10 Epic Water Parks for Kids and Grown-Ups

No one said we had to tuck away our wild sides the moment we hit adulthood. There’s nothing wrong with longing to slip and slide down a waterslide, lose your cool on a roller coaster, or laze away the day with nothing more than a pool float and an umbrella drink. 

Below, we’ll sail through ten water parks that are just as much fun for adults as the kiddos in your party. Get ready to let your hair down, pump up the adrenaline, and escape all your responsibilities, even if only for a day. 

1. Schlitterbahn New Braunfels

That’s a mouthful, isn’t it? Located in New Braunfels, Texas, there’s a lot on offer here for the kids and the adults in your party. Spread across 70 acres, the opportunities for tomfoolery abound in this German town in Texas. 

Schlitterbahn’s water slides, water roller coasters, rivers, and pools are weaved through natural landscaping, making you feel at ease with one of the most beautiful states in the nation while indulging your wild side. 

2. Dollywood’s Splash Country

All of Dollywood is a dream. It seems there’s nothing she doesn’t touch that doesn’t turn pretty. But, Splash Country is particularly captivating because it blends in with the area so perfectly. 

Inspired by the Great Smoky Mountains that she grew up admiring, Splash Country features white water rafting, a water coaster, a lagoon, waterslides that slip into a grotto, a waterfall, an actual geyser, and plenty of places to seek the shade before reloading and going back for more. 

3. Mandalay Bay Beach

When you head to Vegas, you have luxury hotel after luxury hotel to choose from. Many of them are bedecked with rooftop pools to wash your cares away. 

But, if you can make your way to Mandalay Beach, you’ll be so surprised by what exists there. You can indulge your wild side in the wave pool, rest in the lazy river, and then take an umbrella drink to their man-made beach – yes, in the middle of the desert. 

4. Slide Rock State Park

If Vegas isn’t quite your style, how about Sedona? For something a little more low-key Slide Rock not only brings the fun, but also embraces nature beautifully. 

Here, you’ll find an 80-foot slide carved into the red rocks that’s naturally powered by a current that empties into a swimming hole. While it doesn’t sound as exhilarating as Dolly’s Splash Country, your surroundings put it on a par.