8 Great American Water Parks

on July 22, 2015

10best.com

Make a Splash

Does the summer heat have you dripping with sweat and yawning with indoor boredom? Escape with a splash of adventure! With breathtaking wild rides, relaxing lazy rivers, wave pools and splash zones for little ones, water parks are a summer staple for thrill seekers and chillaxers alike. These famous water parks boast terrifying rides, family-friendly splash pads, and overall summer thrills

wdwblog.net

Disney\'s Typhoon Lagoon (Orlando, FL)

Of course Disney\'s got it all, and Typhoon Lagoon is one park you won\'t want to miss! The park opened in 1989 and features an exciting post-typhoon theme with the likes of a shipwrecked island full of new adventure. The centerpiece of the park is a giant wave poolu2013supposedly one of the largest in the worldu2013underneath Mount Mayday, which erupts with a water geyser every half hour. A decrepit ship, \"Miss Tilly,\" adorns the mountain\'s peak. The park has everything, including speed slides, fast flumes, raft rides, waterfalls, a relaxing white sand beach, a water coaster, tidal pools for exploring and even a shark tank in which brave swimmers can snorkel among real sharks! With fun for the whole family to enjoy, it\'s a total must-see.

Learn more about it here.

Charlie Riedel | Associated Press

Schlitterbahn (Kansas City, KS)

Adrenaline junkies, here is your ride. The Schlitterbahn in Kansas City features one of the world\'s tallest water slides, which stands taller than the Niagara Falls at 168 feet highu2013that\'s 17 stories tall! The ride\'s name, Verru00fcckt, means \"insane\" in German, and its thrill has been described as \"falling out of the sky\" since the raft travels around 60-70 mph! If speed\'s not your thing, the classic water park has tube rides, beaches, a lazy river, a surfing wave, a zip line, and tons more! Kids can play in splash zones while adults hang at the swim-up bar, and thrill-seekers can get their fill of awesome rides. Totally worth the trip!

Learn more here.

 

momshaven.wordpress.com

Noah\'s Ark (Wisconsin Dells, WI)

Noah\'s Ark in Wisconsin claims to be the largest waterpark in America, with 51 water slides and even more attractions scattered throughout the park! One of the rides, called the Black Anaconda, is America\'s longest water coaster at over a quarter of a mile long, and Scorpion\'s Tail is the country\'s first \"upside-down looping body slide.\" The park offers thrill rides like The Point of No Return, Black Thunder, and Time Warp, which feature fully straight drops, enclosed twisting tubes, and spinning bowls, respectively. There are also fun kiddie attractions and gentler rides that are a bit easier for the less enthusiastic park-goers. This is one bucket list spot you\'ve gotta check out!

Find more info here.

raisedbyculture.com

Raging Waters (San Dimas, CA)

There are three Raging Waters water parks in California--in San Dimas, Sacramento, and San Josu00e9u2013all claiming to be the largest water park in the state. The most popular park, at San Dimas, features a brand new ride this year called Aqua Rocket, which is California\'s first hydromagnetic coaster and spans nearly two football fields. It uses roller coaster technology to propel rafts uphill and rocket them downhill for a faster, more thrilling water-ride experience. But that\'s far from all the park, which contains 49 rides, has to offer. There are incredible racer rides, group tube rides, extreme body slides, a surf simulator, and other waves, rivers, and pools! It\'s time to hit up southern California, because this park is top-notch.

Get more info here.

Justin Cash | Jay Peak Resort

Pump House Indoor Waterpark (Jay, VT)

What makes Pump House so special is that it is fully indoors, which makes it the perfect spot to escape those frigid Vermont winters, which seem to drag on forever. Enclosed by a 60,000 square foot dome that is retractable for the summer months, this water park has tons of slides, tubes, kiddie play zones, and a giant lazy river that claims to be \"the longest indoor action river in the country.\" There\'s even a swim-up bar to entertain older guests while the kids are at play. In the midst of winter, you can pop on your swimsuit and enjoy 86-degree \"weather\" inside the dome. It\'s a New England delight that brings a little bit of tropical fun up north!

Get more info here.

 

wdw-magazine.com

Blizzard Beach (Orlando, FL)

On the other end of the countryu2013down south, that isu2013there\'s a park that brings winter snow to the sunny banks of Florida. That\'s right, Disney\'s Blizzard Beach is a retro snow globe of winter-themed activities right outdoors in the blazing hot sunu2013a paradoxical land of fun that all ages will find amusing. The whole park is themed as a melting ski resort with patches of thawing \"snow,\" fir trees, ice caps, slippery slopes, chair lifts and more. With rides like the Summit Plummet, Toboggan Racers, and Slusher Gusher, two worlds collide under snowy Mount Gushmore for some chilly summer excitement! No park is quite like Blizzard Beach simply because its theme is so unique. The whole family will love the slushy, frosty fun that the park has to offer!

Get more info here.

thrillgeek.com

Water Country USA (Williamsburg, VA)

\"Let\'s go surfing nowu2013Everybody\'s learning how. Come on a safari with me!\" This throwback water park sets the stage as a 50\'s and 60\'s-style surf park with totally tubular rides and hoppin\' food joints that\'ll take you back in time. It\'s one of the biggest water parks in the Mid-Atlantic region and features rides like Wild Thang, Cow-A-Bunga, and Rock-n-Roll Island, all of which will rock your socks off! There are over 30 rides and attractions, and the park often has live entertainment to keep the party rollin\' all day long. Be sure to catch a wave at their giant wave pool that has over 4-foot-tall waves, or make a splash on the newest ride, the Colossal Curl. This park is an American classic that can\'t be beat!

Get more info here.

Steven Bridges | Business Wire

Dollywood\'s Splash Country (Pigeon Forge, TN)

As a special addition to the main park, Splash Country stands adjacent to Dollywood and brings back some of Dolly Parton\'s memories of river rafting and exploring in the Smoky Mountains. Nestled amongst the trees and rocks of the Smokies, this water park is unique for its down-home country feel and adventurous outdoor atmosphere that makes you feel like you\'re actually on a grand journey in the great outdoors! The rides mimic waterfalls, wild rapids, gentle floating rivers, mountain chutes, and pool plunges. It\'s a great way to beat the heat at Dollywood and get a true Tennessee experience along the way.

Get more info here.