Seattle's Child

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Family guide to water parks

These 7 water parks in the Northwest sure to quench your family's thirst for fun. Whether you're looking to spend a day in the sun or prefer a more relaxing overnight lodging experience, there is a water park for you.

 

Come summertime, Northwesterners go wild over water – as if we don't get enough of the stuff during the other nine months of the year. Our region offers water parks that go well beyond your average pool, with enormous slides, family-size rafts, shooting "geysers" and "splashketball."

"If you like the energy of a crowd and the excitement of water, you'll love a water park," says Julia Rudden, a Seattle mom and hydro aficionado.

 

Tips for going to a water park with your family

A few things to keep in mind: These water theme parks are filled with fun rides that a lot of kids love, but many of them are also filled with fast food and pricey extras – some that you can avoid and some that you can't. Call the park in advance and ask whether you'll need cash for parking, lockers and other must-haves.

To get the most out of your water park adventure, eat a full meal before you head out and make sure you bring all the gear you'll need (aquatic footwear, goggles, nose plugs, hair bands, swim diapers and towels). Be cautious about buying tickets too far in advance as some parks close during stormy weather – and if you do buy in advance, make sure you can score a rain check if the park closes.

All that taken care of, dive in and have fun.

 

Big water park fun in the Pacific Northwest

Here's a sampling of our region's destination water parks, where your kiddos are virtually guaranteed a splashing good time.

 

Family raft ride at Wild Waves Water Park

 

Wild Waves Theme Park

Federal Way, Washington

Splish, splash, you're there in a flash. Only 30 minutes south of Seattle, Wild Waves is a popular Puget Sound water park. More than 60 attractions cluster on 70 acres, including 20 waterslides and the 50-foot Zooma Falls family raft ride. Prefer a slower approach? Enjoy the lazy river or the 24,000-square-foot wave pool. Warming tubs relieve goosebumps, even on the chilliest of days. The hydrophobic can have fun, too – the park is home to Washington's biggest wooden roller coaster (TimberHawk).

If you go: Wild Waves is open this summer through Sept. 7.  General admission $46 plus tax, but you can save a few dollars by purchasing in advance and/or by purchasing tickets online. Kids younger than age 3 are free.

 

 

Kids splash in the wave pool at Sliverwood

 

Silverwood Theme Park and Boulder Beach Water Park

Athol, Idaho

Located just over the Washington/Idaho border, Silverwood is the largest theme park in the Pacific Northwest, with over 200 acres of water and dryland options, including 65 rides, shows and attractions. The 16-acre Boulder Beach Water Park offers high-speed chutes and slides, family-size rafts, wave pools, toddler-friendly geysers and fountains – and a shady area on Cabana Island for parents. Landlubbers buzz over the two wooden roller coasters and a 191-foot tall steel coaster aptly named "Aftershock."

If you go: Silverwood is open daily through Labor Day. The Water Park closes after Labor Day, but the theme park remains open on weekends until the end of September. General admission is $54, $31 for youth, and children 2 and younger are free; save money by buying tickets online.

 

 

Pools at Slidewaters in Lake Chelan

 

Slidewaters

Lake Chelan, Washington

Pack the sunglasses. Slidewaters offers a solid bet for summerlike weather, and it's only a three-hour drive from Seattle. Lake Chelan's dry, warm central Washington climate is the perfect setting for one version of H2O heaven. Shoot through the Slidewaters' Thunder Rapids on inner tubes, slip down curlicue slides into cool pools, compete against your kid on the Downhill Racer and perfect your horror-movie scream through 420 feet of darkness on the "Purple Haze" slide.

If you go: Read this local parent's review of going to Slidewaters with preschoolers. Slidewaters is open through Labor Day. General admission $25, kids under 4 feet tall $20, children 3 and younger are free. Take $5 off if you arrive three hours before closing. There's no discount for buying tickets online.

 

 

Water slides at Birch Bay water park in Blaine

 

Birch Bay Waterslides

Blaine, Washington

This 10-slide North Washington attraction is a low-key, less-costly introduction to the water park plunge. Big kids can slither down the twist-and-turn Snake, while smaller (or more concerned) kids can splash down a wide ramp-style slide or just play in an 84-degree pool. For true terror, try the Hydrocliff, which invites daredevils to cannonball straight down a 60-foot drop. Unlike some water slide attractions in our area, Birch Bay is open even on soggy, wet summer days.

If you go: Birch Bay is open through Labor Day. General admission is $23, $15 ages 3 to 5, and free for ages 2 and younger. Save by arriving three hours before closing.

 

Great Wolf Lodge

Grand Mound, Washington

Don't want the glamorous lobster glow bestowed by too much summer sun? At Great Wolf Lodge, you'll find the super-cool slides, pools and activities – indoors. Families flock to Great Wolf (about two hours south of Seattle) for pint-size splash areas, big-kid-approved chutes and teen-ready tubes. Kids dry out while enjoying an evening story time, the teen game room or the MagicQuest wand game. Great Wolfe Lodge used to reserve water park passes for hotel guests, but in 2019 they introduced day passes. You no longer have to purchase an overnight stay in order to splash around for the day, but with a water park fee starting at around $90 per person, you might as well get the most bang for your buck with an overnight stay anyway. The lodge isn't cheap, however, in-room mini-fridges and microwaves make it easy to pop up to your suite for a snack and no one has to drive home after a day of waterlogged fun.

If you go: Great Wolf Lodge is open year-round. Water park day passes are limited and reserved through customer service. Check the website for seasonal room rates. 

 

Bridal Falls Water Park

Rosedale, B.C.

In British Columbia's sunny Fraser Valley –located about three hours northeast of Seattle – this water park features 80-degree water filling four advanced slides, two intermediate slides, one tube slide and a kids' pool and slides for younger swimmers. Non-sliders can play a round of mini-golf, and don't have to pay full admission. Bonus: The park is located near the popular Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa, so you could work two watery attractions into one B.C. vacation.

If you go: Open until Sept. 2. Admission: $27+tax  general admission, $17 for the last three hours of the day, $12 for non-sliders, ages 2 and under free.

 

Splash Down Family Waterpark

Spokane Valley, Washington

If you want to count on roasting-warm summer days, drive east to Spokane Valley, a suburb east of Spokane. This Eastern Washington, family-owned water park offers simple fun that allows everyone to get soaked – the 400-foot long Spokane Falls, a four-story flume slide, a water balloon launcher, a toddler-friendly lagoon and a new water sport – "splashketball." Open through Labor Day. A money-saving tip: Splash Down is one of the few water parks that allow you to bring your own food and sealed drinks into the park. Take advantage.

If you go: Open through Labor Day. Admission: 48" and under $10 plus tax, 48" and over $15 plus tax, ages 3 and under free. 

 

Editors Note: Updated July, 2019.

About the Author

Lora Shinn