15 Best Water Parks for Kids

Summer means vacation time for kids and their parents. One of the best options to enjoy the summer season is to visit a water park. Kids and adults both love going to waterparks as it’s the highlight of any summer holiday. Water park for kids is the perfect place to enjoy in the sun yet beat the heat. Here are some water parks you can consider the next time you and your child want to relax in the water and enjoy the thrilling slides. But first, read through the tips that can help you keep your child safe in the water when you visit the water park.

Tips to Keep Children Safe at Water Parks

When going to a water park, adults know all about what precautions and safety measures they need to take at the slides and pools, but kids need supervision. It’s, therefore, always better to give them tips beforehand. Here are some tips to keep children safe at water parks (1):

• Always ensure your kids are insight, or some known adult is keeping an eye on them. Ask the kids to not to go far away from the adults.
• Use sunscreen and lip balm before entering the water. Preferably use a water-resistant sunscreen to avoid washing it off in the water. Re-apply every few hours to save the children from harmful sun rays.
• Ask the kids to wear life vests or floaters even if they know how to swim in deeper pools.
• Ensure your kids drink enough water to stay hydrated in the sun. If possible, avoid sugary drinks or sodas.
• Instruct the kids about the rules of the slides or pools and ask them to follow them.
• Do remember to bring warm and dry clothes to change into after having fun in the water.
• Decide a central meeting point at the water park and ensure your child knows it. Your kid can meet you at the point in case he/she gets separated when at the water park.

Now, let’s head straight on to learn about some water parks you must take your child to.

15 Popular Water Park Attractions for Children

Image Credit: AI Generated

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A trip to a water park seems heavenly in the hot summers, but all waterparks are not the same. Visiting a city just for the water park is the highlight of summer vacations. The best water parks have some intense slides, first-class pools, and an extensive playground for kids to frolic around. So, for this vacation, choose from this list of popular waterparks for children:

1. Noah’s Ark Waterpark

One of the most popular kid-friendly waterparks in the Midwest, Noah’s Ark Water park is also a favourite among adults. The amusement park has many activities and rides for the whole family. The whole family can have boundless fun with numerous attractions, entertainment and dining options. It is perfect for a whole family for a weekend or vacation.

Location – Wisconsin Dells, WI

Why It’s Great

Noah’s Ark Water park is known for its thrilling vertical drop ride called the ’10-story Scorpion’s Tail’. The park also has several gentle and kiddie rides for the young kids including bumper boats, multiple water play areas and two endless rivers. Its famous Tadpole Bay and Paradise lagoon can keep kids busy playing for hours.

2. Shipwreck Island Water Park

Florida, with its beautiful weather and beaches, is perfect for the summer vacation. Enjoy with the kids at the Shipwreck Island water park to cool off in the sun. The park is one of the best water parks of the state due to its ideal location with extreme slides for adults and fun slides for kids.

Location – Jacksonville Beach, Florida

Why It’s Great 

Shipwreck Island Water Park is perfect for interactive family time with loads of activities with four extreme slides such as Eye of the Storm, 40-feet high slide, Typhoon Lagoon wave pool and lazy river. The kids love its Kiddie Cove and Pirate’s Paly Village where they play in the water for hours enjoying the water cannons. The park also has a mini-golf course, go-kart track and laser tag arena.

3. Castaway Bay Water Park

Castaway Bay water park is located in Cedar Point, Sandusky,  the Roller Coaster Capital of the world. Cedar Point has some of the most thrilling rides along with the largest collection of roller coasters in the world.  This water park is suitable for all kids, including infants. There are several water slides and other activities for adults too, so the whole family can spend an enjoyable day here.

Location – Cedar Point, Ohio

Why It’s Great

The Castaway Water Park is an inexpensive indoor water park that spans an area of 38,000 square feet. The park has numerous attractions such as water roller coaster, kids area, wave pool, water slides and whirlpool spas. It’s Toddler Tide Pool has the depth of just 18 inches, which is perfect for young swimmers. There are toddler-friendly tandem slides, and sea creatures for toddlers to climb. The sprawling water park has an amazing view of Lake Erie, numerous rides to keep the kids busy, and live entertainment shows.

4. NRH20 Water Park

This outdoor toddler water park is located at 20 minutes from Gravepine, Texas. The park is a heaven for toddlers and young kids with many slides, pools and other activities, especially for them.

Location – North Richland Hills, Texas

Why It’s Great

The NRH20 Water Park is known for its kid-friendly slides and pools. Your child can crawl through the tadpole swimming hole all over the creature and enjoy the various kiddies’ waterslides, lily pads and nets.  Parents can also join in the fun with their kids.

