When the temperatures soar there’s nothing like a refreshing dunk. The kids are entertained all day and it’s even pleasurable for adults.
Lake Compounce Family Theme Park
This nearby venue adds amusement park fun to a wet and wild water experience. You’ll find roller coasters, thrill rides, kiddie rides and the new Phobia!, the first triple launch coaster using LSM technology, as well as Dino Expedition that allows visitors to encounter moving and breathing lifelike dinosaurs. The water park has giant water buckets, thrilling water slides and the gentle wave pool, Anchor Bay. Discounts for advance tickets purchased online and season passes are available.
Lake Compounce Family Theme Park
186 Enterprise Dr., Bristol, Conn.
860-589-7974
Six Flags Hurricane Harbor
If water thrill rides are what you’re after, make sure to visit Six Flags Hurricane Harbor in Jackson, N.J. There are more than 25 “thrill” attractions here, including eight slide complexes which include King Cobra, a dual-racingtubeslideandBig Wave Racer. New this year is Caribbean Cove Water Play Area, an interactive water play center with more than 55 features including spray nozzles, water guns, a beach area with a shade canopy for respite from the sun. The 45-acre park also features a million-gallon wave pool, a half-mile lazy river and large children’s water playground.
Six Flags Hurricane Harbor
Rte. 537, Jackson, N.J.
732-928-1821
www.sixflags.com/hurricaneharbornj
Splash Away Bay
This smaller water park is part of the Quassy Amusement Park in Middlebury, Conn. The Saturation Station is a multi-level climbing apparatus with a 300-gallon tipping bucket. There are also several Tunnel Twister waterslides, the BulletBOWL and FreeFALL extreme body slides and the Fish Pond splash pad for the younger set. The park is adjacent to the sandy Quassy Beach on Lake Quassapaug.
Splash Away Bay
2132 Middlebury Road, Middlebury, Conn.
800-367-7275 or 203-758-2913
Splashdown Beach
Touted as America’s biggest little beach, this park doesn’t forget about the smallest kids. The Bob the Builder Splash Works section features more than 50 interactive features designed for preschoolers. Check out the new Arctic Mammoth, a six-foot tall and 600 feet long family raft ride that includes dynamic twists and turns. Season passes available.
Splashdown Beach
16 Old Rte. 9 W, Fishkill, N.Y.
845-897-9600
Splish Splash
There are rides, slides, waves, rivers and pools for all ages at this Long Island water park. Young kids will like the Elephant Slide and theOctopusPool,while older daredevils will appreciate the Alien Invasion tube slide or the Cliff Diver extreme body slide or the new Water Battle Ride, where you can battle against roving bands of pirates and sea creatures. Season passes available.
Splish Splash
2549 Splish Splash Dr., Calverton, N.Y.
631-727-3600
www.splishsplashlongisland.com
Wilson’s Waves
If you live in Westchester you don’t have to travel far to enjoy the water-park-style adventures at Wilson’s Waves. There’s a wave pool with three- foot waves for body surfing and two 18-foot high water slides. For little kids, there’s an interactive water playground with sprays and fountains. A Westchester County Park Pass is required.
Willson’s Waves
East Lincoln Ave., Mount Vernon, N.Y.
813-6990