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TOP AMUSEMENT PARKS & PLAYGROUNDS FOR KIDS

Yerba Buena Gardens, San Francisco, California

Riverside Park, New York, New York

Storybook Island Park, Rapid City, South Dakota

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OHIO

Kalahari Resorts (locations in Ohio, Wisconsin and most recently, Virginia)

This Ohio resort offers two surfing simulator rides, water coaster, lazy river, bowl ride, wave pool, body slides, tube slides, raft rides, interactive water play structure, activity pools, and indoor/outdoor whirlpool saunas.

OREGON

Enchanted Forest (8462 Enchanted Way SE, Turner, Oregon)

This park has an area designated as storybook land and lots of kiddie rides, along with the Big Timber Log Ride, the biggest log ride in the northwest, for older kids. The park also has areas for families to picnic, plus the famous Fantasy Fountains water-and-light show.

Admission: $10 for adults; $9 for children; free for children under 2

PENNSYLVANIA

Great Wolf Lodge (Pocono Mountains, PA; see website for other locations)

Great Wolf Lodge is North America's largest indoor waterpark resorts. Besides the waterparks, there are themed restaurants, interactive arcades, full service spas (and even a version for kids!), and fitness centers.

Hershey Park (100 W. Hersheypark Drive, Hershey, PA)

The Park is filled with great family fun, including the roller coasters and water rides. Hersheypark offers "Chocolate Currency" in $1, $5, and $10 denominations. Don't forget to buy some Chocolate Currency and save it as a fun souvenir of your trip (or use it as cash within Hershey park).

Admission: Buy your tickets online! One-day admission: $52.95 for adults; free for children under 2

Idlewild Park (Route 30 East, Ligonier, Pennsylvania)

This park has been named by Amusement Today as the second best kids' park in the world. It is divided into seven themed areas—the two most popular are Olde Idlewild and Mister Roger's Neighborhood of Make-Believe. There is also a turn-of-the-century mining town and the Jumpin' Jungle, a shaded play area with ropes, ladders, nets, and slides.

Admission: $29 for adults and children 2 and older; free for children under 2

Sesame Place (100 Sesame Road, Langhorne, PA)

Sesame Place has lots of whirling rides, water slides, colorful shows & furry friends from Sesame Street.

SOUTH DAKOTA

Storybook Island (1301 Sheridan Lake Road, Rapid City, South Dakota)

Storybook Island is an eight-acre family theme park with live theater performances and over 140 fairy-tale sets. The fairy-tale sets include themes from old nursery rhymes as well as newer sets from Disney movies and cartoons. Bonus: Storybook Island Children's Theatre.

Admission: Free

TENNESSEE

Wilderness at the Smokies in Tennessee (also check out Wilderness at the Dells in Wisconsin)

Wilderness at the Smokies is a NEW full-service resort that offers something for everyone, including: The Smokies' premier all-season indoor waterpark, two outdoor waterparks(seasonal), arcades, restaurants and shops.

WASHINGTON

PLAYGROUNDS

Powell Barnett Playground (352 Martin Luther King Jr. Way)

Powell Barnett has unique toys for kids to spin, twirl, twist, and whirl. There's a tricycle road maze, a two-story slide and a spider-web climber. The park's play structures were created by Kompan, a Danish company renowned for its modern and innovative playground equipment.

Warren G. Magnuson Park Playground (7400 Sand Point Way NE)

The Seattle Parks Department refers to this playground as the Emerald City's "crown jewel." At 20,000 square feet the park offers a stunning view of Mount Rainier. The "air, land, and sea" playground was designed partly by children and built entirely by volunteers. It has three large climbing structures, one designated specifically for toddlers.

Cal Anderson Park (West 11th Avenue and Howell Street)

This playground, opened in September 2005 on top of the Lincoln Reservoir, was covered after 9/11 due to safety concerns. Its mammoth fountain sprays water from the reservoir below. The park also offers a bouncy play surface, fun lounge-chair swings, and ride-on toys.

THEME PARKS AROUND THE WORLD

HELLO KITTY Tokyo

PINOCCHIO PARK Tuscany

Pinocchio Park,inaugurated in 1956, created by artists, traces the Adventures of Pinocchio through the many sculptures, mosaics, and buildings set amidst the greenery.

DISNEYLAND PARISParis

daily scoop

February 07, 2012

Set sail with Mickey Mouse on the new Disney Dream cruise.Features inlcude: children-only pools, clubs, and Goofy's Sports Deck and the first ever on-ship water-coater ride. Boat also stops at Disney's Private Island. More >>

Does you child have food allergies? Check out AllergyEats.com - this site locates nearby restaurants to accommodate your kid's food allergy. Download app from website. More >>

Citistroller App for the iPhone/iPad offers more than 700 baby-and kid-gear retailers, stroller-friendly public transport, diaper-change stations, and nursing spots. Fully optimized for Boston and NYC.

For the wine lover Check out Lot18.com for flash sales of high-end, hard-to-find wine, up to 60% off. Salute! Kanpai! More >>

Why are celebrities raving about Viviscal? Try this strand-boosting supplement for shinier, thicker locks. Read more about Viviscal. More >>