Even though it is summer time, there are still rainy days and beach crowds and traffic to deal with. If you want to cool off and have some wet and wild fun, try one of these indoor water parks and pools.
Indoor Water Parks
Big Kahuna’sÂ
535 North Rte. 73, West Berlin
Indoor and outdoor options mean you can play inside on the slides, wave simulator and lazy river when the weather isn’t cooperating, or head outdoors to the Beach Club when it’s warm for a cabana, tiki bar and wave pool. Inside, the Tim-Buk-Tu water playland looks like a rainforest village and includes a giant bucket dump. The preschool set will have a blast on Lizard Lagoon’s mini slides and baby bungees. Older kids will love the big family raft slides and the Nile Mile body slide, designed for big speed and thrills. There’s no hotel here, so this park makes a better day trip than weekend getaway.
Camelback Resort’s Aquatopia
193 Resort Dr., Tannersville, PA
So much more than a ski resort, Camelback’s Aquatopia is an epic vacation destination all its own. The 125,000-square-foot park includes a state-of-the-art water coaster, a thrilling raft ride called Venus Slydetrap, a splash zone for little ones, a flowrider surfing simulator and a bunch of thrilling slides. Dry off for a while and try the huge arcade, laser tag arena, mini golf course, pottery studio, spa, rock wall or one of the many dining options (we love the Trail’s End Pub & Grille).
Crystal Springs Resort
3 Wild Turkey Way, Hamburg
Visit to experience the Biosphere Pool Complex, an indoor tropical pool paradise that’ll give you that dose of summer you’ve been craving. There’s also a steam room, sauna, a large water slide, a grotto-themed jacuzzi and an underground aquarium. Hotel stay is required; see special packages here.
DreamWorks Water Park
American Dream, 1 American Dream Way, Rutherford
Located inside American Dream is the largest indoor water park in North America. This park is home to the world’s largest indoor wave pool where aspiring surfers can learn how to hang ten like a pro on 1.6 million gallons of water. If you are more into relaxing, the park is also home to the longest indoor lazy river, where your favorite DreamWorks characters, like Shrek, will shoot and spray water at you while you ride. There are also lots of slides, for all ages, including Dragon & Donkey’s Flight, a huge tube ride, The Carnivortex, which drops you horizontally through a trapdoor, or Toothless’ Trickling Torpedo, which is the world’s longest hydromagnetic rocket coaster. There’s the Kungfu Panada Temple of Awesomeness play area, and the Penguins Frozen Fun Zone if you want some low-key fun play.Â
Great Wolf Lodge
1 Great Wolf Dr., Scotrun, PAÂ
The original Poconos indoor water park with a sweet, woodsy theme boasts a glow-in-the-dark mini-golf course, a mini bowling alley and a full menu that caters to families with all kinds of dietary restrictions. Don’t miss the amazing slideboard attraction, where you ride and play a video game at the same time (it’s like playing Guitar Hero in an LED water tube). There’s a huge splash area for the little guys with several slides, plus a lazy river, indoor wave pool and hot spring. There’s also a super cute spa for kids, an arcade, a motion thrill ride called the Howly Wood XD Theater, an outdoor obstacle-filled ropes course and glow-in-the-dark mini golf.
Island Waterpark
Showboat Resort, 801 Boardwalk, Atlantic City
The largest indoor/outdoor beachfront water park has 100,000 square feet of water fun. The family-friendly park features epic water slides, lazy rivers, pools and restaurants as well as outlet shopping, plus a special kids-free area for adults. There are 11 water slides, a surf simulator and a 10,300-square-foot splash pad. There is a lazy river traveling around most of the park. There’s a special Kids’ Cove, plus a 30-foot-tall treehouse.
Kalahari
250 Kalahari Blvd., Pocono Manor, PA
There’s tons to do here, including dizzying slides like the Anaconda water coaster and the Wild Wildebeest raft ride. There are also indoor and outdoor hot tubs (both adults-only and for families), a long, lazy river, a Flowrider and in-pool obstacle courses for the kids. Out of the water, you can spend time in the spa, check out the virtual reality attraction XD Dark Ride or play blacklight mini golf. Get pampered at the spa and salon, or let the kids run wild in the arcade.
The Kartrite
555 Resorts World Dr., Monticello, NY
The Kartrite is the biggest indoor water park in NY and has everything from a ropes course and laser tag to a spa and fitness center to climbing walls and mini bowling on top of its pools and slides. Head there for a packed arcade, hiking trails, archery, s’mores pits and more. Visit the nearby Bethel Woods, the location of the iconic 1969 Woodstock Festival and the official Woodstock museum at Bethel Woods Center for the Arts.
Montego Bay Resort
1800 Boardwalk, North Wildwood
Down the shore in North Wildwood, this hotel has a small indoor water park, which includes a pool, water slide, children’s play area and jacuzzi. Hotel stay is required to use the indoor water park.
Rocking Horse Ranch
600 State Rte. 44/55, Highland, NY
If you love the idea of an indoor water park, but don’t want to spend a whole weekend by the pool, this place offers a mind-boggling number of dry activities. Perfect for a long weekend or school break, Rocking Horse features The Gold Rush, a 250-foot-long flume ride, cargo net challenge, giant dumping bucket and some smaller slides for the preschoolers in your party. There’s a relaxation space for the adults and year-round 85-degree pool. This is a true ranch, complete with horseback riding (they teach the kids) and full-day camps. There’s also an arcade, scavenger hunts, archery, skiing (snow and water), snow tubing, ice skating, basketball, bocce, horseshoes, nature trails, activities, playgrounds and bonfires. Did we mention it’s all-inclusive?
Split Rock Resort & Golf Club
428 Moseywood Rd., Lake Harmony, PA
This resort features the H2Oooohh! indoor water park. There are water play options for all ages, including an indoor Flowrider, slides that drop from four stories high, hot tubs and a play area for little ones. The water park is open to the public; overnight accommodations not required. Be sure to bring your own towel.
Indoor Swimming Pools
Plan a fantastic weekend getaway to one of these New Jersey hotels, all of which have an indoor pool.
Marriott Park Ridge
300 Brae Blvd., Park Ridge
In addition to the indoor pool (it connects to the outdoor pool, so you can go from one to the other when it’s warm enough) and whirlpool, there’s also a sauna and solarium.
Sheraton Parsippany Hotel
199 Smith Rd., Parsippany
The kids will love that this hotel looks like a castle. Guests will find a heated indoor pool and jacuzzi, as well as special rates and offers for families and NJ residents. Limited capacity reservations for the pool can be made by contacting the fitness center.
For even more places to go swimming in the winter, check out local community centers and YMCAs, many of which have options for day or session passes.
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