Visit the place that started it all. Credited with being the first indoor water park in the United States, the Polynesian Water Park Resort, which kicked off the Wisconsin Dells water-park craze in 1989, is still going strong today.

Accommodations include standard rooms and suites that sleep up to nine. The building is older, and it shows—instead of luxury amenities, you'll find appliances, furnishings, and décor more reminiscent of a budget chain hotel. But the price is

Visit the place that started it all. Credited with being the first indoor water park in the United States, the Polynesian Water Park Resort, which kicked off the Wisconsin Dells water-park craze in 1989, is still going strong today.

Accommodations include standard rooms and suites that sleep up to nine. The building is older, and it shows—instead of luxury amenities, you'll find appliances, furnishings, and décor more reminiscent of a budget chain hotel. But the price is right, with rooms as low as $70 for double occupancy that include admission to both the indoor and outdoor water parks. Kids under ten stay free. The Polynesian Isle, an even more budget-friendly hotel across the street, also offers free admission to the water parks (kids stay free here, too).

Dining options are limited to a snack bar and café offering beverages, sandwiches, ice cream, pizza, and other high-calorie treats. A small refrigerator and microwave in each suite makes it possible to store your own snacks and small meals, but you will probably have to leave the hotel to eat a real breakfast or dinner (try the just up the Wisconsin Dells Parkway). It's also worth journeying outside of the "water-park district" into downtown Wisconsin Dells to see the natural beauty, kitchsy museums, tourist traps, and hole-in-the-wall restaurants that made this old-time vacation spot come to life long before tube slides and lazy rivers arrived.

The two water parks offer over 200,000 square feet of wet fun, but the majority of that is the outdoor park—just 38,000 square feet of that is indoors. Inside, you'll find a couple of two-story slides, a lazy river, two interactive kids' play areas (one targeted to young children), a pool with basketball hoop, and two whirlpools. It's a good size for young children and makes it easy to keep everyone within sight, but older kids may crave more variety and scarier thrill rides. Outside, the fun gets bigger, with three slides, a lazy river, interactive pirate ship, and more. The outdoor park is open from Memorial Day through Labor Day.

The Polynesian may not be as luxe as some of the newer big-budget chains—there's no spa or fancy restaurants—but it's got heart, history, and those all-important value-conscious rates (plus a big renovation is slated to start soon). Watch out for strict reservation policies (you have to cancel at least 72 hours in advance or lose your deposit) and limited water-park hours in the off-season and during the week.