Soak City

Soak City at Valley Fair gives you two parks for the price of one, though honestly, most families spend their whole day just at the water park. The wave pool here is legit - it creates decent-sized waves every few minutes, and kids love jumping into them while adults float on tubes nearby. The water slide collection covers all the basics, from gentle family slides where parents and kids can ride together to steeper speed slides that'll get your heart pumping.

The kiddie area is where Soak City really shines for families with toddlers. It's got miniature slides, water fountains, and shallow pools where little ones can splash around safely while parents relax on nearby lounge chairs. The whole setup feels connected but not overwhelming, which is perfect when you're trying to keep track of kids of different ages.

Since it's part of Valley Fair, you get that amusement park level of maintenance and staffing, so the facilities stay clean and the lines move reasonably well. The food situation is standard water park fare - burgers, pizza, nachos - but it's filling and you don't have to leave the park. Pro tip: arrive right when they open to snag the best lounge chairs near the wave pool.

They go fast on busy summer days. The concrete gets scorching hot by afternoon, so water shoes are a must-have. If you're planning to make a full day of it, consider splitting time between Soak City and the main Valley Fair rides.

The combo ticket makes it worth doing both, especially if you have kids who get bored easily. Just remember that this is a seasonal operation, so check their calendar before making the drive to Shakopee.