5. Wet ‘n’ Wild Palm Springs

Wet ‘n’ Wilds Palm Springs is one the most popular water parks for both kids and adults. Known as an Oasis in the desert, the water park has tonnes of thrilling rides for the whole family. It has a family-oriented atmosphere, perfect for a family holiday.

Location – Palm Springs, CA

Why It’s Great 

The water park is known for its adventurous roller coaster, raft rides, a 600-foot-long lazy river and tidal wave tower slides that have 7 floors.

6. Schlitterbahn Water Park

Schlitterbahn Water park is a popular amusement park for the whole family. Enjoy the summer vacation with the vast array of activities and rides in this park.

Location – New Braunfels, Texas

Why It’s Great 

Schlitterbahn Water park is known for its Congo River Expedition. Kids can enjoy the inner tube before plunging three stories. The Master Blaster Uphill Water Coaster is everyone’s favourite too. Little kids can splash around in the haven which has wading pool and slides.

7. Raging Waves Water Park

Raging Waves Waterpark is not only popular in Illinois, but all over the world too. It is the largest water park in Illinois and has numerous slides, pools and other attractions for the enjoyment of the whole family.

Location – Yorkville, Illinois

Why It’s Great 

The Raging Waves Water park has 32 water slides, wave pools, lazy river, and multiple children play areas. The park is popular for Aussie Mat Dash, a six-lane racing slide, which is one of the only three such slides in the world. The fun water park has several slow-paced attractions for the kids to enjoy.

8. Jungle Jim’s Waterpark

Jungle Jim’s Water park is perfect for families who need a break from the beach. The safari water park, the kiddies’ pool and the spray ground are kids’ favourites here.

Location – Rehoboth Beach, Delaware

Why It’s Great  

Jungle Jim’s Water park is kids’ favourite as it has zero-entry pools, a pirate ship and splash ads. Other activities in the park include mini-golf, bumper boats, batting cages, tub slides, rope climbing, and activity pool. Adults enjoy the thrilling slides that include Wonambi tube slide, and PJ’s Plummet, which is a high-speed slide that reaches a speed of 40 mph. The Kangaroo Falls has kid-friendly slides, and there’s water cannons and rope bridges along with a family raft slide.

9. Aquaventure

Aquaventure is the largest outdoor water park in the Caribbean. The water park is full of different themed slides and is a must-visit for families visiting the Bahamas.

Location – Paradise Island, Bahamas

Why It’s Great 

The large water park has several themed slides and fountains, such as Splashers which is a Mayan-theme water playground. Kids enjoy the variety of water slides and also the lazy river. The water park has more than 20 swimming pools along with 11 different pools which include 3 kids’ pools. Other popular attraction here is the Power Tower, which is a 120 feet tower with four slides.

10. Typhoon Lagoon

Typhoon Lagoon is one of the best water parks for toddlers and young kids. The park has several slides and water activities for kids.

Location – Orlando, Florida

Why It’s Great

The beautiful water park is famous because it has sections specifically designed for kids, toddlers and adults. Some famous slides include the Bay Slides, Ketchakiddee creek and Castaway Creek. Kids can enjoy the small slides, mini inner tube ride, water cannons, squirting seals, and waterfalls, while the adults can swim with sharks in the saltwater lagoon or enjoy the wave pool.

11. Water Country

Started in 1984, Water Country is among the top fun water parks in the United States. The water park boasts numerous exciting slides and swimming pools for kids as well as adults, which makes this a top family destination.

Location – Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Why It’s Great

Water Country is known for the Giant Wave Pool, the largest wave pool in New England and the classic Adventure River. Spanned across 26 acres, this full-filled family destination has three separate kiddie play areas featuring a pirate ship from which children can shoot water cannons, slide down an octopus, and enjoy a bucket bath from the giant tipping bucket at the tree house. While young children prefer Pirates Lagoon and Tahiti Treehouse, teenagers flock to thrilling water rides like Dr. Von Dark’s Tunnel of Terror and Dragon’s Den. Adults planning for a laze while kids have their thrill can lounge at luxurious poolside loungers.

12. Water World

Part of the part of the Hyland Hills Park and Recreation District, Water World located in Federal Heights, Colorado, is a wonderful venue for fun and frolic for people of all ages.

