As the late summer brings scorching days, escape the heat at one of Jacksonville’s entertaining water parks. Race down slides, glide in tubes, or just lounge in the cool water.
Innertubes and splash areas are the best spots for kids to explore while adults relax in the shade or join in on the fun! Here are some of our favorite places to cool down.
Fun At Shipwreck Island Water Park
As summer temperatures rise, Jacksonville Beach’s Adventure Landing offers fun sure to cool down crowds of all ages – Shipwreck Island Water Park. Located on Beach Boulevard, this watery wonderland transports visitors to a pirate-themed playground and numerous thrilling water rides.
A large wave pool and 4 extreme water slides are crowd favorites. Younger kids will enjoy the Pirate Play complex with mini slides and water cannons. Braver visitors can test their speed on rides like The Rage downhill slide.
Experienced lifeguards ensure safety as kids and adults play and ride. The park takes extra precautions for both sunny and stormy summer days.
This Jacksonville water park provides a nice escape from the summer heat. With its wide selection of rides and attractions, Shipwreck Island is a great choice for entertainment and thrills, suitable for teenagers down to gentle, fun areas perfect for toddlers.
A massive 500,000-gallon wave pool creates rolling surf up to four feet high. The water park features a variety of slides, from gentle junior slides in the Pirate Play area to the thrilling Rage downhill racer, which speeds riders along at 18 mph. For the bravest visitors, the forty-foot-tall Eye of the Storm drop slide offers a thrilling experience.
Lazy rivers winding past sights allow families to relax together on inner tubes. Guests can simply float and watch the action. Lifejackets are available so that even the youngest child can feel secure in the water. Look for discount specials online and enjoy your thrilling day at one of Jacksonville’s favorite summer spots to cool down.
St. Mary’s Aquatic Park: A Watery Playground For Little Adventurers
Along the scenic Cumberland Island shoreline, St Mary’s Aquatic Park is another wonder for water activities designed with young children in mind.
The centerpiece is a zero-depth entry pool. It lets the tiniest seafarers (ages 6 and under) splash safely under 3-5 feet of water. They can enjoy gentle waves engaging developmental motor skills. Parents can relax nearby under umbrellas and shaded picnic tables, keeping a close eye on their little ones.
A variety of spray features keep tiny adventurers entertained, including squirting whales, palm tree nozzles, bubbling geysers, and tipping buckets. These introduce basic water play without worry of waves or currents.
For those little ones who are ready for more adventure, smaller slides send these happy campers sliding into shallow pools. Soft padding and close supervision keep safety in mind. Convenient hours, affordable rates, and regular Facebook updates on events make St. Mary’s Aquatic Park a great spot for wee ones to explore their love for water. Parents love its safe environment and smaller size.
Discovering Hanna Park’s Splash Pad
Within the scenic beaches and playgrounds of Jacksonville’s Kathryn Abbey Hanna Park is a recently reimagined watery playground just for young adventures. The new splash pad creates ocean adventures sized for little ones. This area is a perfect place to cool down with your little ones after a hot day at the beach.
Centrally located along Lone Star Road, the water park splash pad has multiple interactive features perfect for pint-sized pirates. From the entry, tiny tykes will spy geysers, dump buckets, and sprinklers shaped like colorful seahorses, inviting their first steps into watery exploration.
Designed with safety at the forefront of mind, the splash pad remains just 6 inches deep throughout – shallow enough for even the youngest landlubber to splash confidently. Rubber surfacing provides secure footing as they discover sprinklers, spray cannons, and more. The caregivers are never more than arms’ reach away on surrounding benches.
Playful sprinklers shaped as seahorses and crabs merrily mist passersby. More active toddlers are drawn to geysers that spout in patterns, making jumping even more fun. Overhead dump buckets sprinkle water on unsuspecting sailors, adding to the joy.
The grounds surrounding the splash pad offer a well-equipped playground, shaded benches and numerous picnic areas to provide parents with front-row views while also protecting them from sunny skies.
Hanna Park’s splash pad is a safe and exciting way for young children to explore water play in a natural setting, creating cherished memories for the whole family. Be sure to check out the beautiful beaches, biking trails, campground and playground that Hannah Park offer.
Make A Splash At The Jacksonville Zoo Splash Pad
Within Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens is a refreshing water play area where families can explore interactive exhibits and beat the summer heat. The zoo splash pad is located near the Critter Outpost Goat Petting Area. It’s the perfect way to cool off after exploring the grounds on a hot day.
The splash pad features multiple fountains, sprays, and geysers of varying intensities for a range of abilities. Children will enjoy cooling off while delighting in spiral sprays and misting manatees. Spray features are timed to encourage active, imaginative play.
Families can experience a full day in this free-range zoo with over 100 animal species from around the world. From big cats to bugs, there is a joy to be discovered around every winding path. The splash pad provides the perfect respite to recharge before continuing wildlife viewing adventures.
Be sure to pack swim attire; there are restrooms directly next to the splash pad for easy changing. Guests can enjoy the splash pad before or after touring the zoo, allowing for a fun way to cool down before heading home. With activities for all ages, the Jacksonville Zoo promises endless fun and lasting memories.
Cool Off At Summer Waves On Jekyll Island
One of our favorite summer destinations include the crystal-clear beaches and coastal marshlands of Jekyll Island, Georgia. And within this awesome island is Summer Waves Water Park. Just outside of Jacksonville, it is a delightful summer destination for visitors of all ages.
This water park is situated on one of Georgia’s famed Golden Isles, with a wide variety of splashing attractions perfect for beating the summer heat. Families can spend the day exploring and having fun in the sun, from Pirates Plunge and Coconut Cove to Typhoon Lagoon wave pool and Tadpole Lagoon.
Among the highlights is the tube ride down Pirate’s Passage. It sends riders bouncing between 500,000 gallons of water. More adventurous visitors can test their bravery on Thunder Falls, a multi-level slide complex with twisting tunnels and surprises around every turn.
Younger buccaneers remain happily entertained in areas like the tube slide and pools of Shark Tooth Cove. Slower moving streams like Lazy River and Tropical Twist provide relaxation between watery, more thrilling water activities.
When you need to recharge your energy, guests can rehydrate at on-site snack bars or relax beneath private cabanas available for rent. Experienced lifeguards patrol over 40 acres of waterside pleasures, ensuring everyone has a safe adventure.
Summer Waves welcomes you to Jekyll Island during the summer months only and their variety promises fun for all ages, whether seeking speed, splashes, or sunny serenity. Make an entire weekend out of it by booking a room at one of the island’s premier hotels or booking a vacation property!
Conclusion
With the summer sun heating things up, families in Jacksonville, Florida have plenty of wet and wonderful places to relax, in addition to Jacksonville’s awesome beaches. From splash pads to water parks, there’s so much fun to be had!
Whether you live in Jacksonville, or are just visiting, check out some of these parks to beat the heat. These water parks are affordable and offer refreshing fun for the whole family! So why not pack swimsuits, picnic, and make awesome memories this summer?
