With an on-site campground, family fun is just around the corner!
Just north of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, you’ll discover Silverwood Theme Park and Boulder Beach, the largest amusement park in the Pacific Northwest. While it doesn’t have the number of rides as a Disney or Universal Studios, it has plenty of plunges and perils to satisfy your thrill-seeking teens, as well as more subdued rides for your daredevils-in-training. Best of all, the on-site campground makes a visit here über convenient.
Activities at Silverwood
With two teenagers, my family’s visit to Silverwood always starts in the farthest corner of the park called “Roller Coaster Alley.” Here, you’ll find the amusement park’s high-intensity rides. That’s right, our family doesn’t warm up on the Roaring Creek Log Flume or Tilt-a-Whirl; we go straight to Aftershock (height minimum: 54 inches), a beast of a ride that includes a vertical drop followed by cobra roll and inverted loop that sends you up for another vertical drop so you can then experience the entire ride again… backwards. Darn, I had to sit this one out to take this video for you! My husband exited the ride, saying weakly, “I’m getting too old for this.” Of course, my son wanted to go again.
This area of the park also includes two teeth-chattering, wooden rollercoasters, Timber Terror and Tremors, plus the Corkscrew coaster (height minimum: 48 inches). If you feel so inclined, hop on the Spincycle (height minimum: 54 inches), a vertigo-inducing, 105-foot tall thrill ride where the seats spin while the entire contraption swings in a pendulum motion, or Panic Plunge (height requirement: 48 inches), whose name says it all.
KidTripster Tip: If you want to watch your kids on Tremors, head into the gift shop. There’s a window where you can see them make their first drop into an underground tunnel.
KidTripster Tip: I’m not going to lie; the lines at this park on a holiday or summer weekend can be really long for the coasters, thrill rides, log flume ride, and Thunder Canyon. That’s especially true for the coasters which have only one track. If you have some flexibility, I’d strongly suggest a weekday visit.
The rest of the park is far tamer. Garfield’s Summer Camp is home to the park’s kiddie rides, including kiddie coasters where parents can ride, too. And younger children will enjoy the 30-minute stunt show aboard the Silverwood train and the magic show in the pizza parlor.
KidTripster Tip: If you’d like a map of the park, just download the Silverwood app.
KidTripster Tip: If you’re coming from Boulder Beach, know that you can’t wear your swimsuit in the park; just throw on some street clothes over your swimwear.
KidTripster Tip: Be prepared for summer heat. Silverwood should learn from Dollywood and incorporate more shade in line areas and more water misters to combat the heat. In the meantime, bring plenty of sunscreen and hydrate often.
Activities at Boulder Beach
Boulder Beach is a sizable water park with 15 slides of all different configurations, two wave pools, a kiddie play area, a toddler splash pad, and a lazy river. As I mentioned earlier, the water park is typically packed on a summer weekends or holiday, so it’s best visited during the week. Tubes for the Lazy River and Rumble Falls are first come-first serve; additional tubes are available for rent for $7 (return them with receipt for a $5 refund), but I didn’t find that necessary.
KidTripster Tip: If you have little ones, come prepared. Diaper-aged kids must wear swim diapers.
Surprisingly, the water park allows both smoking and drinking. Adults can purchase alcoholic beverages from the bar and then bring those drinks into the Lazy River to sip as they float. And smoking is allowed everywhere with the exception of the non-smoking cabanas that I spotted in the rear of the park. To me, these allowances detract from what should be a family-friendly environment.
Dining at Silverwood
Silverwood serves typical amusement park fare, including snow cones, funnel cakes, and ice cream. If you have big eaters, you may want to consider Chuckwagon John’s all-you-can-eat barbecue. Inconveniently located in the farthest corner on the park, you’ll work up an appetite walking here. Meals include wood-grilled chicken quarters, pulled BBQ pork sandwiches, hot dogs, mac and cheese, coleslaw, corn bread, green beans, baked beans, corn on the cob, garden salad, watermelon, packaged cookie, and drink. Cost: Youth (7 & under) $5.99; Adult $12.99.
KidTripster Tip: Avoid eating at Kool Cactus. The burritos and bowls are not nearly as good as you would hope. In addition, the service was painfully slow, even on a not-so-crowded evening.
Staying near Silverwood
To really get the most of your visit to Silverwood, I would recommend staying at the on-site campground. It’s on the opposite side of the highway, but it’s connected to the park by an underground tunnel that will take you right to the front gate in less than 5 minutes. The campground features 41 tent sites and 126 full hook-ups for RVs. There’s a playground, beach volleyball court, and free WiFi. Cost: Tent $35-49/night; RV $49-64/night.
KidTripster Tip: If you happen to visit Silverwood on July 4th, you won’t have to compete for a spot in the park to see the fireworks; the show is easily visible from your campsite.
Admission cost
Admission covers both Silverwood Theme Park and Boulder Beach; tickets are not available to individual parks.
Summer season cost: Youth (2 & under) Free; Youth (3-7) $25-$28; Other $48-$51; discounts available for 2-day admission, after 5pm admission, and Bounce Back Admission (tickets purchased in park to return the following day). The park is also open on weekends during May and some dates in September. Check the calendar in advance.
KidTripster Tip: You also can save a few bucks by purchasing tickets in advance online instead of buying them at the gate.
KidTripster Tip: If you’re staying at the Silverwood RV Park, you’ll receive the biggest discount, but tickets must be purchased in the campground store.
Getting to Silverwood
Silverwood is located just outside Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. It’s a 5-1/2-hour drive from Seattle, 6-1/2-hour drive from Portland, and 7-1/2-hour drive from Boise.
This writer received a complimentary stay and park admission for the purpose of this review. However, all opinions expressed are solely her own.
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