Sea World Nara Resort

Imagine sleeping in a marine theme park with dolphins and sea lions to lull the kids to bed and thrill rides to wake them up.

This huge marine animal park has splashy aquatic animal shows and plenty of interactive sea life fun such as a dolphin encounter, a dive with the sharks, and a chance to play in the water with some comical seals. Plus there is a baby dolphin pool, a marine aquarium, and an awe-inspiring water ski show. Plan to alternate days at the parks with days on the shore, so mom and dad can fortify themselves with enough rest and relaxation to enjoy a whole world of attractions: Warner Bros. Movie World, Dreamworld, Wet ‘N Wild Water World, and more.

Back home at the 405-room resort, you can relax in standard rooms or studios with kitchenettes (or combination, adjoining “family rooms”) and take advantage of the nightly supervised children’s program (for a fee), a shaded playground, and plenty of recreational options both on and off the water. When you’re ready for some gravity-defying fun, head to Dreamworld (+61 7 5588 1111), a classic theme park with what is billed as ‘one of the world’s tallest and fastest thrill rides’ — the Tower of Terror is a half-coaster, half-free fall stomach churner — plus all sorts of other rides suitable for all ages, an interactive white tiger exhibit, water slides and pools, and an IMAX theater. Warner Bros. Movie World (+61 7 5573 8485) gives visitors a chance to see a movie studio at work, while Wet n’ Wild Water World (61 7 5556 1610)  is – you guessed it – a typical water park with slides, spouts, flumes, and rides.