America's Largest Indoor Water Park ~ Kalahari Pocono MTns

"I was invited on an all- inclusive media trip in hopes of sharing my family's experience with my readers. No monetary compensation was given for my review and all opinions, stories & typos, 100% my own."

Did Spring break creep up on you this year?! Don't feel like splurging on airline tickets to that island in the tropics?! If you're located in the North East USA, I might have a fabulous alternative and it's only a short car ride away!

Kalahari Resort in the Pocono Mountains and it's NOW OPEN!

The sweetest part of all?! Kalahari Resort is the LARGEST INDOOR WATER PARK in the USA!

So pack up the family and head to the mountains this spring break! If the fact that your THAT close to the LARGEST indoor water park didn't convince you to get to packing, read on!

Kalahari Resort, owned and operated by the Nelson family, opened its doors on its third authentically African-themed resort in July 2015. Only half the size at that time, the resort extension project broke ground in April 2015, which allowed for construction to be completed within an 18-month time frame.

My family somehow hit the blogging media jackpot and was invited out to Kalahari Resort for their grand opening weekend (March 17th-19th) to see the newly finished project with a handful of other fabulous media folks!

Boasting 220,000 sq. ft. of true attraction space, the indoor waterpark now features eight new thrilling slides for those on the adventurous side, a wavepool to splash around in, an enhanced area for the little ones, an extended lazy river that is so large they needed a conveyor belt to connect it, and additional adult swim-up bars. As well as the waterpark expansion, the most recent phase of the resort includes: an additional 520 rooms and suites, bringing the total to nearly 1,000 on-site accommodations, two new full-service signature dining experiences, expanded dry-play, fitness amenities, and more.

America's Largest Indoor Waterpark also features a retractable roof, which I thought sounded pretty sweet for the summer time! You can also put your body boarding skills to the test as 50,000 gallons of water blast upward to create a 5-foot-wave for you on the FloRider. A perfect alternative for those curious on what it would feel like to hit the waves of the ocean without actually being on the ocean! The twists and turns of the Anaconda and Swahili Swirl waterslides are sure to give anyone a thrill as well!

The Kalahari expansion project included enhancing the children's area of the water park! Now instead of just one area for the little ones to waddle around, they have two play area options! Tiko's Watering Hole & Coral Cove!!! The little ones also have their very own lazy river designed just for those under 48"! For all kids under 48" life jackets are a must and Kalahari provides them at no additional charge.

Safe to say out of all the indoor water parks we have had the pleasure of splashing our days away at, Kalahari definitely has the biggest and coolest toddler splash area by far! So if you're like us and bringing little ones on the adventure, Kalahari would be my recommendation hands down! Just as much fun for the munchkins as it is for the bigger kids!

So who's in the mood for a cocktail ?? #LoveKalahari #AmericasLargest #PoconoMtns #hosted @KalahariResorts ????? . . . . . . . . . . #travel #travels #traveling #vacation #vacationmode #waterpark #water #adventure #Kalahari #wanderlust #familyvacation #trip #travelgram #vacationgram

A post shared by CourtneyLynne (@kourtneelynne) on Mar 19, 2017 at 6:28pm PDT

Not sure who was paying attention a few paragraphs up, but you might remember me mentioning additional SWIM UP BARS were part of the expansion! Can't swing a trip to that all-inclusive in the Caribbean? Kalahari has you covered with a their own swim up bar! Safe to say this was my favorite spot and even hubby's when he wanted to sneak away and catch a few of those March Madness games on tv without leaving the water!

The drinks were legit HUGE! The size of my freakn head! The best part is, buy a souvenir cup, fill it for life at half price! That's right, save the cup and bring it back next trip and those half price drink prices are locked in!

Are you at a water park, yet feel the need to have a private cabana with your own personal hot tub because you're about that baller life?!?! Kalahari has your back! Definitely on the extravagant side, but nice to know if I ever win the lotto, I could choose to watch the kiddo run and play from this sweet spot for an additional charge! If you're interested in basic cabanas, those are also available for an additional fee as well. I have always been a fan of personal cabanas on trips, so it was nice to see all the lavish options Kalahari had to offer for every budget and to have the chance to check them out up close on this trip!

Kalahari placed an emphasis on providing new dining experiences to guests during this expansion project. The resort now features:

• Double Cut Charcoal Grill — Kalahari’s signature steakhouse experience featuring: premium cuts of meat, craft cocktails, family style sides and more
• Sortino's Italian Kitchen — A new-age, red-sauced restaurant where old-school Italian cuisine meets the modern age. The menu will include: wood-fired pizza, Italian family dining, a large variety of wines and more
• Marrakesh Market — Grab-and-go convenient, bazaar-style shopping, unique gifts, authentic African items and everyday needs

We had the pleasure of dinning at Double Cut the evening we arrived! That evening just happened to be the restaurants Grand Opening so we were some of the very first people to try the new restaurant out! Short Rib Tacos as a starter & Filets for hubby and I and grilled cheese for the kiddo! Nice to see such a nice restaurant with a totally kid friendly kids menu! Props to Double Cut for knowing some of us have picky ones who want a plain ole sandwich over a deliciousness steak! After speaking to the owners daughter, who is also the resort interior designer on my grand tour of the resort, I was pleased to find out that all Kalahari dinning options, even the the more fancier looking places, are 100% kid friendly and no dress code. Come dine in whatever you feel like wearing and you will be welcomed with open arms and so will your child!

