Family fun

Where in North Idaho can you take a walk, climb a wall, ride the rapids and see buffalo? Fortunately, there is something unique between the impressive mountains and pristine waters, providing all that and much more for the whole family.

Passing Silverwood Theme Park for years, I always wondered what lay beyond those gates. The closest I came in the past was parking near the airstrip for a flight with the Red Barons in the vintage Stearman airplanes. Now, with the grandkids, ages 2 and 5 in tow, I had an excuse to explore the Northwest’s largest theme park. Although not a wilderness experience as usually covered in “Adventures,” one can log plenty of walking in the 212 acres. Thankfully, rental strollers are available, as the 2-year-old quickly ran out of interest and stamina in the walking part of this adventure.

The first thing grasping the little ones’ attention is the carousel – allowing a step back into time for us and a “horsey” ride for the kids. Next was boarding the steam train, pulled by a locomotive built in 1915. The three-mile train trip was complete with an Indian village, buffalo, an exploding mine and a holdup by a couple of misfits.

After a quick tour of the Victorian-themed town, we set out to explore the park. The magic show memorized the kids and adults alike, and then it was on to the rides. Focusing on the kids and “cautious” rides, not because we were afraid of rides named Tremors, Terror, Panic Plunge, or Corkscrew, but because of “You Must Be At Least This Tall To Ride” restrictions (yeah, right), we started with the vintage cars. After Roaring Creek Log Flume, the focus turned to the Red Baron Airplanes, which was voted the favorite.

It was great watching the thrillseekers on the adult rides – especially the Corkscrew, which spins riders upside down, and the Panic Plunge, which generates plenty of screams.

Boulder Beach is a welcome relief after walking through the park on a hot summer day. Big and little kids were splashing around in pools, attacking each other with high-powered squirt guns, slipping down both little and giant slides, riding crests in the wave pool and floating down a lazy river, all to the beat of Beach Boys music.

A visit to Silverwood really needs to be an all-day adventure to take in the more than 60 rides and live shows the park offers. We were on a tight schedule, but if it wasn’t for naptime, we would have jumped at the chance to see ice skaters perform in the Main Street Ice Palace.

Access: From I-90 and Highway 95, go north on 95 for 15.6 miles, then turn right into the parking lot across from Silverwood.

Prices and details: General admission is $32.99; ages 3-7 and 65+ are $19.99; children age 2 and younger are admitted free. Open daily from 11 a.m. (see online schedule for varying closing times) through Sept. 4, then weekends only from Sept. 9 through Oct. 8.

Games: Thunder Mountain Climbing Wall, Battlezone, Highstrikers, Wacky Wire, Ring Toss, Redemption Games, Shoot Out the Star, Water Race, Kids Games.

Family adventures: Magic Show, Main Street Theater’s Garfield cartoons, Ice Palace Theater, Garfield’s Stage (Garfield magic show), Skeeball arcade.

Rides for the kids: Antique self-drive cars, carousel, elephant ride, Ferris wheel, kiddie helicopters, kiddie wheels, Tiny Toot Coaster and Red Baron airplanes.

Rides for the cautious: Bumper Boats, Roaring Creek Log Flume (prepare to get wet), Paratrooper, Thunder Canyon, Tilt-A-Whirl, tiny Toot Coaster.

Rides for the daring: Tremors (60-mph roller coaster, plunging underground four times and dropping 103 feet), Timber Terror (55-mph wooden coaster), Corkscrew (upside down thrills), Panic Plunge (drops riders from the top of a 140-foot tall tower at 50 mph)

Boulder Beach: Polliwog Park, Rumble Falls and three big water slides.

Dining and refreshments: From the fancy Lindy’s Restaurant to subs, pizza and plenty of carnival-style food, you won’t starve in Silverwood.

Preparation: Visit the Web site www.silverwoodthemepark or call (208) 683-3400 for information. Park guide papers are provided at the gate.

Gear: Good walking shoes are handy, along with bathing suits and towels for Bolder Beach and the water rides. Life preservers are provided for free in Boulder Beach.

Restrictions: Shirts, shoes and “appropriate dress” required. Swimsuits are allowed in the Boulder Beach area, but not the theme park. Outside food, beverages and coolers are not allowed.

Special features: A 126 full hook-up RV park is across U.S. 95 from Silverwood. Call (208) 683-3400, ext. 139, for information.