Silverwood Theme Park & Boulder Beach: If you’ve ever wanted to feel like you’re on the set of an action movie, but in the best way possible, this is the place to be. Tucked away in the jaw-dropping mountains of North Idaho, Silverwood is the largest theme park in the Pacific Northwest. And while it’s tucked away in a picturesque corner of the world, don’t worry—getting here is a breeze. Just 45 minutes outside of Spokane, right off Hwy 95, between Coeur d’Alene and Sandpoint, you’ll find yourself smack in the middle of adventure central.

Once you’re there, buckle up, because over 70 thrilling rides await. From heart-pounding roller coasters to family-friendly attractions, Silverwood’s got something for every adrenaline level. Plus, there’s live entertainment that’s more award-winning than your cousin’s homemade talent show. Hungry? Silverwood has plenty of dining spots that’ll keep you fueled for all that fun.

And just when you think it can’t get better, swing over to Boulder Beach, where things get a little wetter. Two massive wave pools, mind-blowing water slides, a lazy river that’ll make you rethink your life choices, and VIP cabanas to live your best poolside life are all here. And for 2024, Boulder Beach is bringing even more fun with extra food options, 32 private cabanas, eight new water slides, and—hold onto your floaties—the longest high-intensity dueling water coaster in America. Let’s just say, if you can’t find excitement here, you’re doing it wrong.

Now, for a history lesson you didn’t sign up for: before roller coasters and water slides ruled the skies at Silverwood, there was a train. A Victorian town. Planes. You know, the usual. The park’s original attraction, the 1915 Porter Steam Locomotive, affectionately known as Old #7, still chugs around the park today. Old #7 had quite the journey before it found its home in Silverwood. After crisscrossing the rails of America for decades, it ended up in storage (who knew trains had storage, right?). That is until Gary Norton, Silverwood’s founder, bid on it and outbid “The Big D” (yep, Disneyland) in 1986. Talk about a mic drop. The train now chugs along a 3-mile track, with potential for train robberies, silver-mine shootouts, buffalo sightings, and, of course, the resident Sasquatch. It’s like a Wild West adventure, but with fewer cowboys and more laughs.

And did I mention the airshows? In the early days of Silverwood, guests gathered to witness vintage planes performing crazy maneuvers in the sky. Gary Norton himself even flew some of the stunts. That’s right—he didn’t just own the planes, he flew them, because why not add some extra thrills to your theme park? From 1988 to 1996, Silverwood was the only park in the world with daily air shows. Top that, Disney.

The park grew fast, expanding with iconic rides like Timber Terror and Tremors, the world’s first wooden coaster to run through four underground tunnels. Over the years, Silverwood’s roster of rides has expanded—bumper boats, Ferris wheels, flying elephants (yep), and even a panic plunge, just to keep things spicy.