Both kids and adults enjoy water parks for a variety of reasons!
Top 10 Things People Love at Water Parks:
- Adults can regain a sense of childlike happiness at water parks. Kids are smart when it comes to relaxing. They know how to play at water parks, and adults benefit from following these type of leads from youngsters.
- Sometimes, it's just nice to cool off during hot, Missouri summer days.
- It feels great to let go of inhibitions while hurtling down a water slide—scary perhaps, but great when successfully completed.
- You can scream your head off—it's part of the ambiance.
- Getting drenched at water parks doesn't really matter like it does other days of the week with wardrobes.
- Problems don't seem as draining or daunting after time at a water park.
- Even just lounging around the fringes of water parks can be relaxing.
- Water parks force people to electronically unplug from most cellphones and tablets, for real.
- Because a water park isn't like real life, everyone can have real fun while being a little funny around other fun-filled people.
- You're exhausted by the time you get home, and can sleep really, really well!
There are a few water destinations worth longer drives, such as Oceans of Fun and Great Wolf Lodge in Kansas City and Silver Dollar City's White Water in Branson.
Anyone wishing to be around water without being in the water can consider Sea Life Kansas City, an interactive aquarium located at the Crown Center in Kansas City on the Missouri side. The aquarium contains thousands of aquatic creatures, plus interactive touch pools and an ocean tunnel.
Additionally, the parks outlined here are within handy driving distances. So, go ahead make a super splash this summer—or even a big wave!
PARK: Six Flags St. Louis' Hurricane Harbor
LOCATION: Eureka
FUN NOTES: Formerly Six Flags Over Mid-America, this theme park opened on June 5, 1971. The adjacent Hurricane Harbor water park is free with park admission. The park brands itself as "Missouri's Coaster Capital." Within the water park, select from among the following features: Big Kahuna, Bonzai Pipeline, Gulley Washer Creek, Hook's Lagoon, Tree House Slides, Hurricane Bay, Pirate Ship Slides, Tornado, Tube Slides, Typhoon Twister or Wahoo Racer.
PARK: Aquaport
LOCATION: Maryland Heights
FUN NOTES: There is the racer slide, wacky water slide, tube slide, flume slide, extreme bowl and a family fun pool. Parking is free and plentiful. An in-park concession provides food and drinks. The location also provides locker rooms and season passes.
PARK: Raging Rivers WaterPark
LOCATION: Grafton, Ill.
FUN NOTES: Single day and season passes are available. Established in 1990, Raging Rivers includes numerous pools, flumes, rafting, slides, cabanas, stages and eats. Enjoy fast-paced rides, or relax and soak up the sun. More features are a wave pool with a gorgeous view of the boats going by on the Mississippi, as well as the Itty Bitty Surf City for young guests.
PARK: North Pointe Aquatic Center
LOCATION: Ballwin
FUN NOTES: It's a state-of-the-art facility with a competitive pool measuring 25 yards by 25 meters with 10 lanes, two one-meter diving boards, a “tree swing,” and an “aqua climb” rock climbing wall. Surrounding the complex is a 1,000-foot lazy river, which facilitates a running waterfall and various sprays. The lazy river encloses a leisure pool with a beach entry, sprays and a vortex. Also enclosed by the lazy river is a kiddie pool with a beach entry and a large play structure featuring an updated “bucket falls” bucket as of 2018. Between the leisure pool and kiddie pool is a splash pad with shade. Adjacent to the competition pool are open-flume and closed-flume two-story water slides. The facility includes a party room. Concession operations include an outdoor grill and a variety of food and drink options. Pay the daily fee, purchase a summer pool pass or become a platinum member.
PARK: Collinsville Aqua Park (formerly Splash City Waterpark)
LOCATION: Collinsville, Ill.
FUN NOTES: It's an all-ages outdoor water park with swimming, surfing, sliding and climbing and a concession stand. Try surfing and body boarding on the FlowRider. Some features are a 50-foot monsoon mountain water fortress play area, guppy gully area for tots and aqua climb 12-foot climbing wall (no harnesses required; climb to the top and freefall into the pool). There are also the lily pad rope challenge, crystal creek lazy river, lap lanes, water slides and zero entry area. Children 12 and under must be accompanied by someone at least 17 years old.
PARK: Chesterfield Family Aquatic Center
LOCATION: Chesterfield
FUN NOTES: Scream down thrilling water slides, enjoy a relaxing float around a lazy river or dive into a competition pool. Kids adore the AquaPlay unit, with rain down a mini slide. Offers are changing areas, showers, lockers, a concessions area and a sunny deck.
PARK: Carondelet Park Rec Complex
LOCATION: St. Louis South City
FUN NOTES: There are the YMCA community outdoor pool, lazy river, deck chairs and concession stand. Nonmember admission is $6 for children, $12 for adults and $28 per family. (Guests must be accompanied by a member on weekends.)
