Is a trip to Wisconsin Dell’s not in your budget this year or are you looking for a smaller scale waterpark and attraction to visit with your family? Metropolis Resort which consists of a hotel, indoor waterpark (Chaos), and indoor theme park (Action City) is a family friendly destination in Eau Claire, WI. This was our first time staying at the resort, though we had visited the attractions a few times when my children were smaller. Everyone was excited to get their fill of swimming and gaming!

When we checked into our room, I was happy to discover the rooms were large and well kept. My favorite feature was the mini “kitchen” area. We had a microwave and good sized refrigerator as well as plenty of storage space for snacks. There was also a small high top table that had two pub stools. It might seem like this would crowd a room but it fit well. The beds were comfortable and there were lots of TV channels. But who wants to sit in their room when there’s so many things to do?

My kids were in their swimsuits in under two minutes and ready to hit the waterpark. While the waterpark is small, I found it a good size to let my children play without needing me following them around or even going in the water. (They are 7 and 10 years old, and both can swim well). Chaos staffs plenty of lifeguards. As a former lifeguard I watched to see if they were doing as they should and I was happy to find them all professional and well equipped. After seeing my 7 year old struggling a little in a deeper end (where he could still touch) a lifeguard sent him to put a life jacket on just in case. There was only one waterslide they couldn’t go on – the weight needed to be 100 pounds or more. For three hours they were very happily entertained and I was able to relax and know they were safe and having fun.

Metropolis serves a continental breakfast every day. It is served in the Action City portion of the resort. This was one of the only things I found difficult. Bringing young children to an area surrounded by games right away in the morning and trying to get them to eat breakfast is not an easy feat. We did have unlimited play passes however so after they were done eating they were able to play for a little while. There are a few options to play. There are three types of games. First are attractions like laser tag, a rock climbing wall, bumper cars, go karts, or mini bowling. Then there are games that don’t dispense tickets – arcade games like car or motorcycle racing games. Then there are traditional arcade games that dispense tickets that can then be redeemed for prizes. To play you can do two things. You can purchase a card loaded with cash. The card can be used to play any of the games. Or, you can buy an unlimited play card that lets you do anything except the ticket dispensing games. You can add cash to the unlimited play card to play these games. My kids’ favorite? Laser tag – hands down!

There are plenty of food options in the resort including their famous Monkey in the Middle pizza with a GIANT pizza to serve a crowd. Metropolis is located immediately off Highway 94 in Eau Claire. If you want to visit follow their Facebook page and watch for specials. They regularly offer discounts on rooms and Chaos and Action City. If you’re not planning to stay at the hotel, you can still purchase day passes to the waterpark or passes for Action City!

If you are looking for more ideas on what to do in Eau Claire, read Amanda's other posts: Summertime in the Chippewa Valley and What to do in Eau Claire, Wisconsin with Kids.

This post was submitted to Wisconsin Parent by Amanda Ponzio-Mouttaki: Amanda is a curious world traveling mom of two busy boys, a foodie, and social media addict. She currently publishes the website MarocMama where you can find information about living and eating in a globally conscious, bi-cultural family.  Amanda has lived in the Chippewa Valley for seven years and was back home this summer visiting friends and family.

Special thanks to Visit Eau Claire and Metropolis Resort for organizing Amanda's stay!