm, where to begin ... well, from the time you enter the park, you notice how clean and well-maintained it is. From the beautifully-tended flower gardens everywhere to the omnipresent neatly-dressed employees sweeping the walkways, you'll find no litter or trash in this place.

There are many rides, beginning with a special area for little kids (my 18 month old had several rides appropriate for her), with a small merry-go-round, ball pit, flying airplanes, etc. There are also intermediate-type rides, and then of course for the adults the Raven and the Legend roller coasters - both of which have been recognized as some of the best wooden roller coasters in the nation.

The employees are very friendly. They are all neatly dressed in colored polo shirts and khaki shorts, and must be well-trained because I was greeted with smiles and offers of help throughout the day.

Holiday World is much smaller than Disney World, or even a Six Flags/King's Island park. And honestly, with young children, I saw this as a plus. The park can easily be "done" in one day and we were able to stroll at a leisurely pace. In my opinion, it's just the right size for a family with children in the 2-8 age range.

A neat perk is the free soft drink huts located throughout the park. It's wonderful to stop in for a cool drink whenever you need one, without worrying about shelling out yet more hard-earned vacation cash.

There are several shows to watch, from the musical type to a diving show to readings by Santa Claus (year-round; hey, it's not called Holiday World for nothing!). These are not of the highest professional quality, but they are relatively good and relaxing. One improvement that could be made is a renovation of the Holiday Theater, where the main musical show is performed. This building has been around since I first visited 30 years ago and is showing its age with sagging ceiling tiles inside.

Holiday World, located in southwest Indiana, can be a hot and humid destination. I will have to say though, that our last two visits were in June and were really quite comfortable temperature-wise. The previous visit in late July was pretty sticky. I also noticed that the park was much less crowded in early June than in late July, so if you want a more pleasant experience you may want to plan a May/June visit. Even in July though, ride lines were not at all bad, compared to larger theme parks - we never waited more than 10 minutes for a ride.

Adjacent to Holiday World is Splashin' Safari Water Park. A family could easily spend a day here, although with three young children one day at both combined was enough for us. The park advertises specials where a 2nd day ticket can be purchased for around $17. Splashin' Safari has a special perk also - free sunscreen, located in large pumps around the pools. Again, this park has a wide variety of attractions for the littlest toddler (Crocodile Island wading pool) to the more adventurous adults.

After visiting Holiday World, I find myself wondering why I keep dreaming of a trip to Disney. With its cleanliness, friendliness, and short lines, I have a feeling that if my family ever does make it to Disney, I'll be disappointed in some ways. I've recommended Holiday World to many other families with young kids and no one has been disappointed yet. Try it for your next theme park adventure with your family!