Louisville, Kentucky is a mecca of sorts when it comes to water parks in close vicinity. In all probability it stems from how miserable the summer heat and humidity can get. When heat indexes eclipse 100 degrees and even the buildings are sweating, you need to find some relief! Luckily, Louisville is perfectly positioned for water park thrills. Let me introduce you to 5 of my favorite wet spots within a 2 hour drive of downtown Louisville.
5. Atlantis Water Park (www.atlantiswaterpark.net)
Just over the bridge from downtown Louisville is a small, but wonderful little water park that is great for the family and awesome for the pocketbook. It is small enough that the preteens can wander and not get lost but has enough to do to stay busy for hours. The large wave pool is a major attraction, but the youngsters love having their own shallow pool with smaller slides and play features. My personal favorite is the white,
enclosed body slide. It is part of the slide tower that includes a couple of tube slides and a couple of body
slides. The white enclosed body slide can offer a good rush as you zip through the darkness feeling the the g-forces holding you down to the slide. With one slide tower, a wave pool, 2 snack stands, a kiddie pool area, and a playground, there is plenty to do. However, it is in a compact, not overly crowded family atmosphere. This park ranks high on the multiple visit, family value park!
Tip: Go on a weekday. It is cheaper and less crowded.
4. Big Splash Adventure Indoor Water Park (www.bigsplashadventure.com)
One of the downers about water parks is sunburns. Luckily, just 90 minutes or so from Louisville is a water park where sunscreen is not required. That’s because it is indoors! In fact, that makes it so you can enjoy this water palace any time of the year, regardless of the weather. The price is affordable and the activities are numerous considering you are inside. Youngsters enjoy their own play structure with tipping bucket, water slides, and all sorts of mechanisms to spray down your momentary enemies. Bigger kids and thrill seekers find comfort in the big slides, including my park favorite, ” Silver Beard’s Revenge.” If you want to know what it’s like to be flushed down a toilet, this ride will help illustrate that experience. For those who just want to relax, the indoor experience includes an activity pool with a few fun features included, such as a Lilly pad challenge course. There is also a lazy river and an adult’s only hot tub oasis. As is easily deduced, this indoor water play experience is a fun destination for the entire family, even when the summer day is rainy.
Tip: Search out discounts and avoid crowded weekends.
3. Splash Lagoon Water Park at Beech Bend (www.beechbend.com)
Just a couple hours south on I-65 leads to a wonderful water experience in the Kentucky countryside. Splash Lagoon is located inside the beautiful and friendly Beech Bend Amusement Park and is included in the park’s extremely affordable experience. It has not one but two fun water play structures for kids, a good water slide tower, and a wonderful large swimming pool to just relax and splash in. But my personal favorite is the lazy river that is connected to the large wave pool. This lazy river is a pleasant ride with a couple surprises, but when the wave pool is going, the river gets a little of that action, too!
Tip: This park is great to visit any time of the week, just look around for discounts and it will be even more affordable!
2. Coney Island’s Sunlite Pool (www.coneyislandpark.com)
East of downtown Cincinnati lies a piece of history and a promise of water-filled, family fun. The Sunlite Pool is the huge centerpiece of the water park area that was originally built in 1925. It boasts over an acre of swimming and relaxing in a pool that is great for the really little, really old, and all those in between. Over the last decade a new assortment of slides and attractions have been added. Now the water park boasts 8 great slides for the whole family. My favorite is still the classic speedster right in the middle of the giant pool. With my favorite past-time at this park being relaxing and soaking in the experience, the best part of the park is the cabana rentals. Most parks across the country charge an arm and a leg for these relaxing spots amongst the action, but Coney Island offers them at a fraction of the cost and with a couple bonuses, such as free drinks and towel service. What makes this park so high on the list is not only the history, but the affordability.
Tip: Want to save even more? Go for the after 4pm special. It’s a tremendous bargain!
1. Splashin’ Safari at Holiday World (www.holidayworld.com)
No Louisville summer is complete without a visit to Splashin’ Safari at Holiday World. Though it is the costliest water park to visit in the area, it is still a huge bargain. It is included in the admission to the family friendly theme park, parking is free, drinks are free, and they’re giving away the sunscreen, too! What makes the water park a true bargain, though, is it’s sheer size. It is huge in terms of water parks, and the water rides are still packed in tight. Every where you turn there is a water slide, wave pool, kids play structure, or a lazy river. Yes, there are multiples of each. The slides go from tame and friendly to gigantic and threatening. But there really is something for everyone. New this year, and bound to be a favorite to many, is the world’s largest water roller coaster, “Mammoth.” It beat out “Wildebeest” for that title. Of interest, “Wildebeest” is also at Splashin’ Safari!
Tip: Go directly to the water park when it opens. The place gets extremely crowded in the afternoons.
