In my son Billy's four years of playing hockey we have stemmed the tide that possesses parents to drive crazy distances in search of the ultimate hockey competition. Our longest journey being to Crystal Lake, a road trip in its own right, marked by a stop at the infamous Scooby's for hot dogs. However, when Billy's coaches (Dan Clifford and Pablo Peppin) mentioned a weekend trip to the hockey hotbed of the Wisconsin Dells, we were in. Although hockey was on the agenda, another type of fun would soon turn out to be the main mission.

With my sons Billy (the 10-year-old hockey player) and Michael (seven years old) in tow the journey begins on a Friday after school. The drive to the Dells is a pretty straight shot and we arrive in less than three hours.

As we exit Route 12, and hunger having set in, we pull into a local diner. The eatery can best be described as a knockoff of Ed Debevic's, with the standard Wisconsin buffet thrown in. After close inspection of the buffet, we go with the safe choice and order from the menu. Pleasantly, the service is fast and the food delicious. Most importantly the chocolate shakes are thick and topped with loads of whip cream. If the Dells were a reality show it would be titled "Battle of the Waterparks." Each resort, in a war of words, claims to have their own version of the largest waterpark. Our destination is the Wilderness Resort, billed as "America's largest Waterpark Resort." It is an enormous structure, where remarkably expansion continues. The saying, "if you build it they will come" has taken on a whole new meaning in the Dells.

This is great news for you, the consumer, in the form of bigger, better and more thrill seeking waterparks with an expanded variety of activities and amenities.

The rooms at the Wilderness are spacious, and if you don't mind sleeping on a pullout couch, can accommodate up to six.

Aware that any delay will take away from their time at the waterpark, the boys are extra helpful as we unpack the car and check in at the front desk. Their bathing suits are on before I drop the last bag in the room and we are off to the Klondike Kavern Waterpark. One of two indoor waterparks at the Wilderness, it contains a 500 foot lazy river which appears to be the ride of choice for most adults. We join the throng but after a few times around the boys are quickly bored. We dash over to the more adventurous water slides. The favorite, by a landslide, turns out to be the recently added Hurricane.

The boys finally call it a night about 11:30. We are up early Saturday for the first of two hockey games in nearby Baraboo. Upon arriving at the rink I strike up a conversation with one of the organizers of the tournament as he slips on his winter hunting gear. I thought hunting season was over. As our group takes their seats on the metal benches, and our breath forms perfect clouds in the air, the reason becomes much clearer. There is no heat in the hockey rink. I guess this is what they refer to as a "home ice" advantage. With temperatures hovering around 20 degrees, our team half asleep and visions of a waterpark dancing in their heads the Niles Rangers fall to the home Baraboo team in their first game.

Not to worry as it's back to the comfort of our hotel after the game. Our next stop is the Wild West which contains over 70,000 sq. ft. of water fun with a giant wave pool, an interactive area called Ransack Ridge, as well as four water slides and an indoor/outdoor hot spa. This is a fantastic park where kids of any age will find their desires satisfied.

Getting a little hungry? Each waterpark serves a variety of food, drinks and snacks. Don't worry about bringing cash, you can just charge everything to your room.

Need a breather from the water? Amble over to the Northern Lights arcade. Big is also the theme in this 15,000 sq. ft. interactive arcade of fun and games. The boys race off with their tokens. Many of games reward the players with tickets that are redeemable for prizes. The boys shrewdly pool their tickets to purchase bigger prizes as well as a bagful of candy.

Don't worry parents; if you need a break from the action stroll over to the Sundara Spa where you can choose from a wide variety of relaxing treatments. The Wilderness also has several well equipped exercise rooms for guests use.

After a full day of activity we awake on Sunday morning to our own version of the movie "Groundhog Day", a few more hockey games, swimming and another visit to the arcade. Then it's time to hit the road, our goal of having fun easily accomplished in this "Waterpark Capital of the World."

Resources: For further information go to the official Wisconsin Dells website at www.wisdells.com