Mountain Creek
Waterpark
Sitting at the top of a mountain in Vernon,
NJ you’ll find a winter ski-resort turned
warm-weather water park at Mountain
Creek. The adventure-seeker will find plenty to do; jump off a cliff, swing
among the trees and freefall into the water or plummet 99-feet on the
H2-Oh-No’s vertical drop. For a tamer trip, try the River Runner slide or the
Junior Rapids—both great for the timid rider. —
Great Wolf Lodge
Great Wolf Lodge is
the perfect water park for not-so-perfect weather. Nestled in the Pocono
Mountains, this constantly 84-degree indoor water park features the
one-of-a-kind Hydro Plunge, a water ride-roller coaster hybrid on a motorized
track that plunges you on a 52-foot vertical drop. All 79,000 square feet of
the park are packed with exciting slides and rides as well as zero-depth entry
pools and toddler-sized entertainment for the little ones.
Six Flag’s Hurricane Harbor
Six Flags Great Adventure may be known best for their
gut-wrenching roller coasters, but on a hot summer day the park next door, Hurricane Harbor,
may be your best bet for thrills and spills! The water park has everything from
fast action adventure rides to an expansive kiddie area.
Tomahawk Lake
Become one with nature at Tomahawk Lake Waterpark, where you can rent
swan boats, paddle boats or bumper boats on the beautiful 20-acre lake. Try the
500-foot tube ride “The Black Snake” or the 610-foot Mammouth Flume Raft Ride
and let the young kids explore their own private Papoose
Land where they can climb a giant
turtle or frog, go down mini-water slides and paddle in kiddie canoes and
bumper boats.
Dorney Park’s Wild
Water Kingdom
About two hours west of Manhattan
you’ll find Dorney Park’s Wild Water
Kingdom. With 22 water slides, two wavepools,
two lazy rivers and four kid’s play areas, there is no shortage of attractions
for the whole family at Wild Water
Kingdom. Plus, one ticket gives you
admission to both Dorney Park’s
amusement park and Wild Water
Kingdom for the best of both worlds!
The Land of Make Believe
If a full day at the water park seems like too much for your
little one, consider The Land of Make
Believe in Hope, NJ.
With the charm of a county fair and the attractions of a major water park, this
place has it all. Visit the world’s largest wading pool, let the kids play on a
life-size pirate ship, float down the pirate-themed lazy river, and check out
one of the 40-foot-high water slides. When you’re done with the water works you
can head over to the dry rides, meet a talking scarecrow, visit Old McDonald’s
farm or settle down at the picnic area for lunch.
Splish Splash
Complete with a brand new body surfing wave-pool, boasting
4-foot waves, Splish Splash
in Riverhead, Long Island has become a destination water
park for city slickers and beyond. Attractions like the Tunnel of Terror and
Giant Twister are perfect for excitement-seeking older children and adults. For
the little ones, “my-size” slides and pools at the Kiddie Cove are also
available.
Splash Zone
Make your trip to the Jersey
Shore complete with a day at Splash Zone Waterpark, located
right on the famous boardwalk in Wildwood, NJ. Take in the sights and sounds of
the boardwalk as you float down Rivy’s River or take a walk on the wild side
with the 6-person whitewater raft ride, The Beast of the East.
Sahara Sam’s Oasis
With unique attractions like an indoor surfing simulator, a
water obstacle course and Sam’s Slamdunker–a pool designed to shoot hoops in–Sahara Sam’s Oasis indoor water park in West
Berlin, NJ has something for
everyone. The park also features a relaxing lazy river, freestanding water tree
fort, tube slides, raft rides and the toddler-friendly Lizard Lagoon.
Camelbeach
Camelbeach, located
in Tannersville, PA,
is a water-lovers dream as slides, pools and rides abound. For a relaxing
start, you can grab a lounge chair and enjoy a picturesque view of the Pocono
Mountains from the Olympic-sized pool. Kids and adults can play
together at Pharaoh’s Fortress and Camel Cove, the park’s two family
interactive play structures. Finally, pick up the pace on Camelbeach’s
Checkered Flag Challenge and Triple Venom Speed Slides, go on an adventure down
the Blue Nile River, or get caught spinning in the park’s two bowl slides.
Water Safari
Visit New York’s
largest water theme park in Old Forge at Water
Safari Enchanted Forest, where you’ll find over 50 rides and attractions
for the whole family. Race friends and fam on Serengeti Surf Hill, take a
half-mile journey on the not-so-lazy river, Log Jammer, and let the little ones
in on the fun at Pygmy Pond. When you’ve had enough of the water for the day, dry
off on the amusement rides or while watching the 2011 Family Circus Show.
Lake Compounce
Experience two parks in one at Lake Compounce in Bristol,
CT. Spend the day choosing between the
thrills of the park’s water rides, including three twist-and-turn tube slides,
a lazy river and a wave pool and the classic amusement rides including roller
coasters, bumper cars and an antique carousel.
CoCo Key Water Resort
And
if you’re on your way to Philly (for any reason!) you don’t want to miss the
indoor CoCo Key Water Resort
at The Hotel ML in Mount Laurel, NJ.
For children 3 and up, there is Parrot’s Perch, a multi-level interactive play
island with slides, water cannons and a water-dumping buckets. For smaller
swimmers, there’s the Dip-In Theater Pool with more slides and Baby Bungies.
And, for anyone with pruney fingers, the Key Quest Arcade promises state-of-the-art
video games alongside tried-and-true classics.
SplashDown Beach
Take a trip to SplashDown Beach Water Park in Fishkill, NY
for a day of rides, slides and thrills. Try out Humanga Half-Pipe, New York’s only
zero-gravity half-pipe. Or, if you’re looking for some fun in the sand, head over
to Rock Beach. Plus the new Bob the Builder SplashWorks offers over 50
interactive and guest appearances from Bob the Builder himself!
And for more great water adventures this summer, check out our list of the city’s great pools and beaches.
