Water slides, roller coasters, kiddie rides, kiddie slides, sunshine and smiles that just won’t quit – that pretty much sums up our day at Silverwood Theme Park in Northern Idaho last weekend. The entire family had a blast – from the minute the park opened until the kids were so worn out from the fun that we had to carry them to the car.
This place has it all. You’d be hard pressed to NOT find something you’d enjoy. I especially loved that it had great options for the younger kids – my two-year-old had as much fun as the five-year-old because there were age appropriate activities for them both – and they are well intermixed.
Saving money at Silverwood:
Saving on Admission – Northwest Costco stores sell adult tickets for $35.99 (reg. $43.99) and a children’s ticket (3-7 years) for $17.95 (reg. $21.95). If you’re not a Costco member you can save some by buying your tickets online, ahead of time.
If we would have been in town an extra day, I totally would have went for the 2- or 3-day pass. You save 20-25% off and the park could easily entertain you for three straight days – dawn to dusk. 🙂
If you combine a few families and can come up with at least 15 people, Silverwood offers Group Discounts. And of course if you live close enough, season tickets could easily pay for themselves!
Saving on food and drinks – Start the day off with a big breakfast. Outside food is not allowed in the park, but my kids were having so much fun – it was all I could do to get them to stop and eat! We brought water bottles and kept them filled up from the water fountains – stay hydrated! I was surprised at how reasonable the park food prices were. They weren’t rock bottom prices, but it certainly wasn’t as expensive as other places. I got a ginormous chicken taco salad, with soda for $6.95 – big enough for two people. The kids got personal sized pizzas for about $6.
If you drink soda, you can get a refillable souvenir soda cup for about $8. You can refill it all day – most concession stands have a separate line just for drink refills. But if you can make it with just water for the day – that’s the best bet especially on hot days!
I recommend budgeting about $10 a person for food – for the day. That includes about $7 for a meal, plus $3 for an extra treat like an ice cream cone or cotton candy. We stopped by the Ice Cream Parlor (pink building, near games) and we got HUGE ice cream cones for about $3.50 each. They claim to be single scoop, but they were the biggest scoops we’ve ever seen and we ended up sharing one cone between two people.
Save on parking, carpool! – Parking is $4 a car, so if you’re going with other families, try and carpool and limit the number of vehicles you are bringing.
Other great Silverwood tips
Get there early! My aunt (who lives in Northern Idaho) suggested this and I’m so glad. The park opened at 11 a.m. but we were there around 10:15. We got our tickets and then stood in line for the water park – and there was already a line at 10:15! While we waited in line we applied sunblock on all the kids. Getting in line early is good because especially on hot days you can get into the water park and find a place in the shade – prime real estate on HOT days. Get a good spot and use it as “home base” where you can keep your bags. Right inside the water park is Polliwog Park one of my favorite places for my kids. There were things to do for both the kids and we probably could have stayed here all day!
Pack life jackets, sunblock, swim diapers, towels, sun hats – We packed life jackets but they already had them in the park (they only allow U.S. Coast Guard approved flotation devices, if you bring your own). Our favorite are these puddle jumpers (see on Amazon Stearns Kids Puddle Jumper Deluxe Life Jacket) – our five-year-old still wears them and they are great for being able to move around and still float. If you’re little one is still in diapers – make sure and pack swim diapers (Pampers Splashers Size 3-4 Disposable Swim Pants 24 Count) – they are required! And pack plenty of sunblock – you’ll need to reapply it all day long!
Bring a change of clothes, sturdy shoes for rides – We spent the morning at the water park (before it got too hot) and then we changed out of our swimsuits into a change of clothes for the amusement park section! You can’t wear your swimsuits on the rides- so bring a change of clothes and shoes.
Here are some photos from our day:
Once you’re in the park all the rides and water slides are free, they are included with your admission. I found there were lots of rides for all age groups. My son went on the Frog Hopper ride with his second cousin, age seven. They both enjoyed the rides!
My daughter, who just turned two-years-old, even enjoyed the rides with her three-year-old cousin! They had lots of options to choose from for the kids.
So glad we packed a stroller because this was the scene by the end of the day! My husband carried my son to the car – they were wiped out after all the fun.
Wanna go? ENTER to win two Silverwood passes, good for any age (value of $83).
Silverwood generously gave me two extra passes to giveaway to a lucky Queen Bee reader!
How to enter – There are a MAXIMUM of four (4) entries possible. Please leave a SEPARATE comment for each entry – because each comment is considered one entry. Do not comment in the Facebook comment area (I’m trying to remove that), but where it says Leave a Comment below.
- REQUIRED ENTRY – Leave a comment on this post. Tell me what you think you’d enjoy most at Silverwood Park or share some tips for making the most of your time/money at amusement parks.
- Head over to Queen Bee Coupons Facebook and “like” us. If you’re already a Facebook fan, share the giveaway with your friends by posting it on your wall. (If you aren’t seeing Queen Bee Facebook updates in your feed, you may need to comment or “like” a post every once in while). Leave a separate comment on this post saying you did this.
- Sign up for Queen Bee Coupons daily email and leave a comment telling me you did this. If you already subscribe, leave a comment saying so.
