In spite of its extreme cold weather, Michigan features an array of water-based recreational activities, including 11,000 inland lakes, 100 public beaches and a host of indoor water parks, many of which provide attached or nearby lodging options. Although the facilities are indoors, some water parks might close as a precautionary measure during inclement weather, such as blizzards or lightning storms.
Avalanche Bay Indoor Waterpark at Boyne Mountain Resort
Located in the northern region of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula, Avalanche Bay Indoor Waterpark at Boyne Mountain Resort (avalanchebay.com) is Michigan’s largest indoor water park, at 88,000 square feet. The park, modeled after a Swiss or Austrian mountain village, maintains a temperature of 84 degrees year-round. Attractions include a wave pool, vertical tube slides, a lazy river and hot springs. Boyne Mountain Resort offers a host of opportunities for lodging, skiing and golfing. Some nearby hotels provide water park packages.
Best Western Sterling Inn
The Best Western Sterling Inn (sterlinginn.com) lies in Sterling Heights, 22 miles north of Detroit. The 32,000-square-foot indoor water park features a lazy river, 110-foot-long slide, and play area with geysers, tipping buckets and kiddie slides. The park is typically open Thursday through Sunday, but might offer extended hours during holiday breaks. The park is reserved exclusively for hotel guests and is included with the cost of your room.
Bridge Vista Beach Hotel
Bridge Vista Beach Hotel (mackinaw-city.com) sits in Mackinaw City, on the northernmost point of Michigan’s Lower Peninsula. The hotel offers a 23,000-square-foot indoor water park, complete with a 250-foot lazy river, two three-story slides, four kiddie slides and a tower that dumps 500 gallons of water on unsuspecting visitors. Open daily, the pool is for hotel guests only and is free.
Double JJ Resort
Situated in Rothbury, along the Lower Peninsula’s western region, Double JJ Resort (doublejj.com) offers a golf course, horseback riding trails and the Gold Rush Indoor Waterpark. The 60,000-square-foot park features a four-person whitewater raft ride, towering slides, hot tubs and a multilevel fort spray ground with water cannons. Although the park is not connected to the hotel, a complimentary shuttle provides transportation between the two. Gold Rush is not included in the cost of your stay but is open to non-hotel guests. The park maintains a temperature of 84 degrees year-round.
Great Wolf Lodge
Great Wolf Lodge (greatwolf.com) lies in Traverse City, a waterfront town along the shores of Grand Traverse Bay in the northern area of the Lower Peninsula. The 39,000-square-foot indoor waterpark offers a host of activities, including jumbo whirlpool tubs, twin three-story slides, a three-person toboggan ride, and a four-story fort with cargo nets, suspension bridges and mounted water guns. The hotel does not provide water park access to unregistered guests. Water park passes are included in the cost of your stay.
Zehnder's Splash Village Hotel & Waterpark
Zehnder's Splash Village Hotel & Waterpark (zehnders.com) provides a host of attractions, including four-story tube slides, a lazy river and a splash zone play area for children. Open year-round, the park is included in the cost of your hotel stay and keeps a temperature of 82 degrees. The park offers swimming lessons and half- and full-day passes for the general public. Guests may reserve the private party room for birthday celebrations. The resort sits in Frankenmuth, 90 miles north of Detroit.