What better way to beat summer’s heat than at a Pennsylvania water park resort! Aqua-drenched funhouses beg kids to climb, slide, and soak their friends; massive wave pools simulate exciting ocean currents; towering tube slides enchant thrill seekers; and floats down a lazy river offer the ultimate in summer relaxation.
Cool off at one of these watery playgrounds.
1. The Boardwalk at Hersheypark
Hershey
With 16 water rides and attractions, including high-speed tubing rides, a “Sprayground” for younger swimmers, and a colossal wave pool, the Boardwalk at Hersheypark offers a ton of cool summer fun! The Coastline Plunge has six different heart-pumping slides including the Vortex where brave tube riders slide down a steep tunnel, swirl around a colossal bowl, and exit into a landing pool.
Dry Fun: Hersheypark has 14 roller coasters and tons of other sweet rides and treats.
2. Camelbeach Outdoor Waterpark
Tannersville
Camelbeach Outdoor Waterpark, Pennsylvania’s largest, provides kids and families the ultimate playground for you to stay cool this summer. Float past waterfalls, geysers, and bubbling waters on the Blue Nile Adventure River; ride the waves at Kahuna Lagoon Wave Pool; experience plunging drops and whipping turns on the body slides — just a sampling of the fun that awaits at its waterpark’s 37 rides, tube slides, and other water park attractions.
Rainy weather? Try Aquatopia, Camelback Lodge’s indoor waterpark with 13 water slides, seven pools, and private cabanas — all within walking distance of Camelbeach. This Pennsylvania indoor water park is sure to turn any rainy day into an adventure.
Dry Fun: Visit Camelback Resort’s Adventure Park with its mountain coaster, climbing wall, and the 1,000-foot Double Barrel Zipline.
3. Waldameer Park & Water World
Erie
With 16 water slides, a giant wave pool — the largest in the tri-state area! — and kiddie play areas, Waldameer’s Water World is the perfect, refreshing warm-weather stop. Get lost in the Bermuda Triangle on its three water slides, experience the breathtaking thrill of The Raging River, or “be in the dark” as the Liquid Lightning sends riders through twists and turns in near total darkness.
Dry Fun: Experience the wooden coaster, log flume ride, or drop tower — just a few rides for those who don’t want to get soaked.
4. Splash Lagoon Indoor Water Park Resort
Erie
At Splash Lagoon Indoor Water Park Resort, reach speeds of more than 40 miles per hour on the Hurricane Hole swirling body coaster, play water basketball, experience the largest indoor wave pool on the East Coast, or simply relax along the lazy river. This Pennsylvania water park will keep the thrills going all day long with their two newer water slides, the Riptide Racers and Twister Typhon.
Dry Fun: Test your balance on tight ropes, rickety bridges, and balance beams at Tree Tops Indoor Ropes Course. Or choose from more than 75 games at the 6,000-square-foot Treasure Island Arcade including its XD Dark Ride where you’ll feel you’re actually in a video game!
5. Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom
Allentown
A football-field-size wave pool, more than 36 water slides, and a cool fun house provoke squeals of delight at Dorney Park’s Wildwater Kingdom. For the ultimate in thrill rides enter the Snake Pit where you’ll plunge down a series of high-speed drops and banking twists and turns, or climb aboard a multi-person raft at The Aquablast, one of the longest elevated water slides in the world where even the hardiest of water sliders will be screaming.
Dry Fun: Dorney Park has six thrilling roller coasters including the Hydra — the first and only floorless roller coaster in PA, while the youngest ones will love the thrills customized for little ones at Planet Snoopy.
6. Kalahari Resort
Pocono Manor
With both an indoor and outdoor water park, Kalahari Resort’s 150-acre complex promises fun times regardless of the weather! Their indoor park features a retractable roof for all-season fun, the Anaconda water roller coaster, and FlowRider body-surfing experience, while the outdoor waterpark offers slides galore, a large outdoor pool, and Bugs Burrow — perfect for little ones to splash, play, and have fun!
Dry Fun: The 30,000-square-foot Family Entertainment Center has arcade games, Mini Bowling, Blacklight Mini-Golf and a 7-D Motion Theater.
7. Idlewild & SoakZone
Ligonier
Cool off this summer with a trip to Idlewild’s Soakzone. This outdoor waterpark near Pittsburgh will have you floating down the lazy river, rocketing down waterslides, and “riding the tide” at the Wowabunga Family Wave Pool. Little ones adore Captain Kidd’s Adventure Gallery, where they can glide down six waterslides and dodge water guns, spray jets, and a 500-gallon tipping bucket, while the littlest tykes can splash around in the Little Squirts area as the older kids race head-first down the Hydro Racers.
Dry Fun: Historic Idlewild theme park dates back to 1878 and is perfect for families with young children with an antique merry-go-round and roller coaster, Tilt-a-Whirl, and mix of other kid-friendly classic rides.
8. Dutch Wonderland and Duke's Lagoon
Lancaster
Get Wonder-fully wet at Dutch Wonderland’s Duke's Lagoon! A favorite family-friendly destination in Lancaster, there’s a multi-level waterplay platform, kid-sized slides, a variety of spray nozzles, jets, tipping cones, and a large tipping bucket to delight kids of all ages. The Pipeline Plunge features two massive water slides with different levels of intensity, each offering both a light and a dark tunnel.
9. Sesame Place®
Langhorn
The water rides and attractions at Sesame Place® are great fun for both young and old. There are water slides, lazy rivers, a splash castle, and two new splash-filled attractions coming this summer — Bert & Ernie’s Splashy Shores featuring a water curtain, tipping buckets, spraying jets, water bobble, and spraying water tower, and the tropical-themed Big Bird’s Beach with exciting water slides, a family-friendly wave pool, and splash & spray area. This destination is a must-do water park for toddlers.
Dry Fun: Take a spin on a host of non-water rides, including Oscar’s Wacky Taxi™, a one of a kind wooden-steel hybrid roller coaster with Oscar the Grouch at the helm. Don’t miss Cookie’s Monster Land, the park’s furriest land ever, or the special opportunity to meet, greet, and dine with Elmo and friends.
10. Delgrosso’s Park & Laguna Splash Water Park
Tipton
The Italian-themed Laguna Splash is a great way to escape the summer heat! Float down a lazy river; zip down the water slides; and cool off in the wave pool. Keeping with the Italian theme, there’s a replica of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, tipping wine barrels, and Bambini Cove designed specifically for little ones!
Dry Fun: Delgrosso’s Amusement Park has more than 30 rides and attractions, including Kid’s Kingdom for the little ones. Both children and adults enjoy thrilling rides, fun midway games, entertainment, and, of course, great food!
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