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When the summer is at its hottest, millions of visitors head to water parks across the United States to cool off. USA TODAY 10Best asked a panel of experts to nominate their favorite outdoor water parks in the country for the ultimate day of sun and fun, then 10Best readers voted for their top picks. Here are the 2023 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards winners for Best Outdoor Water Park in the US.
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No. 10: Cowabunga Bay Water Park – Henderson, Nevada
Cowabunga Bay is the best place to cool off in Las Vegas, with 23 acres of fun featuring more than 20 slides, pools and attractions. Highlights include Wild Surf, the world’s largest human-made wave, and Point Panic, an enclosed, pitch-black water slide that’s not for the faint of heart.
No. 9: Hurricane Harbor New Jersey – Jackson, New Jersey
Hurricane Harbor, midway between New York City and Philadelphia, is part of the Six Flags collection of water parks in the United States. Adjacent to Six Flags Great Adventure, this Hurricane Harbor features more than 10 attractions ranging from a massive wave pool and lazy river to a 75-foot-high waterslide for kids of all ages. Several food venues offer fare like burgers, cheesesteaks, pretzels, beer and other cold drinks.
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No. 8: Water Country USA – Williamsburg, Virginia
Welcome to Virginia’s largest water park, where little ones enjoy colorful oases like Cow-A-Bunga and the space-themed H2O UFO interactive water playground, while the big kids (adults included) feed their need for speed on serious drop slides like Vanish Point. On Jet Scream, single riders soar on 400-foot flumes, reaching speeds of 25 miles per hour.
No. 7: Adventure Island – Tampa, Florida
In Tampa, thrill-seekers can tackle Colossal Curl, a thrill slide at Adventure Island bringing up to four riders high above the action for a weightless experience that merges funnel and wave for an action-packed descent. Back on the ground, Paradise Lagoon’s 9,000 square feet of slides and waterfalls offer lots of adventure on terra firma – unless you choose to take advantage of the cliff jumps.
- Book online – Tampa: Adventure Island® Park Admission
No. 6: Cedar Point Shores Waterpark – Sandusky, Ohio
Ohio’s legendary Cedar Point opened its all-new sister water park, Cedar Point Shores, in 2017. This 18-acre splash zone took the place of the old Soak City and includes four completely new water attractions, new cabanas and upgrades to the park’s food and retail offerings. Guests especially love Point Plummet, where they experience a near free fall as they drop into an enclosed tunnel slide that twists and turns its way to the bottom.
No. 5: Schlitterbahn Waterpark & Resort – New Braunfels – New Braunfels, Texas
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The largest collection of water rides in the world completes this popular water park between Austin and San Antonio. It sets itself apart with uphill water coasters (a novel concept invented by Schlitterbahn) as well as The Falls, a 3,600-foot-long lazy and not-so-lazy river – one of the world’s longest water park rides.
No. 4: Island H2O Water Park – Kissimmee, Florida
Island H2O Water Park is an outdoor aqua attraction in Kissimmee, Florida, just south of Orlando. Guests can enjoy the shade of a full-service cabana or experience the thrills of body slides, high-speed rafting, tube slides, six-lane racing or floating down a lazy river.
- Book online – Orlando: Island H2O Live! Water Park Admission
No. 3: Lost Island Waterpark – Waterloo, Iowa
At Lost Island Waterpark in Waterloo, Iowa, parkgoers can take the plunge at Lost Soul Falls, catch a wave in Tsunami Bay, float the Kailahi River, play some volleyball in Blue Iguana Lagoon or ride one of the world’s only hydromagnetic water coasters, Wailua Kapua.
No. 2: Splashin’ Safari – Santa Claus, Indiana
It may be in Santa Claus, Indiana, but Splashin’ Safari’s about as far from the North Pole as you can get, offering myriad thrills to cool guests off in the summer heat. Families who thrill-ride together will revel catching actual air on Mammoth – a water coaster so massive that its seven-story bulk takes up more than three acres! Multiple drops employ cutting-edge technology, lifting up to six passengers to plunge again and again and again.
No. 1: Aquatica Orlando – Orlando, Florida
SeaWorld’s first and most popular water park, Aquatica Orlando, draws 1.5 million visitors per year while seamlessly integrating sea life into rides. Its signature attraction, Dolphin Plunge, is an enclosed tube slide that passes through a pool of playful, black-and-white Commerson’s dolphins. Guests can also take a leisurely raft ride down Loggerhead Lane, through colorful exotic fish. Aquatica’s South Seas theme is further enhanced by 60,000 lush, tropical plants covering its 60 acres.
- Book online – Orlando: Aquatica Water Park Admission Ticket
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Categories: Outdoor