Amusement park bound parents often find themselves faced with a two thousand-mile round-trip drive, high park entrance fees, oppressive heat and even more oppressive crowds.

Friends, there is another way!

Silverwood Theme Park, just outside of Coeur D’Alene, Idaho, may not have jolly mice and goofy dogs to charm your children, but what it does have is more than enough to create a magic all its own. You can spend three days at Silverwood for the price you’d pay for one at the happiest place on Earth, and weekday crowds are downright pleasant.

Check out just a few of the other highlights of this gem in Northern Idaho.

Water Park

Boulder Beach is Silverwood’s water park. With over ten different attractions, including two wave pools, a lazy river, two areas specifically for younger kids, and several heart-pumping waterslides, there is something here for everyone – even if you’re the one who is the designated “stuff watcher.” Private cabanas are available for rental so you can relax in style.

Roller Coasters

Silverwood’s roller coasters are impressive in their own right. Two “woodies” anchor Coaster Alley and give park visitors a thrilling ride. Tucked back in the “Country Carnival” section of the park, however, is a piece of roller coaster history: the first coaster to take riders upside down. The Corkscrew lived at Knott’s Berry Farm from 1975 to 1990 when it relocated in Silverwood. Aftershock is another transplant coaster that originally made its debut in Six Flags Great America. It was voted #1 inverted roller coaster in the United States by Travel Channel in 2012.

Entertainment

Stop for lunch at the High Moon Saloon and catch some live old-timey piano music or other musical act. You can get a ride on Engine No. 7 right outside the saloon for a trip around the park and more. A stop at the silver mine reveals bandits and a hilariously fun train robbery complete with exciting Hollywood-style falls, fights and stunts. And if that’s not enough, check out Nick Norton’s Vegas-style magic show, winner of best performance at the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions in 2014. If that doesn’t wow you, nothing will!

And More!

• Log ride, bumper boats and rafting ride
• Lots of little-kid-friendly rides
• Midway with carnival style games and an arcade
• The biggest ice cream cones you’ve ever seen
• Camping and RV spots just steps from the park entrance
• Super friendly “cast members” and spotless grounds

If you don’t want to break the bank and make the days-long drive to and from Southern California for amusement park fun, head north to Silverwood instead and prepare to be pleasantly surprised.