I grew up on an island surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, so needless to say my summers were spent enjoying the sun, sand and surf more than the wet and wild fun found at waterparks.
My first waterpark experience took place in New Jersey (of all places) when I was 7 years old. My family was vacationing in Seaside Heights and my brothers and I went nuts at waterpark called Rainbow Rapids. It was the late 1970s, we were small town kids from Hilo, Hawaii and this modest waterpark was as close to liquid Heaven as we had ever been.
Since then the popularity of waterparks has exploded from coast-to-coast (Hawaii even added one in the last five years). As such I have decided to dedicate a series of blogs to these kid magnets beginning with ones located on the East Coast:
NEW YORK
Splish Splash is located on Long Island (in Calverton), roughly 73 miles from New York City. This waterpark specializes in wet rides that plunge you into the darkness as you make your way down a series of tunnels into gigantic pools below. Thrill seekers will love Dragon’s Den, Barrier Reef, Hollywood Stunt Driver, and the super popular Alien Invasion. The latter ride blasts a four-person raft down a steep slide before spinning it out of control and launching it into a dark pool. For those of you with steel stomachs try the Cliff Diver. It drops soggy swimmers eight stories in three seconds.
NEW JERSEY
Mountain Creek Waterpark in Vernon, New Jersey (about 90 miles from Trenton) is a haven for summer travelers looking to cool off in a family friendly environment. Besides Mountain Creek’s popular fully enclosed water coaster, called Vertigo your kids can take the plunge on the park’s signature ride, High Anxiety, which drops riders four stories in the dark before they enter into a funnel at breakneck speeds. Did I mention that the park also offers free parking?
NORTH CAROLINA
Waterpark enthusiasts from as far away as Atlanta often make the trip to Wet ‘n Wild Emerald Pointe in Greensboro, North Carolina (about 80 miles from Raleigh). The waterpark is home to speed chutes like Daredevil Drop, which boasts a hair-raising 76-foot plunge, and Double Barrel Blast, a ride that ends abruptly in midair—launching you from a four-foot edge before you hit the pool. The kid-friendly waterpark also has a slew of dry rides including the Skycoaster, which combines the thrills of bungee jumping and hang gliding. The ride allows up to three people at a time to experience the sensation of flying without getting the least bit wet.
Related Articles:
Get Ready to Splash Into a New Water Park
Summer Theme Park Review: Splashes and Screams
Serious Family Fun—Spending Spring Break at an Indoor Waterpark
Creating Your Own Backyard Water Park