- Follow Queen Bee Coupons on Twitter and tweet about the giveaway. Tweet something like:
Win two tickets to Silverwood Theme Park @silverwood4fun @QueenBeeCoupons – http://wp.me/pFgsr-iW6
Leave a comment and let me know you tweeted.
This giveaway ends Thursday, August 23, 2012 at 8 p.m. PST. Pay special attention to the email you use, because this is how I will contact the winner. I will select one random comment after the giveaway closes August 23 and I will contact the winner by email. You will have 48 hrs to respond to my email. I will also post the winner info here on the site.
See my other travel posts:
- Travel NW – Seabrook, Washington – Enter to win one-night stay, plus $100 gift card ($295 value)
- One of our favorite beach spots on the Oregon coast, south of Lincoln City
- Our trip to the Oregon Coast Aquarium + FREE child’s admission coupon
- Staycation ideas all across the United States – Frugal, fun summer activities
- Staycation Seattle (Puget Sound) – Festivals and events, museums, activities
- Saving money in New York City (I won my trip from a sweepstakes!)
Disclosure: Silverwood Theme Park provided complimentary tickets to my family, so we could try out the park and report back to you. All thoughts, opinions and suggestions are solely mine. Silverwood also graciously gave us two extra tickets to giveaway to two lucky readers!
joy to the world says
I’d enjoy the rides the most!
Wendy says
I’d love the water park rides!
zene says
tweet
zene says
follow via email
zene says
follow via fb
zene says
I would enjoy the swim up bar 😉 but seriously, the kids would love going on all the rides they could bear!
Carole says
I love following Queen Bee on Facebook.
Carole says
I am a Queen Bee email subscriber
Carole says
I have never been to Silverwood and would love to go and take my kids!
Desiree Gabel says
I receive your e-mail!
Desiree Gabel says
I tweeted!
Desiree Gabel says
I Shared on Facebook!
Monique says
I “liked” Queen Bee on FB
Monique says
Twitter follower and I tweeted about the giveaway
https://twitter.com/mamalovestoclip/status/235408717691105283
Monique says
Email subscriber
Monique says
I know my family would love that there’s something for everyone.
Kay says
all the rides!
Rebecca says
And I subscribe to your daily email.
Rebecca says
I think my kids would love the waterpark or the rides the best!
jessica says
my family would just love the quality time together:)-sharing on facebokk
Tony B says
Already subscribe to daily emails from Queen Bee. Our family likes to go to Silverwood in September after Labor Day when admission is almost half price — the water park is closed, but the short lines and lower cost make it worthwhile!
Tony B says
Silverwood is my kids’ favorite place to go!
Somaly Man says
I have tweeted the giveaway on Twitter.
Somaly Man says
I’m already signed up for your daily emails.
Somaly Man says
I’m already a fan on Facebook
Somaly Man says
I love all theme parks. The reason I love them is because of the roller coaster rides, especially the ones with water splashing at you. I have never been to Silverwood Theme Park before but I would love to go there to try out all of their rides. I know that is what I will like best about the places.
To make the most out of my money, I would not buy food from the park. Instead, I would eat at a hotel or pack food to the car.
Linda says
“Liked” Queenbee on FB.
Jill W says
Tweeted on Twitter!
Jill W says
I subscribe to the Queen Bee daily email.
Jill W says
I shared the giveaway on facebook. 🙂
Jill W says
I think my family and I would enjoy the rides the most!
Kim says
I think I would like Polliwog Park the best because it looks great for littler kids, so would work well for my four year-old daughter. My frugal tip is for Great Wolf Lodge, and is to get two days worth of the park by starting to swim before check in to the room (they allow you start swimming at 1pm but check-in isn’t until 4pm) and to make sure to pack a cooler and bring microwave food to save on the high restaurant costs.
Beth Johnson says
I signed up for Queen Bee Coupons daily email.
Blair says
I think I would enjoy the coasters the most!
Blair says
Tweeted the giveaway!
Beth Johnson says
I “like” Queen Bee on Facebook
Beth Johnson says
I think the kids would love the big slides and coasters, as they are all teens now. We stayed at the campground across the street years ago. No parking fee, and fixing our own meals, especially since we are gluten free, is a big saver!
Blair says
shared on facebook!
Blair says
I already get your emails!
Lisa says
I subscribe via email.
Lisa says
I would love the rides!
Heather says
I love that they have rides for kids of all ages!
Carrie says
I would love to go to Silverwood – it is a GREAT alternative to Disney parks but less travel, less people, shorter lines, better prices and just as much fun!
Chrystal says
Liked you on fb
Chrystal says
We love the water and even though we have never been there before I think my 6 year old would love the Polly wogg area. We would try to be frugal by camping next to the park and only plan to eat lunch inside.
michele a. says
Tweeted the giveaway on twitter!
michele a. says
I get your emails
michele a. says
I shared the giveaway on fb 🙂
michele a. says
I would enjoy seeing my kids having fun with us! I love the pic of your child and hubby on the log ride..I would love to experience some fun thrillrides with my kiddos!
Angela says
I get your emails