Cold winter weather doesn’t mean that the entire family can’t enjoy time in the water with swimming and water sports. It may be dreary outside, but there are many indoor water parks throughout the country where water fun is always available. Often these water parks are located near hotels or resorts, making it an easy way to take a winter weekend trip without leaving the country or traveling far away to areas such as Florida. Water parks also allow swim students to maintain and improve their skills even when the weather outside is bad. Here are some of the best.
Kalahari Resort, WI
Wisconsin may be known for its harsh winter months but at the Wisconsin Dells indoor water park, your family will enjoy all of the water sports available. With 125,000 square feet, there is something for everyone from a lazy river that travels 920 feet to the Victoria Falls waterslide. If that isn’t enough, there is a group raft ride that travels 504 feet. An underwater virtual reality experience allows kids to swim with fish while adults can enjoy a beverage at the swim-up bar.
DreamWorks Water Park, East Rutherford, NJ
New Jersey is not known for balmy winters, but its indoor water parks offer a lot of opportunities for fun in the water even when the weather is bad. DreamWorks water park delivers the most opportunities for fun with the largest selection of water rides in the world. This includes a large indoor wave pool. There is also a 14-story tall slide that will provide the exhilarating experience the kids may go crazy for.
Wild Water Dome, Sevierville, TN
Exploring Great Smoky Mountains National Park is a great way to bring the family together. Cheap Gatlinburg cabins offer affordable and spacious accommodations for getaways. When the weather is bad or everyone would rather spend the day in the water, the nearby resort Wilderness at the Smokies has the perfect indoor water park for everyone, the Wild Water Dome. For adventure seekers, there is a five-story raft ride, a wave simulator for body surfing, and tube slides. For those just looking to relax, there is a 1,000-square-foot hot tub and space for lounging. The transparent roof means you can still get a tan even though you are indoors!
Epic Water Indoor Water Park, Grand Prairie, TX
Your family can explore this 80,000-square-foot facility filled with many water fun options. There are 11 water slides including the Aqualoop (tallest in the country) and Lasso Loop. There is a water playground complete with spouting geysers that everyone will enjoy. Relax in the lazy river as it winds through the park. Then race with the kids on the mat racer slides for friendly competition. This park is enjoyable throughout the year as it has a retractable roof to make it comfortable during both the summer sunshine and winter cold weather.
Aquatopia Indoor Waterparks, Tannersville, PA
Situated in the incredibly scenic Pocono Mountains, this park is an easy 90-minute drive from New York City. The park features seven pools and 13 slides in the indoor facility that spans 125,000 square feet. One of the most popular rides is the Storm Chaser, named the longest indoor water coaster in the United States. For families with kids, there is Kartrite’s Quest. This enormous aquatic play area features 1,000 interactive games and five play zones! Each play zone is designated for different age levels to ensure safe fun. When you’re ready to head outside, there is a snow tubing area and ski lift.
Pump House Indoor Water Park, Jay, VT
Located 90 minutes away from Montreal, this is the largest of all the indoor water parks in Vermont. Designed as a family destination, this facility is fun throughout the year. During the summer, the retractable roof keeps everyone comfortable. There are several very popular rides including the FlowRider, a surfing simulator, and La Chute, a waterslide. There is also a lazy river to lounge in the water. For kids, there are dedicated play areas. For a relaxing experience, enjoy their hot tubs.
Kalahari Waterpark, Sandusky, OH
With over 173,000 square feet to play in, this water park offers activities for the entire family. The attached resort provides accommodations for the perfect weekend getaway. One unique feature is that the entire resort has an African motif to make it even more of an adventure. A popular ride is the Cheetah Racer, a massive water slide. Another is the Rippling Rhino which is a water rafting feature. After conquering those rides, try the Wild Wildebeest, a tubing activity that provides everyone with water time fun. For your family’s convenience, indoor cabanas are available for rent. These include chaise lounge chairs and large flat-screen TVs for the times when everyone needs a break.
Hope Lake Lodge Indoor Water Park, Cortland, NY
Located in central New York, the park is located in the Finger Lakes. The facility features activities for the whole family including slides and a wave pool. There are also indoor and outdoor heated pools for swimming. An activity tower keeps everyone active in the water. A dump bucket is available to dump water on you if you get too warm. A toddler pool provides activities for the smallest family members with activities. The water park maintains the water temperature at 84 degrees F so it’s an enjoyable water experience any time of year. The lodge provides accommodations equipped with kitchens, making it a fun getaway for families.
The weather may be cold and dreary outside but that doesn’t mean that your family can’t enjoy a getaway to one of these indoor water parks. Also, it’s important for learning swimmers to continue to build their skills throughout the wintertime. Indoor water parks are the perfect options for families looking for water activities even if it’s cold or snowy outside.