Theme & Amusement Parks in Richton Park

Reverberating with the ring of baseballs on wire cages and the tunes of dueling pianos, Sluggers World Class Sports Bar serves its clientele with drinks, classic pub eats, and sporting good times. More than 30 televisions beam the latest athletic happenings, including six 10-foot big screens and several tubes that, like blood viewed under a microscope, are high-definition plasma. Bar denizens drink down glasses of domestic, import, and microbrews while picking at finger foods ordered from the menu, such as wings, deep-dish pizzas, sandwiches, and burgers. Seven pool tables clatter with the impact of broken racks; the arcade jangles with tokens feeding the hungry slots of skee-ball, air hockey, and video games; and batting cages resound with the peal of aluminum bat on mechanical fastball. On Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays, piano-wielding pairs face off on the second floor, taking requests from the crowd while brave spectators wage dance battles on behalf of their favorite ivory tickler.

At Raging Waves, certified lifeguards keep a vigilant watch over visitors as they traverse a park filled with 17 water slides and other aquatic attractions, but surveillance isn’t their only job. They secure up to four passengers in tubes before they zoom down a giant family slide and instruct riders on how to position their arms and wink Morse-code messages to eagles during their plunge down a winding speed slide with a near-vertical drop. Though adrenaline is the Raging Waves' main focus, it also houses slower-paced attractions such as a regular swimming pool, a quarter-mile lazy river, and separate children's play area.

The roar of engines bounces off 20-foot ceilings as go-karts zip by at up to 42 miles per hour. The track winds through the 138,000-square-foot space as up to 14 racers compete in eight-minute sessions, their lap times recorded on projection screens for spectators to keep track of or use for their next lottery ticket. At Melrose Park Indoor Grand Prix, drivers first undergo a 15-minute safety briefing before racing, and afterward, go home with a boast-worthy printout of their lap times. Each of the facility's 37 single-seater carts is powered by eco-friendly propane gas and goes through regular rigorous testing to prevent malfunction or acquisition of an English accent.

Against the backdrop of towering trees, a massive stone turtle perches atop a 12-foot waterfall that flows into a sky-blue wading pool. Behold Tortuga, Turtle Splash Water Park’s mascot and one of many whimsical, interactive structures that dot Turtle Splash Water Park’s five acres. In addition to getting soaked under Tortuga’s waterfall domain, visitors can clamor across the park’s interactive water playground and soar down three types of water slides, including a 35-foot twisting tube slide. Turtle Splash Water Park also fosters a sense of community through water-powered revelry: Swimming lessons empower youngsters in the water, and special events throughout the operating season give patrons and kids a chance to meet neighbors and celebrate holidays.

Pump It Up's two indoor inflatable arenas bounce socked striplings high off the ground with a plethora of kid-friendly bounce pads. Trained, amiable staffers supervise fun-filled visits where parents can leap around with their kids through gargantuan, air-filled bounce houses, skip down air-filled slides, and slither like snakes covered in bacon grease through an air-filled obstacle course. Attendees can also focus their free play for special events, such as custom birthday parties and themed, private team parties. These themed soirees immerse children in a schedule of interactive activities befitting a pirate or a superhero while melting off youthful energy faster than ice cubes thrown into a running DVD player. Both giant arenas are climate controlled and maintained according to rigorous guidelines enforced by the well-trained staff and local police. Supplementing its thorough rule enforcement with expert installation and anchoring, Pump It Up holds itself to strict safety standards.