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10 of the Best Water Parks in Texas

July 11, 2020 by Jill 2 Comments

Looking for a way to spend the day having fun splashing around in the Lone Star State? I’ve got you covered with this list of 10 of the best water parks in Texas. A water park is a great way to beat the heat and if you’re in Texas, you know how necessary that is. Whether you want to hang out in the kiddie area, float on a tube on a lazy river or zip down a super-fast slide, this list of Texas Water Parks has something for you. And besides, if you’re looking for things to do with kids in Texas, it’s HOT here most of the year, so what better way to spend a hot day than a Texas water park?

Note for 2020: Most parks require advance reservations and have limits on capacity. Check the websites carefully before you visit.

Table of Contents

  • 10 of the Best Water Parks in Texas
    • 1. Schlitterbahn New Braunfels 
    • 2. Aquatica San Antonio
    • 3. Schlitterbahn Galveston
    • 4. Schlitterbahn South Padre
    • 5. Castaway Cove Water Park, Wichita Falls
    • 6. Great Wolf Lodge Water Park, Grapevine
    • 7. Splashway Waterpark, Sheridan
    • 8. NRH2O Family Water Park
    • 9. Six Flags Fiesta Texas
    • 10. The Waterpark at the Villages
  • You might also like:
  • Planning a Disney vacation? Read this:

10 of the Best Water Parks in Texas

10 of the best water parks in Texas|Ripped Jeans and Bifocals

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1. Schlitterbahn New Braunfels 

Schlitterbahn New Braunfels advertises as “The World’s Best Waterpark.” It’s certainly impressive, offering 17 speed slides for those thrill seekers, lazy and calm rivers, nice lounge pools, and shaded areas to relax. This park is massive and has everything you’d want in a water park.

Perks: You can bring food in and you don’t have to use the two-day pass on consecutive days.

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For more info on Schiltterbahn New Braunfels and things to do in New Braunfels and Gruene, read here.

2. Aquatica San Antonio

This is SeaWorld’s Water park, so you can combine your visit to the water park with a visit to SeaWorld. While it’s possible to visit Aquatica and Sea World in one day, you’ll run yourself ragged – get the two-day multi-park pass. Aquatica has some unique features, such as a Stingray experience and an aviary. This is my personal favorite, so I’m a little bit biased. If you’d like to read a more in-depth review of Aquatica, go HERE.

We visited Aquatica last week and found their reservation system to be absolutely seamless. There are temperature checks upon entering the park and you must be masked when you’re entering Aquatica. After you’re inside, masks are only required in designated areas, such as in line for food or in the gift shops. All the employees – including lifeguards – I saw had masks on. 

The website stated some of the attractions might be closed but on the Friday we visited, it looked like everything was open. I did notice one of the splash pad areas was single-entrance only – the side entrances were roped off. The six feet markers in the queues were well done and there were lots of hand sanitizer stations everywhere. 

Important to note: Admission to Aquatica isn’t included in your regular Sea World park ticket.

3. Schlitterbahn Galveston

If you are looking for a really fast slide, try the Screaming Serpents at Schlitterbahn Galveston. If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to slide through the bellies of two sea serpents, this is for you. Not looking for thrills? No problem. There’s a fun area for little kids and a lazy river.

4. Schlitterbahn South Padre

A water park with a view of the beach is pretty awesome stuff. This water park and resort is just steps from the sand. One of the best things about Schlitterbahn South Padre is the indoor play area. Blackbeard’s Twister and Lafitte’s Cyclone are indoor water slides with a 42″ height requirement, so young kids can enjoy them.

Related post: If you’re looking for a resort staycation with an awesome pool check out the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines near Bastrop Texas. They have an amazing Lazy River.

5. Castaway Cove Water Park, Wichita Falls

This is a lower key but just as fun water park. It has 7 water attractions, a nice lounge pool, and kiddie area.

6. Great Wolf Lodge Water Park, Grapevine

There’s so much to do at this lovely resort – the water park is just a small part. This makes a great weekend get-a-way in the winter – or what passes for winter in Texas, since part of the swim area is inside. Great Wolf Lodge is packed full of activities and it’s a must-visit.

