| When I think of the term waterpark, visions of | | | | In his spirited independence, my son left our |
| Great Wolf Lodge, Busch Gardens, and Six Flags | | | | family inner-tube while we waded along the lazy |
| dance in my head. I envision yards and yards of | | | | river. He merrily swam off with some other kids. |
| splishing and splashing, so imagine my surprise | | | | Amongst the jubilant commotion of the river's |
| when I pulled up to the Chesapeake Beach | | | | waterfall, we were separated and couldn't see |
| Waterpark and peeped that it was actually the | | | | him. Oddly enough, neither of us jumped off the |
| size of a Brooklyn block (that's Brooklyn, NY, not | | | | inner-tube to find him because we didn't think he'd |
| Brooklyn, MD). Needless to say, it wasn't quite | | | | feel lost in the small water park. Unfortunately, he |
| what I had expected. | | | | did get scared after not being able to spot us, |
| Constructed in 1995, the waterpark serves as the | | | | however, that speaks more to the less rational |
| community's scaled-up pool area complete with | | | | thinking of a 6 year-old than it does to the actual |
| two large water slides, one of which uses an inner | | | | size of the park. |
| tube for its spiraling decent. There are six other | | | | The actual highlight of our trip to Chesapeake |
| smaller slides, a kiddie pool, fountains, a waterfall, | | | | Beach, MD turned out to be the drive. It was a |
| and a lazy river. | | | | peaceful excursion through Anne Arundel County |
| The entry fee for non-county residents over 48 | | | | down the never-ending route 2, Solomons Islands |
| inches is $18.00, and $16.00 under that. Two | | | | Rd into Calvert County, MD. Our drive took us |
| years and younger enjoy free admission. After | | | | past farms and large estate homes blessed with |
| 4pm the rates are cheaper at $8.00 and $7.00, | | | | acres of elbow room. Signs of "live crabs" and |
| respectively; however the park closes at 7. At a | | | | "fresh peaches and blackberries" partnered with |
| fraction of the cost of Six Flags, our family of | | | | shoulder-height corn fields and road-side produce |
| four (our toddler was free), payed $54 to splash | | | | stands made us feel like we were deeper south |
| around. | | | | than Maryland. |
| Though my six year old enjoyed himself | | | | Mom's Tip: Be sure to check your Six Flag-esque |
| immensely on the various slides, and my two | | | | expectations if you decide to travel to this sleepy |
| year old splashed himself to sleep, after a couple | | | | town's biggest attraction - it might not be quite |
| of hours, my oldest joined my husband's chorus | | | | what you expect. Structure your trip around |
| of "I'm ready to go". | | | | multiple activities. Plan some family beach time; |
| I can't complain too much as there was | | | | take a visit to the Railway Museum; stay at the |
| something charming to me about the waterpark's | | | | Chesapeake Beach Resort and Spa, perhaps; or |
| intimate setting. I didn't feel like I needed my cell | | | | enjoy a nice family dinner along the water. Your |
| phone to keep in touch with my husband or that | | | | trip, whether day or overnight, will feel more |
| my oldest would necessarily get lost if he got | | | | well-rounded and satisfying. |
| separated from us, which, of course, happened. | | | | |