Location – 10 minutes north of Downtown Denver

Why It’s Great

Spanned across 70 acres of land, this premiere park boasts 50 attractions, including several family rides like the Voyage to the Center of the Earth, Lost River of the Pharaohs, Alpine Springs area, a giant wave pool, speed slides, and white-water rapids. With free parking, picnics, and tube valet service, you are sure to spend most of your time enjoying the rides and food. It also offers picturesque photos with the Rocky Mountains in the background. Private bungalows and cabanas are available for those wanting to laze in privacy.

13. LEGOLAND California Water Park

Located in LEGOLAND California, LEGOLAND California Water Park is every child’s dream place.

Location – Carlsbad, California

Why It’s Great

The waterpark has over 20 LEGO models scattered throughout the park, along with playful LEGO characters that spray water on visitors. At Build-A-Raft River, guests can design their own rafts with soft LEGO bricks. Toddlers have special splash zones with DUPLO animals to enjoy. The LEGO Legends of Chima Water Park adds even more excitement, featuring a beach, wave pool, water slides, and water cannons.

14. Splish Splash Water Park

Plan a water fun day with your family and head to Splish Splash Water Park as it offers some of the most magical water park experience in New York. It is open from May to September.

Location – Calverton, New York

Why It’s Great

Spanned across 98 acres, this impressive water park features exciting 20 water slides, the most-awaited wave pools, and family tubing rides. The Octopus Pool and Pirates Cove are every kid’s favourite for unlimited fun, while teenagers prefer rides like Dr. Von Dark’s Tunnel of Terror, Shotgun Falls, Bombs Away, and Alien Invasion.

15. Wet’n’Wild Hawaii

For a rich experience of Hawaii with fun water rides, Wet’n’Wild Hawaii is the place to be! It is the only water park in the state of Hawaii.

Location – Kapolei, Oahu, Hawaii

Why It’s Great

Nestled among lush tropical landscapes and cliffs, Wet’n’Wild Hawaii houses over 25 attractions, each offering unique and thrilling adventures. Hawaiian Waters, a 400,000-gallon wave pool, Lil Kahuna Beach, featuring water slides and tipping buckets, Tornado, a giant swirling 45-foot funnel releasing into calmer waters, and Shaka that offers 36-foot vertical plunge into a u-shaped slide are worth the excitement. Also, get ready to be amazed by the Polynesian culture’s fire-knife dance!

How to Choose a Perfect Water Park for Kids?

Choosing the right water park that is equipped with all the necessary facilities for kids and adults is essential to ensure children’s safety and health. Whether it is a free water park for kids or an indoor water park for kids, here are some pointers you can keep in mind while choosing a water park for kids.

• The water park should be at a reasonable distance from your home, making the journey enjoyable and not taxing.
• The rides and activities at water parks are based on weight and height. Checking the information beforehand will help give you the average of how many rides, slides, or activities you child is eligible for so they enjoy the most.
• Check for the facilities like cafeteria, souvenir shops, lockers, bathrooms, changing rooms, etc., before you go.

FAQs

1. What important things parents should know to avoid water-borne illness at waterparks?

The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests some pointers for parents (2):

• Instruct children never to drink pool water. They must ask you for water if they feel thirsty.
• If your child is sick, especially with diarrhoea, you should avoid the water park.
• Keep bathroom breaks every hour.
• Shower before heading home to remove all the chlorine present in the water.

2. What are the health risks of water parks?

According to the CDC, Cryptosporidium and Giardia are major swimming-related illnesses that spread from faecal matter in the pools (3). E.coli and Crypto (short for Cryptosporidium) can make swimmers seriously sick, sometimes even leading to hospitalisation.

3. Which water park ride or slide owns the biggest growing risk?

Wave pools carry the biggest drowning risk in waterparks. Thus, parents are advised to keep weaker or smaller children away from wave pools. As a general precaution, parents should always keep one eye on their young or weak swimmers as well as within their one arm’s reach. Life jackets are a great options to keep them secure.

Water parks is the best way to keep it cool during the summer season and create happy memories with the family. Give some or all of these water parks a try. Your entire family will love the decisions you made and cherish all the fun they had at the water park.

References/Resources:

1. Water Park Safety Tips; IAAPA; https://www.iaapa.org/connections/water-parks-resorts/water-park-safety-tips

2. 5 Things You Need to Know About Water Parks, But Probably Don’t; American Academy of Pediatrics; https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-play/Pages/Water-Park-Safety.aspx

3. Responding to Pool Contamination; CDC; https://www.cdc.gov/healthy-swimming/response/index.html

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Joyful Water Games and Activities for Kids
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