Local water parks offer a splash of fun to beat summer heat
The summer heat is finally here and if you're already looking for a way to cool off, there's plenty of wet fun to be had. Whether you want to zip down the fastest slides, enjoy the surf in a wave pool or relax as you coast down a lazy river you can get soaked at one of these local water parks.
Raging Waves, 4000 N. Bridge St., Yorkville, (630) 882-6575; ragingwaves.com
Hours: 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily
Admission: $26.95, $18.95 for kids and seniors, free for kids ages 2 and under
Food: Several concession stands serve everything from bacon cheeseburgers to chicken Caesar salads and you can get plenty of healthy snacks along with more standard treats like ice cream and fries.
The largest water park in Illinois, the 45-acre Raging Waves opened in 2008. Packed with slides and play areas, it's easy to spend a full day at the park. The most popular attraction is The Boomerang, a thrilling ride where you shoot down an enclosed slide in a tube big enough for four before spinning around in surprisingly fast circles on the sides of giant cone, then shooting out into the water below.
The wave pool is a close runner-up, with swimmers bobbing up and down as strong waves crest from the deep end, or floating on tubes, which are available to rent for $11. The park also features a set of three body slides, twisty tube slides and a fast family raft slide.
There's plenty for younger kids to do with a sand play area, a zero-depth splash pool with small slides and a play area where children can climb around finding plenty of ways to spray water on themselves or friends, including standing under a massive bucket that spills out enough water when it tips to leave you totally drenched.
You can get around by using the lazy river, which can carry you between different slide clusters and the wave pool. If all the action leaves you in need of some relaxation, plenty of beach chairs are positioned throughout the park or you can rent a cabana for up to eight people for $75 to $100. Along with added privacy, the cabanas include ice to keep drinks cold and servers will take your orders so you don't have to wait in lines for food.
Philips Park Aquatic Center, 828 Montgomery Road, Aurora, (630) 851-8686; foxvalleyparkdistrict.org
Hours: noon to 7 p.m. Sunday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday
Admission: Residents $7, $6 for kids ages 2-12, $5 for seniors; nonresidents $8, $7 for kids 2-12, $6 for seniors
Food: A concession stand features burgers, chicken fingers, ice cream and more.
Best known for its two drop slides, which land in a plunge pool, Philips Park also features an enclosed body slide and a pair of winding flume slides. Kids love the sand play area and an activity area with spray guns, a small slide and a waterfall. For dryer fun, there are also two sand volleyball courts.
Splash Station Waterpark, 2780 U.S. Route 6, Joliet, (815) 741-7275; jolietsplashstation.com
Hours: 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday
Admission: Residents $9, $8 for seniors, $5.50 for kids; nonresidents $12, $11 for seniors, $8 for kids
Food: A concession stand serves pizza, nachos and other snacks.
All ages can find something to do at Splash Station. Thrill seekers race headfirst on a raft down the six-lane Miner's Mountain slide and twist and turn down an enclosed tube slide and an open body slide. Little ones play in the sand or splash in a 250,000-gallon zero-depth pool, while parents like coasting on the 850-foot lazy river.
Coral Cove Water Park, 849 W. Lies Road, Carol Stream, (630) 784-6130; csparks.org
Hours: 10:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday
Admission: Residents $5; nonresidents $9
Food: A cafe serves pizza, hot dogs, ice cream and drinks.
The beach-themed water park features two tube waterslides and a deep-water pool with a waterslide and diving board. Kids can splash in an interactive water playground with a separate playground for toddlers. Other attractions include a walk-in swimming pool, a sand play area and a patio deck covered with chairs to relax on.