The beginning of August is near, which means the start of the next school year and the end of summer are both approaching quickly. It’s enough to make anyone groan.
Don’t get too upset, though, because even if the summer is coming to a close soon, that doesn’t mean the fun has to end! You just have to find the right place.
Luckily for the Valparaiso community, the right place isn’t far. Zao Island, packed with timeless attractions and a brand-new roller coaster, is the perfect place to keep soaking in that summer fun even as the sunshine starts to fade.
“Spike Jr.’s Shipwreck” is the latest addition to the Zao attraction arsenal, and the spinning coaster creates a way for guests to get a taste of a theme park without leaving Valparaiso.
Riders can sit in a cart with up to three other people. The track guides the carts in a figure-eight pattern with elevation changes to ensure maximum adrenaline during the ride. It may have a small footprint, but it is sure to get your blood pumping.
Zao Island’s Summer Concert Series will continue well into August. The entertainment spot located on Route 30 hosts live music for the whole family each Friday during the summer from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Some of the Region’s hottest musicians, such as Derek Caruso and the Blues Fuse, The Planetary Blues Band, and Soulshine, have come to Zao to rock the night away.
Upcoming visits will feature the Jason Martin Trio, ReTurn2SouL, Head Honchos, and Chris and Lou. These events are sure to keep spirits up as summer comes to a close and will continue every week until August 25.
If music isn’t your jam, Zao Island has plenty of other attractions to keep the fun going. Zao is notorious for its two mini-golf courses rated as some of USA Today’s most unique miniature-golf courses in the United States.
Each mini-golf course—one carpeted red and the other blue—is decked out with obstacles. There are over 20 waterfalls and eight different scenes to explore. They even have a 30-foot stone dragon, which is so big that it can be seen from the highway, guarding over the courses.
Mini golf is $7 per person, and kids 3 and under can play for free.
Going to Zao Island’s arcade is a great way to keep the end-of-summer gloom away, too. Zao has plenty of fan favorites, such as “Guitar Hero” and “Dance Dance Revolution,” but if there’s anything Zao is known for, it’s its goal of bringing in new entertainment for its customers. Two of Zao’s newest games—“Hungry Hippos” and “Axe Master”—have been fan favorites since their introduction to the arcade.
“Hungry Hippos” puts an arcade spin on the classic game everyone knows and loves. It’s great for kids who need to expend some energy before heading back to school.
“Axe Master” lets you put your axe-throwing skills to the test, let off some steam, and aim for the bullseye to earn tons of points.
If you get hungry during your fight to continue the summer excitement, you can hop on over to Zao Pizza Bar and enjoy all kinds of delicious food. You can build your own pizza or pick out one of their tasty specialty pizzas like the Santa Fe Chicken or the Paradise Supreme. Zao Pizza Bar has many different types of bread to enjoy as well as cheese sticks, fries, and wings. There is also a selection of 35 specialty beers and wines as well.
If all of that is not enough, there are countless other ways to hold onto the joys of summer a while longer at Zao Island. Whether it’s batting cages, laser tag, or go-karts, Zao is the perfect place to enjoy the last bits of summer and ease into another beautiful fall season.
Zao Island is located off U.S. Route 30 in Valparaiso and is open Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
To learn more about Zao Island and its many attractions, visit zaoisland.net.
