As the temperature soars, and the Santa Clarita Valley bakes in the summer sun, it’s nice to know there are numerous community pools and popular area water parks where residents can take a dip and cool off.
However, if you’re looking for a change of scenery, California is home to many incredible waterparks.
Here are five fabulous waterparks that are worth the effort to visit.
Six Flags Hurricane Harbor
26101 Magic Mountain Parkway, Valencia
Hurricane Harbor is a fun water park in the Santa Clarita Valley’s backyard.
From “Dive-in Movies” to thrilling water rides that can keep you cool and entertained this summer.
Park passes go for as low as $36.99 (parking not included) for a day trip, or memberships that are offered for $7.85 a month.
The movies are shown Fridays from 4-6 p.m. in the park’s “Forgotten Sea Wave Pool,” an impressive 480,000 gallons of water for relaxation.
From family rides, where parents and kids can ride together, to a play area just for kids to thrill rides for the more intrepid park guests, Hurricane Harbor offers entertainment for all ages.
Whether you’re looking for a pool to hang out in or a place for record-setting water slides with 65-foot drops, Hurricane Harbor should definitely be on the water parks-to-visit list.
Info www.sixflags.com/hurricaneharborla or call (661) 255-4100
Great Wolf Lodge Garden Grove
12681 Harbor Blvd., Garden Grove
Great Wolf Lodge might not be a familiar name to many in the SCV. Founded in Wisconsin, this nation-wide hotel and water park combo opened its Garden Grove location in 2016.
Many families find it a convenient way to have their waterpark and Disneyland, too. The 603-suite hotel and 105,000-square-foot water park is three miles from the Magic Kingdom and offers shuttle service to Disneyland.
If you just want to splash in the waterpark, Great Wolf Lodge offers a day pass to the park, no hotel stays required.
Passes start at $50 per person. Passes are good starting at 10 a.m. on the day the pass is valid and can stay at the resort until the waterpark closes at 8 p.m.
Rent a cabana with seating for six, a tv, towels, security safe, towels and refreshments. The park features a variety of slides, raft rides and tube rides, as well as other fun waterpark features.
Info www.greatwolf.com/daypass or 1-888-960-WOLF (9653).
Raging Waters
111 Raging Waters Drive, San Dimas
This water park is consistently ranked the number one water park in all of California by folks who make it their business to know such things. The highlight of the water park is the Aqua Rocket, a hydromagnetic slide that sends four people at a time on a roller coaster-like ride with hills and drops at 30 mph.
This 60-acre waterpark has been recognized by USA Today as a “Top 10 Water Park” and is home to more than 50 world-class rides, slides, wave pools, obstacle courses and other attractions for all ages.
The park was featured in the film “Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure” as the fictional Waterloo. It is also known as the most packed water park in the state with 12 high-energy slide attractions.
Tickets are available on line with several discount packages available, including the Family Four Pack with Pizza Lunch at $149.96.
Info www.ragingwaters.com
Legoland
1 Legoland Drive, Carlsbad
Legoland and Chima Water Park offers
Cragger’s Swamp includes three slides and more than 50 interactive water features. This 6,650 square-foot hands-on water play area invites guests to ride water slides, blast water cannons and jets and slide through the head of a massive crocodile.
However, Cragger’s Swamp is only one of the attractions at this wet-and-wild park that also includes Pirate Reef, where you can fire water cannons across the ships’ bows as you race down a flume between battling ships. There also is Riptide Racers, Wipeout Lagoon, Orange Rush, Joker Soaker and Splash Out. The only downside to the Legoland Water Park is that it is located inside of Legoland and requires a paid admission to Legoland with a Water Park upgrade. Discount tickets are available online starting at around $120 for Legoland and Legoland Water Park.
Info www.legoland.com/california/
Aquatica
2052 Entertainment Circle, Chula Vista
Aquatica’s best attraction is Taumata Racer, a 375-foot racing slide that is a heart-pumper as it pits guests against each other down its slope and through a 180-degree banking turn before zipping across the finish line.
The three-slides-in-one Kiwi Curl’s has a unique totally-in-the-dark option for thrill-seekers. Big Surf Shores is one of the largest wave pools in Southern California, guests swim in more than 500,000 gallons of water with periodic swells of up to five feet.
Among dozens of other slides and attractions are HooRoo Run, which takes riders down an 80-foot descent and several children’s attractions including Loggerhead Lane and Slippity Dippity.
Guests can also view Caribbean flamingos and freshwater turtles during their visit.
Aquatica is like no other waterpark, combining high-speed thrills with the amenities of a beachside resort and up-close animal encounters. From serene to extreme, experiences range from lounging on sandy beaches and splashing and playing in heated pools to journeying down highspeed water slides, all amongst a lushly landscaped, South Seas-themed, resort-style environment.
Single day discount tickets are available online and start at $35 per person.
Info https://aquatica.com/san-diego/
Knott’s Soak City
8039 Beach Blvd, Buena Park
Knott’s Soak City is a separately gated, 15-acre water park next to the Knott’s Berry Farm theme park. In 2017, Orange County’s largest water park expanded two acres to offer even more fun in the sun with seven new slides.
The park now boasts a total of 22 speed, tube and body slides plus the 750,000-gallon Tidal Wave Bay wave pool; the one-third-mile-long Sunset Lazy River; and the three-story Beach House, featuring 200 water guns, nozzles, sprayers and other interactive surprises.
The water park also features Gremmie Lagoon, a hands-on water playground for younger kids and families. Soak City recently added the seven-story plunge Shore Break to Gremmie Lagoon.
Discount tickets to Soak City are available online starting at $44 per person.
Info www.knotts.com/play/soak-city
