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!
oksana says
My kids are just the perfect age to start going to silverwood for an all-day family-fun event! i think doing the dry rides and then going for the water park gives you a more relaxing end of the day.
oksana says
I like queen bee coupons on facebook
Brenda Kross says
Would love to win two free tickets too Silverwood. We would love too spend the day @ the waterpark, then off to the rides. We always pack a lunch and eat @ the campground. Or even dinner the Albertsons chicken:)
Michelle B says
I shared this on facebook
Michelle B says
I already subscribe to your emails! Thanks!
Michelle B says
My boys love anything to do with water. They would love this!
Shana says
Fun!
Tami Weinmann says
Already signed up for daily emails and eagerly await them daily!!
Susan Abrahamsen says
I would enjoy the time away with my family. My daughter is the perfect age for an outing like this!! (she’s 5)
Susan Abrahamsen says
I receive your e-mail and love it!!
Susan Abrahamsen says
I have liked you on FB for some time now 🙂
Cheri says
My kids would love to spend the day in the water!
serena adkins says
Following Queen Bee on twitter and here is my link to my tweet: https://twitter.com/SerenaAdkins/status/236316288589385729
serena adkins says
Signed up for Queen Bee Coupons daily email
serena adkins says
Already a Facebook fan of Queen Bee Coupons & Savings, shared the giveaway with your friends by posting it on my wall.
Sonya Ford says
Family went to Disneyland a few years ago but have thought better recently and would rather go to Silverwood.
serena adkins says
I would enjoy most at Silverwood the smile on my 4 year old face playing in the water.
Christyna Magley says
Tweeted!
Christyna Magley says
Already signed up for Daily Emails
Christyna Magley says
Shared on my Facebook!
Christyna Magley says
I think I will most like the Rollercoasters!!!
Andrea says
Like you on Facebook!
Sena C. says
I like QBC on FB
Sena C. says
I have never been there so it would be great to see what Silverwood is all about. I think I would really enjoy the water slides.
Beth Archer says
i subscribe to your emails already!
Beth Archer says
i shared this on FB!
Beth Archer says
i grew up near Six Flags over Texas and i miss going to theme parks like that. i would love to hit the roller coasters!!
Justin says
Woo Hoo! I love Silverwood!
Sara says
I subscribe to your emails!
Sara says
I “liked” you on facebook
Sara says
Would love to go back to Silverwood! My family Loved it three years ago – I just want to go back with my camera this time – first time batteries died and photo card was full so I wasn’t able to get ANY photos 🙁
Hint: Buy photo cards before entering park because they don’t sell them in the park – at least not when we were there!
Niko O. says
I follow you on twitter & tweeted!
https://twitter.com/niko2k4/status/236237275510476800
Niko O. says
I receive your daily e-mails! 🙂
Niko O. says
I was there once before but never went on any water rides – my wife and I would definitely enjoy those! 🙂
EMILY G says
subscribe to you emails!
EMILY G says
like you on facebook!
EMILY G says
we would def enjoy the water park the most!! looks soo fun!
Christina Ritter says
I tweeted about this giveaway.
Christina Ritter says
I receive your daily e-mails.
Christina Ritter says
I like Queen Bee Coupon’s on facebook.
Christina Ritter says
This would be perfect and I could visit family in the area also.
Bevel says
I subscribe to the daily emails (because they are awesome!).
Bevel says
I subscribe on facebook.
Bevel says
We’ve never been to Silverwood and would enjoy seeing what was in our backyard. 🙂
Pualani C says
I think we would enjoy both the waterpark and the rides. My kids are 10 and 6. We just moved to WA last summer and we’re still exploring what the great NW has to offer 🙂
Mamatoo says
We’ve been waiting to go for 3 yrs!
Judie M. says
Subscribed to daily emails!
Judie M. says
I think we’d enjoy the waterpark best (great way to beat the heat)!
Tami Weinmann says
Already subscribed to emails. Would love to win a getaway to Silverwood Park to play in the sun and splash in the water!!
joy to the world says
I’m already a subscriber!