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Summer Water Escapes: Man-Made Water Fun

Stress-reducing, affordable ways to beat the heat.

Courtesy of Kings Dominion
Courtesy of Kings Dominion

Busch Gardens/Water Country USA
The largest water park in the Mid-Atlantic region features a vintage rock and roll theme. Tubing down the Lazy River is a relaxing way to enjoy a hot summer day. If you’re looking for more of a challenge, try Virginia’s biggest wave pool or zipping through one of the flumes listening to music from the ‘50s and ‘60s. You can spend all day here, catching rays on a lounge chair, relaxing under a beach umbrella, or sampling treats from one of many food vendors. Water Country will provide free life vests and inner tubes with entry fee.

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Great Wolf Lodge
Families seeking water activities can enjoy them year-round at Great Wolf Lodge near Williamsburg. The resort offers family-friendly accommodations and dining options all within the Lodge itself. The indoor water park has 79,000 square feet of water features, including the Howlin’ Tornado, surf simulator, heart-pounding slides and sprawling hot spring tubs. Character appearances and live performances will keep guests entertained day and night.

Kings Dominion
Kings Dominion is just north of Richmond off I-95. Known for its first-class collection of roller coasters and its 275-foot high mock Eiffel Tower, this park also contains a 20-acre water park called Soak City. Notable water features include Tidal Wave Bay, Lazy Rider, Zoom Flume and the 65-foot slide tower, Hurricane Heights. Access to Soak City is included with park admission.

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Massanutten Waterpark
Play in the water year-round in Massanutten Resort’s water park. Located inside a light-domed playground filled with climbing structures, waterfalls, a giant wave pool, hot tubs and lots of room to run, adventurers delight in the indoor and outdoor water features. Highlights include the wave pool, racing slides and a gentle lazy river. It was voted the third best indoor water park in America in a USA Today poll.

Ocean Breeze Waterpark
Ocean Breeze is located 2 miles from the Virginia Beach Boardwalk; you’ll find it when you spot the giant Gorilla at the entrance. This water park is most notable for its million-gallon wave pool and 16 water slides. Kids love the water features in the playground, and there’s plenty of shade when you need a break from the sun.

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Green Ridge Recreation Center & Splash Valley
This Roanoke-based rec center has both an indoor and outdoor aquatic facility. The outdoor water park, called Splash Valley, features two 34-foot high slides, a current river and splash playground with numerous water features. The year-round indoor pool has slides, ropes course, hot tub and shallow area designed for younger children.

(July 2018)

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