One Of The Midwest's Largest Amusement Parks Has A Water Park For Family-Friendly Fun

Missouri is home to some fantastic amusement parks, including Worlds of Fun in Kansas City. This 325-acre park is one of the Midwest's largest and home to seven different roller coasters, including the Mamba, which was one of the highest and fastest roller coasters in the world when it opened in 1998. Besides terrifying coasters, there are dozens of other rides for visitors of all ages, more than 20 different food and drink venues, and several live shows. The Oceans of Fun waterpark is attached to the southern end of Worlds of Fun, offering water-themed thrills for even more entertainment and cooling splashes on hot summer days.

Though technically a free add-on, Oceans of Fun is a legitimate and sizable park on its own, with 14 different attractions spread across 60 acres. Some of these attractions are not for the faint of heart. The Riptide Raceway is the longest mat-racing waterslide in the world, involving a drop from a five-story-high tower on a foam mat. But even that pales in comparison to the 65-foot-tall Predator Plunge, where the floor drops out beneath a rider's feet, leading to a brief free fall and then an exhilarating ride through loops and s-curves.

Not every ride in Oceans of Fun is death-defying. There are colorful spraygrounds with smaller slides, pools, and play features for younger children, a wave pool for families to enjoy together, and a beach club for guests 21 years of age and older. For added comfort, groups and families can rent cabanas near some of the pools, which come with amenities like padded loungers, fans, suntan lotion, flat-screen TVs, and even meal delivery depending on the service tier chosen.

Kansas City is one of the best U.S. cities to visit if you're on a budget, and it turns out its Worlds of Fun amusement park is also budget-friendly compared to other Missouri and Midwest parks. At Worlds of Fun, a one-day ticket ($44.99 at the time of writing) is surprisingly reasonable. What's more, it grants guests admission to both the theme park and the water park — essentially, two parks for the price of one. 

This is in stark contrast to renowned Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri — the top-ranked amusement park in the Midwest — where guests must pay considerably more. A combined ticket to the theme park and water park costs about $115, or people can purchase them separately at $95 and $52, respectively. Another staple Midwest amusement park, Cedar Point, doesn't even offer a combined ticket. Here, guests must purchase two separate tickets to enter both parks: $52 for the theme park and $50 for the water park. With a family in tow, admission prices can add up quickly, and Worlds of Fun stands out as the clear winner when it comes to affordability.

Dining options are available in Oceans of Fun and Worlds of Fun, but you should head into Kansas City for more serious eats. If you're a fan of BBQ, check out the world's most mouth-watering BBQ restaurant, according to Anthony Bourdain. Joe's Kansas City Bar-B-Que is only a 20-minute drive south of Worlds of Fun.