This summer, we had a family wedding in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin, and decided to turn it into a little family getaway. Scanning through hotel rooms, we found a great deal on Timber Ridge Lodge & Waterpark in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin—with a five-year-old, what better place to stay? It has a splash pad, a lazy river, and a few tot-sized slides all indoors and impervious to the weather.

But if you want to something to take your breath away, make your way up the stairs to the pair of water slides that tower over the park. Both slides—the green Timber Rapids and the yellow Avalanche Falls—require a 30-foot-high climb to get to the top.

Timber Rapids

This slide is slightly tamer than its neighbor—little kids are allowed to ride in tandem with an adult. Some quick stats:

• Height: 30 feet

• Rider's requirement: 48 inches tall to ride alone

• Type of slide: single or double inner-tube slide

• Features: lots sharp turns and dips

My take: From the jump, this slide took my breath away—but it also wasn't too scary for my five-year-old, who emerged wide-eyed and ready to go again.

Avalanche Falls

According to the resort's website, this completely enclosed body slide is only the "second . . . of its kind in the country." Here's the rundown:

• Height: 30 feet

• Rider's requirement: 48 inches tall

• Type of slide: solo body slide

• Features: very little light, blasting music; blind turns and drops

My take: This thing is fast. And since you're riding down in almost complete darkness, you have no idea when you're going to take a sharp turn or a steep drop, making for a wild ride.