By SHERRI SMITH BROWN

Georgia > Atlanta Metro > Cobb County > Powder Springs

Swimming in what’s called the largest pool in the Southeast is the major attraction at Sun Valley Beach.

Sun Valley Beach, a family-operated beach and water park in Powder Springs, doesn’t have the thrill rides that some of the other water parks in the state have, but it does have a huge pool, one that they advertise as the largest in the state – 1.5 acres that is surrounded by white, sandy “beach,” which makes it somewhat unique.

There is something for every member of the family at the 40-acre park. There are 10 different slides that empty into the pool, a large dolphin fountain, a showering umbrella and various diving platforms. For the more adventurous, there is a Lumber Jack log roll, Tarzan swinging ropes and a zip line. Beach lounge chairs are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. (more…)

By SHERRI SMITH BROWN

Georgia > Southwest Georgia > Lowndes County > Valdosta

Wild Adventures Water and Theme Park mixes animals, amusement rides and water park rides like the Wahee Cyclone, a four-person tube ride that swirls down a dark, 45-foot funnel.

Thrill rides, water rides — and animals!

A combination amusement park and water park sounds like a lot of fun, but Wild Adventures Water and Theme Park in Valdosta captures both of those and throws in an extra – wild animals – to give you a three-way adventure that is hard to beat.

Wild Adventures is divided into seven sections, each with its own collection of rides and animals.

When it comes to amusement park rides, Wild Adventures offers plenty of family rides – everything from the Century Wheel ferris wheel to the Dizzy Dragons. There are numerous Thrill Rides, including the 50-mph vertical loops of the Boomerang with its six inversions and two hills; The Bug Out – a wild mouse ride with single cars, hair-pin turns, and sudden drops; and the Cheetah, a 90-foot tall, 3,000-foot long wooden roller coaster. And, of course, the gentler Kids Rides, such the Rio Grande Train and Saddle Up Pony Rides, are also plentiful. (more…)

By SHERRI SMITH BROWN

Georgia > Coastal Georgia > Glynn County > Jekyll Island

Float down a lazy river or plunge down a twisting slide at this small, but fun, water park on Jekyll Island on the Georgia Coast.

Jekyll Island, one of Georgia’s famous barrier islands, is a beautiful, relaxing and fun place to take the family – but during the summer months, it becomes even more exciting with a trip to Summer Waves Water Park.

You and the family can find all kinds of ways to spend a hot summer’s day getting thoroughly soaked at this 11-acre water park. A favorite of everyone is Turtle Creek, a half-mile river float in a tube that travels through the heart of Summer Waves at a relaxing three miles per hour. Surf the Frantic Atlantic Wave Pool with 500,000 gallons of water and waves reaching 2 – 4 feet high. In Splash Zone, you can splash in thousands of gallons of water, get dunked by Downpour, a giant bucket, or take aim behind a kid-friendly water gun. The Kiddie Pool is designed for the smallest among us – a shady area of kiddie slides, waterfalls and numerous water features. (more…)

By SHERRI SMITH BROWN

Georgia > Atlanta Metro > Cobb County > Marietta

From toddler friendly to the very extreme, there are lots of slides and rides at Six Flags White Water, the Southeast’s premier water park. 

For 25 years, Six Flags White Water in Cobb County has been Georgia’s premier water park. Recently awarded “Best Private Water Park” in the nation by Aquatics International, the industry’s leading publication, it also bears the designation of an “Extreme Water Park” by the Travel Channel.

I first visited the water park with my children in the early 1980s when the Atlanta Ocean wave pool, the Three-slide Body Flume, and the kiddies Activity Pool were big news. Today, Six Flags White Water is the largest water park in the Southeast, with more than 20 rides and 40 slides.

The water park rates its rides Mild (green), Moderate (yellow) and Max (red). There are three different areas for the littlest visitors — Captain Kid’s Cove, Little Squirt’s Island and Tree House Island; and three Thrill Rides that boast serious water park action. For instance, on the Cliffhanger, you will drop nine stores at harrowing speeds on what is claimed to be one of the tallest free-falls on earth; on Dragon’s Tail, you’ll brave a 250-foot triple drop; and on the Tornado, a giant, funnel-shaped thrill-ride, you’ll plummet down a 132-foot tunnel, eventually landing in the cool pool below. All three of these are definitely for real thrill seekers only. (more…)

Georgia > Northeast Georgia Mountains > Hall County > Lake Lanier Islands

By SHERRI SMITH BROWN

There is a lot of splashing going on at Lake Lanier’s Chattahoochee Rapids Beach and Water Park.

A part of the Lake Lanier Islands Resort located on the shores of Lake Sidney Lanier, Chattahoochee Rapids Beach and Water Park is a water park with a dozen rides and attractions that offers summer fun for everyone in the family.

Open now through Labor Day, the water park has a “Kiddie Lagoon” with age-appropriate waterslides and “Wiggle Waves,” a kid-sized wave pool, for the little ones. For the more adventuresome, there are 11 waterslides, including the Twister, SplashDown and Triple Threat; Georgia’s largest wave pool, Wild Waves; and the FunDunker, a water attraction equipped with more than 100 ways to get wet. There is also a half mile of white, sandy beach for anyone who just wants to relax away an afternoon. (more…)

By SHERRI SMITH BROWN

At the St. Marys Aquatic Center, you’ll find lots of ways to cool off on a hot summer’s day along the Georgia coast.

If you’re looking for some summer fun with the kids, you might want to visit the St. Marys Aquatic Center.

Kids can splash to their heart’s content in the Splash Mountain/Kiddie Pool with its zero depth entry water playground with sprinklers, water cannons, and slides. Every five minutes a huge bucket dumps 300 gallons of water on everyone below – so there are lots of ways to get – and stay – wet! You can slide down the Orange Crush twister slide, cruise down the 500-feet-long lazy river called The Oasis, or swim some leisurely laps in the four-lane lap pool. (more…)

By SHERRI SMITH BROWN

Summer means lots of water fun for all ages at waterparks across Georgia, including Splash in the Boro in Statesboro. 

You can tell summer is here when the water parks start opening up for the season. In Statesboro, you can celebrate the hot weather by getting wet at Splash in the Boro, which opens this Saturday, May 23.

There is water play that will entertain everyone—water slides, an 800-foot lazy river, a 25-meter lane pool and therapy pool, a leisure pool, and a low-level water play pool designed for all ages.

The waterpark has been redesigned and updated for its 2009 opening, and three new attractions will be operational within the next couple of weeks. You’ll be able to hitch a ride on an unbroken wave on the “Flowrider,” the only such slide in the region; thrill to the 45-foot high 5-lane “Mat Racer,” and enjoy 6,000 square feet of water fun in the “Spray Ground.” (more…)