The red carpet has been rolled out—the red-hot carpet, that is, and it will be parading triple-digit temperatures around our Valley for the next few months. Rather than huddling up next to your air conditioner and counting the days until summer ends, grab your favorite bathing suit and head to one of the Valley’s greatest waterparks. Spending your day hurling down waterslides ought to take your mind off of the relentless sun.
WET ‘N’ WILD
Boasting the title of Arizona’s largest theme park, Wet ‘n’ Wild has an abundance of fun for guests looking to escape the heat. Spanning 35 acres at Adobe Dam Regional Park, Wet ‘n’ Wild is home to Constrictor, voted by Travel Channel’s “Extreme Water Parks” as one of their top five water slides. Wet ‘n’ Wild, at the forefront of water slide engineering, introduced the first and only dueling water coaster in the world, Maximum Velocity. This coaster shoots guests down tandem slides in a race to the finish. Returning this summer to Wet ‘n’ Wild is Dive ‘n’ Movies where a love for movies and water combine, allowing guests to enjoy the cool night air and the wave pool while watching a great flick.
The park opens daily at 10 a.m. and single admission ticket prices range from $19.99 to $39.99. Please visit www.wetnwildphoenix.com for more information.
BIG SURF
Celebrating its 45th season this year, Big Surf has great history in its waters. Big Surf is home to America’s original wave pool and was named a historical engineering landmark in 2012 by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Today, the park’s wave pool is the third largest wave pool in the world and holds 2.5 million gallons of water. This historic waterpark also offers daily surf and boogie board lessons, as well as an annual swim lesson that is the largest in the world. New to Big Surf this year is a full-service bar that will offer a variety of poolside refreshments.
Big Surf opens at 10 a.m. Monday to Saturday and 11 a.m. on Sundays. Single admission prices range from $15.95 to $27.95. Please visit www.bigsurffun.com for more information.
GOLFLAND-SUNSPLASH
Sunsplash has much more to offer than its cameo in “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure,” although that is quite alluring in of itself. The four-person raft ride, StormRider, is sure to let loose some screams, along with the park’s June unveiling of its newest addition, Double Dare. Using a launch capsule, Double Dare riders will shoot down the six-story-high slide in a mere eight seconds, experiencing some powerful G-Forces on the way.
Sunsplash doors open at 11 a.m. and single admission tickets range from $13.88 to $29.99. Please visit www.golfland.com/mesa for more information.
OASIS WATER PARK AT ARIZONA GRAND RESORT
Although you must be a guest to enjoy, access to Oasis Water Park is well worth a night or two at the Arizona Grand Resort (not to mention all the other perks the resort offers). With a 10,000-sq.-ft. wave pool and one of its water slides capping out at 83 feet, guests will find themselves spending more time in the water park than anywhere else in the resort. Fridays and Saturdays at Oasis Water Park mean Island Nights where dive-in movies, dinner buffets and dance performances entertain guests in the cool(er) evening.
Room prices for the resort vary in price, depending upon size and season. Please visit www.arizonagrandresort.com for more information.
HYATT REGENCY SCOTTSDALE RESORT & SPA AT GAINEY RANCH
Hyatt Regency also requires being a guest at the resort to take advantage of the water park, but it too is definitely worth the stay. With 10 pools, 20 fountains, a handful of thrilling waterslides, delicious poolside drinks, and a great deal more, there are few better ways to spend a summer afternoon. For those less interested in splashing and sliding the day away, poolside cabanas offer up a more relaxing and private way to enjoy the resort’s “water playground.”
Room prices for the resort vary in price, depending upon size and season. Please visit www.scottsdale.hyatt.com for more information.
