5 Fun Water Parks to Get Your Splash on This Summer

Updated on July 13, 2015 at 6:17 AM

Summer's ripe for water park fun! Our friends at All You share their favorite water parks in America.

With New Jersey's Action Park preparing to bring back its notorious Cannonball Loop next Summer, it seems like an apt time to spotlight some of the best family-friendly water parks across the US that still bring the fun . . . but with less bone-cracking potential. While you won't find any rides with gravity-defying vertical loops at the destinations below, each one has a unique feature (or several!) that sets it apart from your standard water park. So grab the kids and hit the road this Summer — you're in for a splashing good time.

Great Wolf Lodge — Williamsburg, VA

The largest chain of indoor water parks in the world, Great Wolf Lodge also has locations in Concord, NC; Mason, OH; Grand Mound, WA; Grapevine, TX; Kansas City, KS; Boston; Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada; Pocono Mountains, PA; Sandusky, OH; Southern California; Traverse City, MI; and Wisconsin Dells, WI. Don’t miss out on the Howlin’ Tornado — a six-story funnel where you and three others spin up and around before splash-landing in a pool of water at the bottom.

Water Park of America — Bloomington, MN

Go big or go home. This 70,000-square-foot aquatic wonderland features more than two dozen rides for daredevils and leisure lovers alike. Grab the fam, and head for the Eagles Nest Family Raft Ride, which zips visitors through over a mile of twisted tubing while dropping 10 stories. Then unwind on the St. Croix River Ride that passes Minnesota’s Lake Itasca.

Splash Lagoon — Erie, PA

A 12-level interactive tree house and treetops ropes course is a major highlight of this tropical Polynesian-themed water park. Walk on a tight rope and balance on rickety bridges and beams three stories high over the water park, then relax by floating along the Lazy River. Three hotels are also connected to the resort, as well as Hooch & Blotto’s Sports Bar & Grill.

Wings & Waves — McMinnville, OR

A Boeing 747 aircraft on the roof is the starting point of four waterslides at this educational water park, located at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum. Kids can learn about the science and power of water at the attached museum, through such hands-on activities as building "tsunami-proof" models in classrooms and then testing them in the 91,000-gallon wave pool.

Schlitterbahn — Kansas City, KS

While this water park boasts four different locations across the country, including three in Texas (New Braunfels, Galveston, South Padre Island), the Schlitterbahn in Kansas City is home to the world’s tallest waterslide. The Verrückt, which opened late last Summer, stands at 168 feet, 7 inches, and uses blaster jets to get folks over the bend. Also, be sure to check out the world’s longest tidal wave river and giant hot tub with a swim-up refreshment bar.

More great reads from All You:
Make Your Own Water Park at Home
7 Fun Water Games and Crafts to Keep Kids Cool All Summer Long
How to Beat the Heat For Less