The Best Midwest Amusement Parks for Children 5 & Under

In our Midwest-based home, there are few things better than an amusement park in the summer. But trekking through an amusement park with young children can seem daunting. And you want to make sure it's a family vacation, after all - with a little something for everyone to enjoy. Fortunately, there are many amusement parks in the Midwest that offer plenty of fun for even the smallest members of your family.

Holiday World & Splashin' Safari (Santa Claus, IN)

This family-owned amusement park is a Hoosier favorite, which many consider to be a perfect blend of exciting amusement park and old-style Hoosier hospitality. The park provides unlimited free soft drinks and free sunscreen for all of its guests - a big plus for parents. Many of the children's rides have no minimum height requirement, just a maximum height requirement of 54". Although Holiday World does offer a lot of grown-up fun, it's definitely a family fun park overall. Bumper boats and flying planes make great fun for little kids. And when the family is ready to cool down, a move to Splashin' Safari offers a variety of safe and exciting activities for all ages.

Splashin' Safari offers plenty of crazy water rides for big kids and grown-ups, and plenty of safe splashin' fun for kids. Crocodile Isle is specifically for kids under 54", with animal-themed water slides for your littlest children. Several other water activities are available without height restrictions, including the wave pool, Monsoon Lagoon and the lazy river.

Paramount's King's Island (Mason, OH)

King's Island is a good place to go if you want fun activities for you and your kids, as it has a great balance of both. The park does, after all, feature The Beast, the world's longest wooden roller coaster. There are several other impressive coasters for grown-ups and big kids, but the park makes certain to include family rides, as well. Dodgem bumper cars, the Scrambler, the Viking Fury ship and Thunder Alley go-carts are fun for kids and adults.

But if your little ones aren't ready for the bigger rides at all, King's Island has you covered with its Planet Snoopy amusement park for kids. Most of the rides in the Planet Snoopy area have a height requirement of only 36"; pretty easy for most toddlers to meet. Little ones can enjoy a watery maze on hot days, a circular swing ride, Snoopy-themed bumper carts and much more. And don't forget - visitors to King's Island can enjoy all the aquatic fun of Boomerang Bay Water Park. Boomerang Bay features several water play areas designed specifically for little ones, including the Wallaby Wharf, Koala Splash and Kangaroo Lagoon attractions.

Six Flags St. Louis (Eureka, MO)

As Six Flags website says, "Thrill seekers come in all sizes". That's why the park offers 22 Looney Tunes and DC Comic-themed rides just for little ones, many with no height requirement as long as an adult goes along. Many other "family" rides allow kids to ride with adults, too, like the Log Flume and Turbobungy.

The Hurricane Harbor Water Park is also family-friendly. Apart from the children's water play area, Hurricane Harbor offers a huge wave pool, five-person raft ride and much more. The website is also helpful, listing water rides as mild, moderate or "max" to help with planning based on your child's age and temperament.

Cedar Point Amusement Park (Sandusky, OH)

Cedar Point is most famous for its wild and crazy selection of coasters. As roller coaster lovers, my husband and I don't consider Cedar Point a park for kids; when we go to Cedar Point, we leave the kids with grandma and ride the coasters 'til we can barely walk. But in the spirit of fairness, many families do take their children to Cedar Point, and there is plenty for them to do. There are four children's areas with appropriate rides in the park: Camp Snoopy, Planet Snoopy, Kiddy Kingdom and the Gemini Children's Area. Since Cedar Point is known mainly for its coasters, any child under 48" is only $19.99, which is quite a bargain in terms of amusement park admission.

Cedar Point also features a water park, the aptly named Soak City. Soak City offers a wide variety of water-based activities, many of which are perfect for children. Guests who don't meet height requirements are generally required to wear a life jacket.

Information obtained on June 8, 2010 at:

http://www.visitkingsisland.com/public/park/index.cfm

http://www.holidayworld.com/rides/water-rides

http://www.sixflags.com/stLouis/rides/KidsRides.aspx

http://www.cedarpoint.com/