Oh, the sweet smell of sunscreen and chlorine bringing back memories of time spent in the sun, pushing past siblings to be the first atop the waterslide staircase. What could be better than a hotel with a swimming pool?
Nothing less than hotels with waterparks! These extravagant complexes are an easy vacation for parents and kids alike. While you indulge in some backstroke in the adults-only pool, the kids can dodge splash buckets or learn to take their first swim without water wings.
If you needed any more reasons to head to Anaheim besides Disneyland, The Courtyard Anaheim Theme Park Entrance awaits with a tantalizing family-friendly space to keep the fun going past the theme park entrance and exit.
The hotel’s Surfside Waterpark not only has a view of Disneyland, including their fabulous fireworks but also two 30-foot waterslides, drench buckets, swimming pools and hot tubs encased in expansive sun decks. Suites can accommodate up to 8 people and come with free WiFi and a Netflix connection for watching your fave Disney flicks.
Come and conquer this corner of Puerto Rican paradise at the El Conquistador Resort. The expansive property has been blessed by the good graces of Mother Nature on top of offering seemingly limitless amenities to its guests. Without a doubt, the most kid-enticing amenity is the onsite waterpark. From the 60-foot high beast Torre de Yocahu to the high-speed hijinks of the El Gigante Dormido and the body-turning curves of the Huracan, these are the slides you will brag about taking for the rest of your life.
There are also seven 24-hour pools, a tubing river and plenty of hammocks to go around for those who can’t take the heat of the waterslides. Take a water taxi over to the resort’s private Palomino Island for some snorkeling, sailing, horseback riding or getting beauty treatments right on the soft sand of the private beach.
As the biggest provider of hotels with waterparks, the Great Wolf Lodge family knows a thing or two about the art of the waterpark craft. With the indoor parks sitting in a temperate 84-degree climate year round, no matter what the weather, you don’t have to miss out on some slippery fun.
At the Kansas City Great Wolf Lodge location, the Howling Wolf swings outside and back inside before dropping you in the plunge pool and the Triple Twist throws you into a series of different funnels and is a fave among thrill seekers. There’s also the much calmer lazy river float, multiple pools and a huge water fort treehouse and a zero-depth Cub Paw Pool for the tiny tots.
At the Great Wolf Lodge Cincinnati, the Alberta Falls is four stories of tandem tube riding as a pair and the North and South Hot Springs are perfect for taking a moment to relax and steam your cares away. Without a doubt, any of the Great Wolf Lodges you visit are sure to have a bevy of slides, pools, and activities to maximize your watery fun.
Bring the water wings along for your stay at the Hilton Hawaiian Village. Water babies and wannabe mermaids alike will delight in six swimming pools each offering a unique swimming experience. From the 5,000 sqft. paradise pool with the longest waterslide in Waikiki, lava rock formations, and waterfalls to the 10,000 sqft. Super pool and its adjacent shallow Keiki Pool, the opportunities to get your feet wet here are endless.
The resort is the only one located on the stunning Waikiki Beach and with its lush gardens, lei-making classes, and ukelele lessons, you’ll fall hard for this piece of watery paradise.
Pulling on its iconic Mickey Mouse roots but evidently inspired by its island location, the Aulani Disney Resort & Spa meets the needs of the whole family. Mom and Dad will love the luxurious feel of the property but will be undeniably as excited about the waterpark options as the kids. Snorkel in Rainbow Reef, the private saltwater lagoon where you’ll meet butterflyfish, angelfish and other friends. Keiki Cove is made especially for the little ones with rainbow water jets and other splash playground features.
You’ll also find both a lazy and a rapid river, perfect for those who love the adrenaline rush of the Volcanic Vertical and Tubestone Curl where riders are thrust through a series of single and double pools. An infinity pool and a separate adults-only pool are also here to please romance seekers. As an added bonus, there’s always some Disney characters making an appearance at the Shake-a-Shaka pool parties.
