Splash into summer: 8 water parks your kids will love

There's nothing like water parks during summertime. The kids are ecstatic, the weather is hot, and the energy is soaring. The fun never ends at these aquatic playgrounds, so let the games begin at these 8 magical water parks. Check out our full list of water parks your kids will love >>

Nickelodeon Suites Resort Lake Buena Vista, Orlando
Guests at the Nickelodeon Suites Resort, one of Orlando's best options for families outside of a theme park, have free access to two on-site water parks. The Oasis water park, seen here, has an Olympic-size pool, waterslides, and a kids' play area (just note that this pool might be closed during the off season). The Lagoon water park, seen here, has a zero-depth entry pool, a four-story water tower, waterslides, two Jacuzzis, and a 400-gallon "dunk tank."

Atlantis Paradise Island Resort, Bahamas

Larger-than-life Atlantis boasts a 141-acre Aquaventure water park featuring two slides with vertical drops over 50 feet, a mile-long lazy-river ride (with waves, tunnels, and rapids along the way), a tube that gushes past sharks, and a plethora of other scenic slides. Kids can glide past sharks -- in a tube running straight through the tank -- as part of their Aquaventure experience. There are also 11 pools on the complex to explore.

Beaches Negril Resort & Spa Negril, Jamaica

Kids' activities galore, including a large water park in the center of the resort and "Sesame Street"-themed activities, makes this one of the best family resorts in Jamaica. (Guests seem to prefer it even to the cheaper Beaches Sandy Bay.) The resort has plenty for adults too--parents love the spa. Older kids love the high waterslides and younger ones can circle around the complex in the lazy river.

Disney's Coronado Springs Resort Disney World, Orlando

Disney's Coronado Springs Resort is home to "The Dig Site" -- a huge pool and waterslide complex -- plus a small, quiet pool near each building cluster.

Hyatt Regency Maui Resort And Spa Maui, Hawaii

The 809-room Hyatt Regency was one of the first mega-resorts in Kaanapali and it still rivals newer hotels in almost all aspects, especially in regards to the pool (one of the most impressive in Maui). It boasts a waterfall, rope bridge, 150-foot waterslide, and a children's section seen here with its own waterslide, sprinklers, and sandlot in the center of the shallow water.

Rose Hall Resort and Spa, a Hilton Resort Montego Bay, Jamaica

This relaxed, beachside golf resort is more popular with families than rum-chugging partiers. Rose Hall's main feature is the Sugar Mill Falls complex of waterslides, waterfalls and swinging bridges, all in a huge lagoon-shaped pool. The waterslides send kids zipping into the massive pool but the whole area is well planned, and there are several private perches for parents to keep an eye on their kids.

Grand Wailea Resort Hotel and Spa Maui, Hawaii

Maui's Grand Wailea resort has an extraordinarily elaborate pool complex. Its highlights: four waterslides, whitewater rapids, caves, a lazy river pool, rope swings, and a "water elevator" inside a man-made volcano. One of the four waterslides in Grand Wailea's massive pool complex--the best in Hawaii. The resort also has a prime location on one of the best U.S. beaches.

The Fairmont Kea Lani Maui Maui, Hawaii

The Fairmont sits on a 22-acre beachfront property that includes five restaurants, access to world-class golf, some of Maui's largest rooms, and four well-designed pools with swim-up bars, footbridges, basketball nets, and a waterslide. Picnic packages are available for kids to bring to the pool because they'll never want to leave!

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