Metropolis Resort Chaos Waterpark #Staycation

It's winter.

It's Minnesota.

Normally, that's not a terrible thing.

We live through it each year, a little tougher, stronger...

This year, this year feels like the exception.

Temps below zero, wind chills FAR below zero.

and it feels like it started months ago, with no end in sight!

Aye aye AYE!

Add in that this guy is celebrating SEVEN...

And well...

What to do, what to do?

Well, a Staycation of sorts...

to none other than 

Metropolis Resort in Eau Claire Wisconsin!

Now, it's not technically a Staycation, but we can get there in under 2 hours, and there and back on a tank of gas, so...to us, it for sure is.

Knowing that it was very close to our son's birthday, 

the staff at Metropolis Resort surprised him with a door sign...

And a little treat bag waiting on one of the beds inside.

Ever since our first visit to Metropolis Resort back in 2010, 

I've wondered how we can pull off a birthday party for our kids here.

They have some super cool, PRIVATE party rooms...

in addition to filling a real niche that so far, hasn't been filled here where we live!

I'm hopeful that in the coming years, very very soon, we'll be ready to bring a couple of friends on the overnight excursion, versus holding the 3 hour birthday party.

Metropolis Resort is just the place for that!

We started off our visit with some Monkey in the Middle Pizza.

One of the things I love about this place is that once you get there, you do not need to leave.

Monkey in the Middle, The Pub, Dairy Queen/Orange Julius...all right on site!

Then it was time for some relaxing in the lazy river!

Our kids are old now though...and while lazy rivers are fun...

There is a whole world waiting for their big kid selves...

And they literally, RUN, not walk - from here to there to everywhere.

Like this straight up and down slide?

Um. No.

Mama Bear puts her foot down and says no green slide right now.

There are plenty of other super fun things to do.

No. Green. Slide!

Tube rides?

Those you can do.

All. Day. Long.

Our kids had a blast swimming in Chaos Waterpark, which has been recently renovated.

A brief overview of the renovations recently completed at Chaos Waterpark:

-New paint and coverings for all feature and fixtures

-Newly painted and re-themed birthday party rooms

-New upgrade to HVAC system and plumbing to increase air and water temperature

-New UV Filtration System to significantly improve air quality and decrease chlorine usage

And after literally closing the water park down at 10 pm, the kids quickly changed out of their swim wear, and headed to the other side of the Resort to spend some time in Action City.

Where they are tall enough to do it all.

YAY!

EXCEPT, the go carts - but I don't think their Dad minds doing the driving!

We had some fun family competition on various games...

And some sibling competition too!

I love that this place doesn't just cater to the children - it also caters to some of us adults, 

who can use a little R&R and/or pick me up too!

I think this kiddo enjoyed celebrating his birthday at Metropolis Resort - even if it was just with his family.

And it was a great place for the rest of us to get out of the cold and enjoy some fun in the make shift sun!

And now, we must rest from our vacation!

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*** While Metropolis Resort surprised our son with some Birthday perks, including picking up the tab for the cost of the hotel room, we paid for our own Action City passes, food and other amenities during our stay at Metropolis Resort. The above opinions and pictures are mine, and mine alone. ***

If you can't stand the heat...Metropolis Resort!

Last winter, my family & I took a pretty awesome 'vacation' - or staycation really, as we traveled just 90 miles down the road...

We had every intention of getting back there, but the hours fly by into days which fly by into weeks...AND, this has been an impossibly hot summer, throwing us heat indexes of up over 100 degrees for days on end.

We have thick skin up here in the 'Nort - but thick skin doesn't help you when you feel like you are choking on the humidity! What can you do...what can you do...this is summer...

What can you do??

Metropolis Resort!
That's what! What a perfect time to get back there...
but there was still the looming question...

Our little guy was tall enough for everything he wanted to do last time...

EXCEPT...the bumper cars!
Drum roll please...

I now present you...our just tall enough boy!
YAY!

He had a BLAST on the bumper cars...
going again and again and again!

this folks, is where that unlimited Action City play card comes in...
I've told you all about it before - $25.00 for unlimited play (ages 5 & under are FREE with a paid adult...)

Sure, you can't do everything, like, the ticketed games...but really...
Do you want to spend all that money to earn tickets to pick out a *prize* anyway?

Unlimited Laser Tag, Bowling, Go Garts, Bumper Cars, tons of different video games, air hockey, rock climbing, the wild outdoor maze - There is PLENTY to do with an unlimited action city card!

One of the things I really wanted to do was check out the infamous LOCKER ROOM~

(Secret hint: If you like Metropolis on Facebook, on days that they don't sell out this cool room, you will see them posting special rates for it and you can snag up this room that sleeps 20 for a great great price!)

Anyhoo - I asked the nice gals at the front desk after we checked in, if we could possibly sneak a peek at this room if the occupants of THAT room hadn't checked in yet...and she happily obliged!

The kids wasted no time checking out the bunk beds...


I had visions of booking this room for just my family and each of us having OUR OWN BED!

::Heaven::


It really was as cool as it looks on their website -
in room games to keep the kids going going going...
(Without us having to go go go go go after them!)


and a super long counter space to feed the troops after a long day in Chaos Water Park and/or Action City!

FUN!

I totally have visions of booking this for a birthday soon!
The weather was hot and muggy and sticky and well, gross...

While we didn't want to spend all day long outdoors ~ it wasn't so bad getting out and playing a few rounds of Mini Golf! (included in the unlimited pass card mentioned above!)



They had a great time...shouting 'hole in 7!' HA!
(Like Father like Son!)


When it got too sticky for us outside, we headed back inside...



Oh how they love challenging themselves, and each other, on the Rock Climbing Wall!

And cooling off with a refreshing treat from the DQ...right. on. site!

In the evenings, Metropolis Resort fires up a gorgeous fire pit and has S'Mores!

That was a special treat!



They also offer outdoor movies and scavenger hunts too in the evenings here! How does one fit it all in!

Just like last time, the Go Carts were a family favorite -

We even let Daddy do some of the Speed Rounds alone while we cheered him on! (some races are family friendly, some are just for the 'big kids')

H and Daddy practicing their Dance Moves!

After playing a couple hundred indoor games... and swimming, floating along the lazy river and a little bit of hot tubbin' -

It was back outside for a new challenge...
An A.MAZE.ing MazE!
ACK!

It really was as hard (and fun!) as it looks!

There were 14 stations inside this maze, each with a different paper punch - punch all 14 spots and redeem inside for prizes! (Even though this was included in our Action City unlimited card, they still reward your efforts with tickets for completing this maze! awesome!)

All in all, a GREAT weekend - Even though it was hot and humid OUTSIDE, we were able to spend two nights away from home, laughing, playing, swimming, laser tagging, bowling, bumper car'ing, and eating s'mores and ice cream...

Don't you just love family vacations that truly are fun for everyone?

It's official, Metropolis Resort is a great place for families in all seasons!



*** A huge thank you to Metropolis Resort for providing my family with a gift certificate to off set some of the costs of our weekend stay to facilitate this summer season review. The words and opinions are my own, and it should be obvious by the pictures we took, that our family had a GREAT time! ******