Altoona, IA

Every family vacation at some time must include a visit to a theme park, and in the Midwest Adventureland Amusement Park in Des Moines has been entertaining families since the 1970s. With many of the expected features in an amusement park -- Ferris wheel, rollercoasters, carousels and log flumes -- Adventureland meets the basic criteria for a good time. But throw in the Human Washing Machine, two 70-foot speed slides and a 200-foot shot directly into space, then you have a day of adventure for the daredevils of all ages in your family. Of course, there's plenty for little ones, with more than a dozen rides for those under 54 inches high and a zero-entry water play area in Adventure Bay.

Bernie the St. Bernard is the official mascot of Adventureland who strolls along Main Street and the other four theme areas several times throughout the day, posing for pictures and making sure all is well within his little kingdom. Blue Bunny Ice Cream, made in LeMars, Iowa, is the official ice cream of Adventureland. The entire park is non-smoking.

The people who designed Adventureland must have had kids of all ages, because instead of clustering all of the kiddie rides in one section and the wilder rides in another, they are all intermingled. Therefore, parents can do a better job of keeping track of where everyone in the family is at the same time.

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