Our second night we decided to give the Ivory Coast Restaurant a try for dinner! We were bummed at first that our first dinning choice, the Marketplace Buffet had a huge wait. Yes, even being a VIP at a resort, you still have to wait in lines at things like buffets. There is no predicting those types of things. But boy was I happy that whole Buffet thing didn't work out once I was served my ontray at Ivory Coast! That Beef stir-fry above might not look like much to you, but however they make their stir-fry sauce... omg!!!! I'm a total foodie, so when I say something is good. It was GOOD! I will forever be craving that stir-fry sauce! Would it be weird if I called and asked the chef to send me a bottle?

Every Saturday, Kalahari surprises Kenya the elephant at a very special Character Breakfast at Brandberg complete with all his Character friends! It's truly a time to remember and was one of the highlights of the trip for my daughter! Family style dining, games, music, all building up to the moment when we surprise Kenya as he arrives for what he thinks is just another breakfast at Kalahari.

This is also your prime opportunity to spend time with all the Kalahari Characters all the while enjoying a delicious breakfast. Each character makes their rounds to each table for photo ops AND you can get a few epic dance floor candids with the characters as well!

Dance Party ?????You so wish you had our dance skillzzzzz ? ughhhh we already want to go back to Kalahari ?#LoveKalahari #AmericasLargest #PoconoMtns #hosted

A post shared by CourtneyLynne (@kourtneelynne) on Mar 21, 2017 at 3:21pm PDT

PACKAGE INCLUDES

Family style dining, games, music, all building up to the moment when we surprise Kenya as he arrives for what he thinks is just another breakfast at Kalahari.

PRICING
​
WHEN: Every Saturday morning
WHERE: Brandberg Food & Drink
TIME: Seating starts at 8:50 a.m. Breakfast begins at 9:00 a.m.
COST: Adults $26.00 / Children $16.00

Call to make your reservation for Kenya's Birthday Bash today! Reservations are required and must be made by 11:00 p.m. the day prior. Please call (570) 580-6085.

Have a sweet tooth?! The Last Bite is the place to go! Everything from ice cream, candied apples to fudge and rock candy! All the perfect late night snackies one might need. My hubby sure had his share of ice cream on the trip since it was an elevator ride away!

The Kalahari Adventures Club is definitely an area of the Resort I feel so many people skip out on!!! We went to the Adventures Club twice on the trip. Once for make your own pizza and the other time was to make your own tie dye keepsake t-shirt and both times only a handful of kiddos showed up. I'm not sure if people think the Adventures Club is "lame" or too kiddie, or if they are just clueless on its existence? Regardless, I'm here to say go! It is fun! I'm ancient and I think I had just as much fun as my daughter making all of our goodies. Definitely don't skip out on the Adventures Club fun. It's located downstairs in the arcade area if the reason you're not showing is because you're lost ;-)

That parent fail moment when you realize that your 4 year old has never actually bowled before since you and your hubby aren't into bowling at all. Yes, that really happened and can I say thanks Kalahari for getting bowling checked off the list of things to do with my child! Shockingly, we had a good time bowling. The balls and pins were all miniature so kiddos could bowl with ease and people like me that just completely suck at the game could gain a little confidence since they can now come off like a bowling pro! The bowling alley is located downstairs in the arcade.

No trip to Kalahari is complete without sneaking away to the 30,000 square foot arcade for some action packed fun! There are games for everyone! My four year old played her heart out throwing those ping pong balls into fish bowls while hubby tried his best to beat those claw machines! And me? A usual arcade hater after 10 minutes since games are not my thing, had fun trying to win myself a Michael Kors purse! That's right, an arcade with prizes for girly girls like me! More arcades need to copy Kalahari and start stocking games with prizes non-gamer girls want to leave the arcade with!

Spa Photos Curtesy Kalahari Resort

One spot I didn't have time to explore, relax and rejuvenate in was the Serenity Spa, hence the stock photos above ;-) I did have a chance to peak inside during my resort tour and boy did I miss out! All treatments and services are done using organic products and accompanied by a glass of flavored water as you savior that moment of bliss!

Focused on providing a “beyond expectations experience” to guests of all ages, the resort expansion also included an additional 520 rooms, which brought the resort total to nearly 1,000 guest rooms ranging from children's suites, to honeymoon suites and included two new styles exclusive to the Poconos location:

• Three-Bedroom Family Suites:
  • 1 king bedroom with master bath, 2 separate bedrooms with 2 queen beds each, full-sized sofa sleeper, fireplace
• Big Five Suites:
  • 1 king bedroom with master bath, 4 separate bedrooms with 2 queen beds each, full-sized sofa sleeper, fireplace, large balcony with furniture

My lil'family being a party of three was provided with a Two Bedroom AFRICAN QUEEN SUITE. Our suite was plenty big and it also included a full-sized sofa sleeper, two bathrooms, living room, dinning area, microwave, refrigerator & had a romantic fireplace to sit by during the evening.

So what are you waiting for?!? To book your family's getaway in the Poconos you can head on over to for more information! https://www.kalahariresorts.com/pennsylvania

Day passes are also available and can be purchased online or from the cashiers in the arcade. The water park is open to all hotel guests and those with day passes from 10am-10pm year-round. Call (877) 525-2427 for more details.

ADDRESS

​Physical address:
250 Kalahari Blvd., Pocono Manor, PA 18349

GPS coordinates:
41.104916, -75.382005

For reservations call:
​(877) 525-2427