The Best Family-Friendly Water Parks in the US

It’s warm. It’s dry. And it seems like it’s that way across the entire country these days. For some, the summer of 2012 is hitting harder than it is others – but it’s not a stretch to say that a lot of people are in the market for a good water park these days. The only problem with identifying which water park is right for you is if you’ve got a family to bring along.
Because – let’s face it – it isn’t always easy to keep kids happy in the sun. So what’s the solution to your heat-related quandary when you’ve got mouths to feed and kids to entertain? To find the best family-friendly water parks in the country, of course. So let’s steer you in that direction by telling you which ones qualify and – perhaps more importantly – why they qualify.

1. Noah’s Ark, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
It’s hard to get more family-friendly, of course, than biblical references, but what intrigues us about Noah’s Ark is actually its raw size: it’s the largest water park in the entire United States at an area of some 70 acres and features so many slides and attractions that it’d be impossible not to find something that can please every single member of your family. From the Kowabunga to the Endless River, the full span of Noah’s Ark is something to behold – and something to take in when it gets as hot as it is.

2. Schlitterbahn, New Braunfels, Texas
If you say the name out loud, it might not sound too family-friendly, but this water park near San Antonio makes a point of having water-related activities for people of any age to enjoy. It’s got enough of these attractions that you can even split up and enjoy different types of rides if that’s how your family rolls.

3. Disney’s Blizzard Beach, Orlando, Florida
There are actually two water parks in Disney World in Orlando, Florida, but this one is especially family-friendly because of the cartoon-like architecture that dots the entire park. There are kid-friendly slides that will still be fun to old mom and dad, as the designers clearly had the family dynamic in mind when putting the park
together.

4. Raging Waters, San Dimas, California
The name sounds like this water park is a challenge reserved for adults, but consider that Raging Waters is actually a southern Californian chain – the one in San Dimas has the “Volcano Fantasea” which is perfect for kids. There’s plenty of
intensity, too, if you have an older family capable of handling it.

5. Water World, Denver, Colorado
Colorado is renowned for frozen water – that is, snow sports. But in the summer time, Water World gets going, and that means 64 acres of mountain- viewing water fun with plenty of family zones. The park is big enough to hold all sorts of families, considering it’s almost as big as Noah’s Ark, and has plenty of various rides for people with distinct tastes when it comes to their water fun.

Neville Luff is a marketing strategist for Zoggs. They sell swim goggles for men, women, and children as well as performance swimwear. Check our Zoggs’ site here.