If you had told me before I had a kid that I would be taking a vacation to a character-themed hotel that drops green “slime” on its willing patrons several times a day, I would have dismissed you as crazy (after all, I survived months of backpacking through India on $2 per day). Times sure have changed — we had a blast! My son James (now four but he was three at the time) and I were there for four days and on the last day, my parents, who were vacationing nearby, spent the day with us. The thing that’s different about this place is that it’s a destination hotel that’s on a highway, not a beach. In a nutshell, it’s a giant (like out-of-this-world huge) water park where everything is branded with Nickelodeon characters such as Dora & Diego, the Backyardigans, the Wonder Pets, Blue’s Clues and SpongeBob Square Pants.

Why it’s family friendly

• Even with the enormous water park, interactive shows, breakfasts with all the Nickelodeon characters, kids’ spa, mini golf, arcade and more, the thing James remembers most (and months later still talks about almost every day) is the character-themed room with bunk beds he slept in. He was delighted that his room was outfitted with a television and a video game console that he found interesting but was beyond his skill level.
• When we were taking a break from water play, we visited Studio Nick, a theatre with live and interactive entertainment for all ages. Every show seems to wrap up with the kid-pleasing sliming. In the evening we watched a movie that was projected on to a large screen over the pool.
• Kids ages three to 10 would enjoy a four-day stay. Older kids will be itching for more after a weekend. I’m 30-something and had fun and my parents had a blast watching their grandson go wild in the water parks.
• This is a great place to travel to with friends and family with kids the same age. With the endless amount of things to do, the kids will keep each other busy and just may allow you to catch up on years of those conversations you never have time to have.
• The hotel offers Nick After Dark — while kids are busy with activities in a babysitting-type setting, parents can enjoy a drink in the lounge or dinner alone (though I don’t know why you would come to the ultimate kids’ playground for parent alone time, as you’d be dining alongside other families). Also, I’m not sure if the food or the wine list at this hotel would be a good enough reason to ditch the kids.

Day trips
Orlando is the world’s playground for kids of all ages and Nick Hotel is conveniently located on the highway, within driving distance (they also have scheduled shuttles) to attractions like Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World and Wet ‘n Wild.

Staying there
$1,500 US, Ultimate Nick Package, four nights (no airfare), 2 bedroom suite (with waterpark access, breakfasts).
nickhotel.com