February is off to a warm start for Kansas City, but even with the thermometer topping off around sixty there remains a fair climatological gap between the heartland and the tropics. For parents whose children have been boxed up all winter, and who may not survive until summer--the parents, not the children--Holiday Inn's CoCo Key Water Resort might just be a life saver.
Located across the street from the Truman Sports Complex, CoCo Key offers 55,000 square feet of tropical-themed indoor activities for all ages. Older kids who are at least 40 inches tall will have access to most attractions, but the real treasures here are those which cater to small children.
The Dip-In Theater wading pool is likely to be the center of a two- or three-year-old's universe for hours on end. As spacious as most public swimming pools but only waist-high on a toddler at the deep end, it features a zero-depth entry area, a variety of water jets and slides--complete with baby bungees--and tipping buckets which gradually fill with water until they spill over for gentle splashing fun.
The Parrot's Perch, which CoCo Key recommends for ages 3 and up, may require a bit more parental vigilance as it is essentially a back yard jungle gym on steroids, and a very wet one at that. It boasts an arsenal of well pumps, water cannons, slides, and, at the tippy tippy top, an enormous version of the Dip-In water buckets which dumps three hundred of gallons of water every few minutes. The big splash is diffused by the Perch structure itself, so the impact is minimal, and is preceded by a warning bell so children who are feeling skittish will have ample opportunity to take cover.
Flowing around the island Perch is the The Coconut Grove Adventure River. At thirty inches deep it can be a lot of fun even for small children, but adult supervision is highly recommended. The inner tubes which are provided first-come first-served can be difficult for littler kids to pilot. While the river's flow is lazy and relaxing for the most part, it does hit rapids here and there--dicey for a short person twinkling along on their toes--and like any traffic artery it can be populated by hurried navigators, eager to get on to the next attraction. It is a fantastic feature which most kids will want take for a few hundred spins. Parents may enjoy it even more than their children, so for the sake of fun as well as safety, be sure to go along for the ride.
Being a resort, CoCo Key's hours of operation are variable, although it is typically open Thursday through Sunday. For families looking for a low-key adventure, Saturday evenings are an excellent time to go. Ample free parking is available just off East 39th Street on the north, east, and west sides of the hotel.
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