The opulent Grand Wailea Resort Hotel and Spa meets its own commitment to being the grandest hotel in Wailea. From its $30 million art collection to the decadently oversized guest rooms and its maze of lavish pools rumored to be the best in Hawaii, guests looking for that “Wow” factor need not look any further. The resort’s pool complex includes multiple waterslides, an activity pool twisting with whitewater rapids, rope swings, a man-made volcano and a series of caves will keep kids occupied for months with their exploration plans.
For adults looking to relax, the stunning Hibiscus Pool, reserved for guests over 18 is made up of 2.2 million individual glass mosaic tiles that glisten in the sun. It also has a delectable poolside snack menu including Ahi Poke Nachos, a Vegan Life burger inserted with the sweet Hawaiian life ℅ the mango BBQ sauce and grilled pineapple on it as well as a ton of tropical drinks. Further afield but still water-related is the Fishpipe, a rotating barrel ride that mimics the sensation of going down a mile long waterslide- the Grand Wailea has the first one in the world. Plus, you have direct access to Wailea Beach and all its stand-up paddleboarding and snorkeling glory.
Where better to put a waterpark than sunny Kissimmee, Florida? The Gaylord Palms Resort welcomes guests into the Cypress Springs Water Park. The private adults-only pool is an oasis of calm away from the action of the rest of the waterpark. A zero-entry pool gives easy access to swimmers getting in and out of the four waterslides that shoot you in. Want to learn how to ride the waves? The double FlowRider gives you a taste of the action whether on a surf or body board and with the help of trainers that will get you up and hangin’ ten.
Join other guests for the Splash & Screen in movies or anticipate the potential of meeting your favorite Dreamworks character like Shrek himself. Work up the courage to try out the 35-foot freefall plunge from the Florida Free Fall drop- we bet once you try it once, you’ll be up there again for a second go!
Located on scenic Lake Geneva, Timber Lodge Lake is the perfect weekend getaway from Chicago and Milwaukee. The family-focused all-suite hotel gifts guests free passes to their onsite Moose Mountain Falls Waterpark, so come armed with plenty of swimsuit changes. The 50,000 sqft. indoor/outdoor park has options for every swimmer starting from the wee ones with the Tiny Timbers pool, full of small slides and gentle mushroom waterfalls, all the way up to the Tarzans of the activity pool rope climbs and water basketball slams.
A lazy river is a perfect way to take a break from it all without leaving the water. For those lucky enough to attempt the 30-foot high Timber Rapids or Avalanche Falls, you’ll get thrown through colored lights and musical tunes piped straight into your slide tube. American Red Cross-trained lifeguards supervise the whole affair, making Timber Ridge Lodge the perfect family escapade.
The Orlando World Center Marriott is an expansive complex located near both Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom and Universal Studios with the hotel providing shuttles to both. The main draw for visitors, other than its proximity to the amusement parks is its ability to stretch your family fun even further with the fantastic pool complex. The Falls Pool Oasis has two 200-foot waterslides, a gut-wrenching adrenaline-fueled 90-foot speed slide, a splash park, a huge freeform pool with waterfalls, a spa pool, and a shallow kids splash pool, all surrounded by tropical landscaping.
The expansive rooms come in various configurations with the possibility of sleeping up to five across two doubles as well as sofa beds and all have balconies overlooking the pool or with views of the golf greens.
Home to rolling hills, oak trees stretching further than your eye can follow and a legion of water-related activities, the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa has mastered rustic luxury. While the parents stretch their legs and practice shots on the 36-hole golf course, kids can take to the nine-acre waterpark. Get a view of the area from atop the 275-foot Acequia Tube Slide before hurtling down at top gun speeds.
Inspired by the landscape, you can also coast along the cypress tree lines lazy river or practice your swim strokes in the adult pool, perfect your dives into the activity pool, or learn to blow bubbles in the toddler pool.