You know how some days just happen? That was us last weekend. We had these seasonal free tickets for Mt. Olympus Water Park that we'd been meaning to use, and with June finally here, we figured – why not today?
The Drive (And Why We Almost Turned Around)
The drive from Milwaukee to the Dells is usually pretty chill – about an hour and a half of decent roads and okay scenery. But man, was it HOT. Like, stupidly hot. The kind of heat where you're questioning your life choices before you've even left the driveway.
Meera, our 1.5-year-old, was actually being pretty good in her car seat, which felt like a minor miracle. This was her first real outing since she got back from India, and honestly, I was a little nervous about how she'd handle a full day out. But there we were, committed to the adventure.
Straight to the Indoor Park (Because We're Not Crazy)
The second we parked and rushed inside the park, coordinated with the friends already arrived but it was so damn hot outside, we basically sprinted to the indoor water park after I bought a waterproof mobile pouch from one of the gift store inside. Outside felt like walking into an oven, and with a toddler in tow, that indoor, air-conditioned paradise was calling our names.
Last year when we came here, I went all out – upgraded the tickets, did every ride, the whole nine yards. This time? Yeah, that wasn't happening. When you're chasing around a 1.5-year-old, your priorities shift real quick. It's less about maximizing every dollar spent and more about just... surviving the day without any meltdowns (hers or mine).
Toddler Life at a Water Park
Let me tell you, experiencing a water park through toddler eyes is something else. Meera was absolutely mesmerized by everything – the splash areas, the kiddie slides, even just watching other kids run around. We spent most of our time in the little kids' section, and you know what? It was actually perfect. Of course initially she was hesitant of everything, was cranky and and crying when we took her to the water but gradually she picked up and did not want to come out of the water.
The small rides that would probably bore me to tears? She thought they were the most amazing things ever invented. Watching her face light up on those tiny rides was honestly better than any roller coaster I've ever been on.
For food, we kept it simple – fries and chicken wings from one of the snack stands. Nothing fancy, but when you're dealing with a hungry toddler and tired parents, sometimes simple is exactly what you need. Plus, it's food you can eat one-handed while keeping an eye on a wandering toddler.
Friends Make Everything Better (Even the Chaos)
Having our friends along made such a huge difference. Extra adults means someone can grab the diaper bag while you chase after your kid, or take turns going on rides, or just having other people to laugh with when things get a little crazy. And let's be honest – things always get a little crazy when toddlers are involved.
We ended up staying until about 7 PM, which in toddler time is basically like staying until midnight. By then, Meera was hitting that point where everything was either the best thing ever or the worst thing ever – you know the stage.
The Dinner Mix-Up That Actually Worked Out
So here's where things got interesting. We planned to grab dinner at Dhaba Kitchen on the way home because, let's face it, nobody wants to cook after a full day at a water park. But somehow my friends thought I said Indian Dhaba Bistro, and they headed there instead.
As everyone already in that direction, few of us had to come back taking a different exit. But you know what? The food was incredible. Yeah, it was more expensive than I planned, but sometimes those unplanned moments turn out to be the best part of the day.
By the time we finished eating, Meera was completely knocked out in her stroller. Poor kid was exhausted.
The Drive Home (And Some Real Talk)
We finally left the restaurant around 10 PM, which felt ridiculously late for a family with a toddler. But the drive home was actually kind of nice – Meera slept the whole way, and there's something peaceful about driving through Wisconsin at night after a full day of family chaos.
Got home around 11, and I was dead tired, but it was that good kind of tired. You know, the kind where you're exhausted but happy.
Why This Day Was Actually Perfect
Look, I'm not going to lie and say everything went smoothly. There were moments of toddler frustration, some parental stress, and that whole dinner mix-up situation. But that's kind of what made it real and memorable.
This trip reminded me that family adventures don't have to be Instagram-perfect to be amazing. Sometimes the best days are the messy ones where you just roll with whatever happens. Mt. Olympus was great for what we needed – a place where a toddler could be a toddler, parents could relax (sort of), and everyone could have fun without too much pressure.
Summary
Milwaukee to Dells - 1.5 hr drive one way
Park: Mt Olympus
Parking available at the park entrance - $40 for the whole day
Tickets - We got the free tickets but if you buy these are $33 per individual(if you will buy at gate then its $38) + $6 to upgrade to all the rides
Food and Beverages - No outside food and drinks allowed but if you have a kid, diaper bags and kids food are allowed. So you know what you can do 😊
With a toddler or Baby - Take your stroller, it will save your whole lot of energy and you can carry everything in your stroller space
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