There’s something about the act of splashing that opens up a particular part of the child’s brain – the part that stores total insanity. You may have seen this happen at home in the bath where, if not quickly checked, children whip up a tsunami of destructive glee. Chippewa Falls has provided a place where your lovely little ones can vent all their shrieky, splashy joy in safety and without your porous house surfaces soaking it up: the splash pad tucked into Irvine Park. It’s a great way to take a watery afternoon trip without full-on swimming (but wear swimsuits, bring towels, and maybe grab a change of clothes). Of course, the splash pad is only one of the interesting things found in historic Irvine Park, which includes several playgrounds, trails, and a newly revamped zoo on its 300+ acres of beautiful Wisconsin woodland.