It’s summer in Houston and we don’t have to tell you it’s hot! It’s part of the charm of our city, right? The best way to survive the heat and get the kids nice and worn out is a trip to the pool or splash pad! We’ve put together a list of some of our favorite spots to splash around in.
1. Moody Gardens
Cost: $23.95 for adults, $17.95 for kids, children under 3 free
Moody Gardens is home to penguins, sharks and all sorts of wildlife animals. But there’s also lots of family entertainment including a ropes course, zip lines and water park area! Palm Beach has a lazy river, wave pool, and authentic looking white sand beaches.
2. Schlitterbahn
Cost: $50.99 for adults, $40.99 for kids
(You can save a few bucks by buying your tickets ahead of time online)
This water park is packed with entertainment. There are 35 different types of rides at the park including speed slides, tube slides and the Boogie Bahn surf ride. There’s also a splash and play area especially for smaller children.
3. Noah’s Ark Pool
Cost: $7 per person for non-members, and $5 a person for Quillian Members
The Quillian Center has a huge shallow pool for toddlers and Pre-K aged children. The “Noah’s Ark” area includes three slides and a crawl-through. There’s also a mushroom water drop, rainbow slide, coconut water drop and spraying water from some of Noah’s animals. Note: This space is NOT open for the public. You must reserve the pool for a private party, be part of their after school program or sign up for summer camp to enjoy!
4. Bellaire Town Square Family Aquatic Center
Cost: $10 a day fee for non Bellaire residents
This fun pool is not just for Bellaire residents. There are water slides and a water bucket drop for kids. (It’s also centrally located, so makes for a great place to meet up with friends from across town)
5. Calypso Cove Water Park
Cost: $5 per person
This awesome water park is a hidden gem in Baytown. Besides a large pool for swimming, there is also a Caribbean theme water play center for the little ones, an octopus bucket drop, spray gun area, 17 foot water slide tower and covered picnic areas. You can also bring along your own cooler packed with lunch and drinks!
6. Splashway Water Park
Cost: $27.99 for adults, $17.99 for kids and $5.99 for small children.
Bonus – cheaper rates if you go after 3pm
Splashway is a family water park in Sheridan (on Highway 90, about 20m south of I-10). The park has a wave pool, kiddie areas, speed slides, mat racers, tube sides and a lazy river.
7. Gateway Fountain at Discovery Green
Cost: free
This huge splash pad is right in the middle of Downtown Houston at Discovery Green. The sloping granite surface has 14-foot high arcing jets of water. There are also splash pads at the Downtown Aquarium and the Houston Zoo.
8. Go on a “Spray Ground” Tour
Cost: free
The City of Houston has 20 + “Spray grounds” across the Houston area. A few highlights include a huge whale at Montie Park that spouts water out of its hump and and Shady Lane Park that features alligators and other bayou animals. Map out a location that is close for you and meet a few friends for lunch!
9. Wet N Wild Splashtown
Cost: $34.99 per adult, $30.99 for kids. Kids under 2 are free
Located in Spring, this is not the water park you may have visited as a kid. There has been millions of dollars of renovations over the past few years, complete with a wave pool, slides, lazy river and large kiddie area.
10. Dolphin Lagoon – Clear Lake
Cost: free
This park in Clear Lake has the perfect setting. The huge splash pad area and slides are right beside the beautiful lake. Plenty of picnic areas and clean bathrooms. Sure, we said 10 but we just had to add one more to our list!
11. Wake Nation (we had to add an extra for you!)
Cost: 2 hour pass = $30
Wake Nation is the first and only full-size cable wake park in Houston. The park has the ability to wakeboard, water ski, kneeboard and wake skate on their 12 acre lake. Beginners are welcome!
12. Pirates Bay Waterpark
