We celebrated the arrival of spring break recently with a visit to Key Lime Cove waterpark in Gurnee, Ill. And while for us, at the moment, nothing beats floating down the lazy river in an inner tube with your loved ones, I saw something right outside the water park entrance that might appeal to one of my kids in a few years.
The Enchanted Lagoon Kids Spa opened in late February and offers kids themed manicures, pedicures, hairstyles, facials and makeup applications.
The small space is an explosion of color -- with mermaids swimming across the walls, bubble lights and fish tanks -- and was a focal point for girls of all ages headed to and from the water park and arcade on the resort's lower level.
"We wanted to open a kids spa that caters to the fondness girls have for playing beauty parlor while encouraging a healthy lifestyle and self confidence," says Renee Mallari, director of spa services at KeyLime Cove.
The licensed nail techs on staff use ice cream-flavored products to give girls Starfish Sparkle Hands manicures and Starfish Sparkle Toes pedicures.
They also do hairstyles of different flavors -- from rockstar to princess to mermaid (extensions and tiaras are included) -- and there are scents on offer, too. Scents, that is, like vanilla, chocolate, strawberry or papaya nectar.
If your gal is ready for makeup, it's there. So are hair accessories and journals. And if it's her birthday, there are themed party packages -- with goody bags -- for groups of six or more.
"Unlike traditional kids spas, we decided to enhance our offerings to include make your own lotions, sugar scrubs and lip glosses," says Mallari.
"Our services range from $10 for the facial mask to $40 for the combination manicure and pedicure, making The Enchanted Lagoon Kids Spa a perfect mix of fun for kids and affordability for parents."
Reservations can be made by calling (224) 656-8130, although the spa looked well staffed while we were there, so you might be able to just stop in for service. But if I were you, I'd just make the reservation.
When you're done, look for me on the lazy river.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
