Splash Off!

We’re big fans of a family day at a good water park, and though
the only ones we have in the city are the natural kind (our great
beaches),  there actually are a lot of great water parks in striking
distance to anchor a great day trip or weekend adventure.  (New Jersey
alone should be renamed the Water Park State.)
 If you’re looking for another watery antidote to the heat, splash down
with our big list of crazy fun water parks.

Great
Wolf Lodge

—The Pennsylvania
outpost of this great national chain of indoor water park resorts has lots of
cool rides and cleverly plays off the back-to-nature nature theme in its
family-friendly  lodge (hotel, really), which also has a dandy arcade. Info: greatwolf.com

Splish Splash—Not too far from Riverhead and the Hamptons,  its 96 acres of water fun constitute one of the
best water parks in the whole country, according to the Travel Channel. Info: splishsplashlongisland.com

CoCo Key Water
Resort

—Another top national
chain, they have two local indoors parks, in  Mt. Laurel, New Jersey, and Waterbury, CT, this fun
indoor water park offers the obvious advantage of great accommodations. Info:: cocokeywaterresort.com

Six Flag’s
Hurricane Harbor

—In
Central Jersey,  the water park has the thrills you’d expect from Six
Flags along with calmer mellow  for younger kids. Info: sixflags.com/hurricaneHarborNJ

Sahara
Sam’s Oasis

— Who knew
there were all these great indoor water parks? Here’s another in south Jersey. 
saharasams.com

Splash
Zone

—This is Wildwood’s big
Kahuna of a  water park with lots of adventures from the calm.  splashzonewaterpark.com

Mountain
Creek

—In Northern New Jersey,  this great park specializes in  unconventional
rides like a cliff jump into a natural pool of water.  Added bonus: it’s
set on a mountain amid miles of natural beauty, Info: mountaincreekwaterpark.com

Dorney Park and
Wildwater Kingdom —
 The massive combo of this
legendary amusement park and water park in Pennsylvania is hard to beat (as long as you bring a change of
clothes).   Info: dorneypark.com