America’s “North Coast,” Ohio’s upper border, is a splashy shoreline. But it’s not only Lake Erie providing the aqua adventures – its’ outdoor wild water parks open the floodgates for fun, too.
Suburban Cleveland’s Wildwater Kingdom is a sunny side up, self-contained, open-air park with exciting and relaxing options for all ages. A wandering, lazy river called “Riptide Run” allows one to float along slowly on an inner tube with a constant change of scenery, and a zero-entry, beach-like wave pool, “Tidal Wave Bay,” surrounded by lounge chairs and cabanas replicates a seaside feel, especially if you’re sipping an icy frozen cocktail from “Tropical Waters.” Those actually in the pool can body surf on the crest of the waves as the tides rise and fall in rhythmic fashion.
Wildwater Kingdom makes it easy for parents of little ones with “Splash Landing,” an expansive, supervised, four-story play structure in a shallow pool with gentle slides and fountains. Parents can guide their kids through levels of sprinkler surprises or easily watch them play from a bank of chaise lounges designed for guardians to keep an eye on their adventurous children while chilling. Swim lessons are available, too.
The “wild” in Wildwater Kingdom comes from its “Thunder Falls” and “Liquid Lightning” water slides. Liquid Lightning sends four rides on a shamrock-shaped inner tube sliding down and around a dark, descending tunnel before shooting them out into a giant, open cornucopia-shaped shell. The result is family fun and bonding while the tube repeatedly slides high up on the watery wall and slips down to the bottom before being flushed out into a pool through a drizzling opening!
Thunder Falls towers over the terrain and provides five twisting, curling body slides and speedy, dark tube rides from the same structure. The design provides convenient options for fun and fast access.
Wildwater Kingdom’s wooded, secluded natural setting next to Geauga Lake make it a pleasant, natural experience. A daylong ticket is 30-dollars. Visit www.WildWaterFun.com for details and directions.
About an hour west on Ohio Turnpike, and directly on Lake Erie at Cedar Point, is sister park Soak City, an 18-acre “spray-ground” with more than a dozen thrilling waterslides, a “Zoom Flume” family raft ride, plus the added options parasailing, jet ski rentals, boat tours and fishing charters. Soak City is adjacent to the award-winning Cedar Point Amusement Park, but is a separate, 30-dollar entry ticket. Park package combination tickets are available, but you are welcome to visit Soak City on its’ own. Visit www.CedarPoint.com for details and directions.
Both water parks are owned by Cedar Fair Entertainment Company, which also operates Michigan Adventure, in Muskegon, which uniquely blends its water slides, including “Funnel of Fear,” which is the same as “Liquid Lightning,” with amusement park rides for only 26-dollars. Visit www.MiAdventure.com