7. Splashway Waterpark, Sheridan

Splashway is a very nice and relaxing water park with lots of attractions. Barbeque grills are available to rent and they also offer reasonably priced concessions. You can have your kids play in the kiddie area, play in the wave pool, lazy river, hop on some water slides and more. Splashway also offers the opportunity to rent a campsite if your family wants to make a weekend of it.

8. NRH2O Family Water Park

This water park is located in North Richland Hills and has a TON of things to do. They have the typical standard issue water park slides, lazy river and kids area but what you really need to check out is their events page for fun happenings like dive in movies and character expereicens. This park isn’t without thrills, though. Check out the Green Extreme, which is an uphill water coaster that’s 1,161 feet long and 81 feet tall!

9. Six Flags Fiesta Texas

White Water Bay is included in your Six Flags admission, although it definitely deserves a day of it’s own. There’s a large wave pool, a lazy river and a kids play area, in addition to some seriously fun thrill rides. The majority of the slides have a height requirement of 48″ but there’s plenty to keep smaller kids occupied. Their newest attraction is the Thunder Rapids Water Coaster, which is part water slide, part roller coaster.

10. The Waterpark at the Villages

The Water Park at the Villages is located 15 minutes from Tyler. It’s an indoor water park, great for dreary or cold days…not that there’s many of those in Texas but it’s nice to have that option.

If you’re in Texas or are going to be in Texas, you’re going to want to check out the best water parks in Texas. Have fun!

Is my list missing your favorite Texas water park? Leave me a comment or send me an email!

 

You might also like:

8 things to know before you go to Aquatica San Antonio

Planning a Disney vacation? Read this:

Walt Disney World Do Overs

 


2 Comments

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Comments

  1. Chuck Cureau says

    July 13, 2020 at 3:57 pm

    Greetings,

    Thank you for including us in your article. We are please to be open and extend you the invitation to visit any time. Just reach out to me privately.

    Blessings,

    Chuck
    Director of PR – SeaWorld and Aquatica

    Reply
    • Jill says

      July 13, 2020 at 5:04 pm

      Thanks, Chuck! Hope to see y’all soon!

      Reply

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All About Jill

I'm a digital content creator and essayist who copes with parenting and most other situations with humor and snark. Just so you know, if this weren't the internet, I'd be smiling awkwardly and answering simple questions like "How are you today" with gems like "I like pockets."

I really do love pockets, though.

I spent 26 years in the USAF, which went by really, really fast. I'm very proud of my service but I'm loving my second act even more. Writing gives me the opportunity to flex my creative muscles and that's what makes me happy. Welcome.

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Freelance Writer & Travel Expert
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💜 Mom via birth & #adoption
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Jill Robbins
Here’s something you’ve probably never seen be Here’s something you’ve probably never seen before: my bottom teeth.
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I always hide my crooked bottom teeth in pictures and I’m super self-conscious when I talk. So I did something about it.
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I wore braces as a kid and my top teeth are straight but my bottom teeth are shifting and one tooth is traveling into the back of my mouth and I have some crowding. My orthodontist said it’s very unusual to put braces on just half your mouth but my bite is still aligned so they didn’t have to put them on my top teeth - my wallet is thankful.
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Questions I’ve already been asked:
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1️⃣ At your age? Yes, at my age. I still care about my smile. 
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3️⃣ How long do you have to wear them?
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6-9 months.
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3️⃣ Do they hurt? 
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My teeth are sore and my mouth is tender but not to the Tylenol level so I guess the answer is “Not too much.”
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Other questions? Advice?
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#braceface #adultbraces
Little things can really be big - do you agree? M Little things can really be big - do you agree?

My husband gets up with our kids twice a week and does their breakfast and morning routine and takes them to school so I can sleep in. I don't laze away the morning in bed - it usually amounts to about an extra hour of sleep for me and a little more peace and quiet as I start my day. 

This probably seems like a little thing but this is huge for me. The mental benefits of not having to set my alarm on a schoolday is truly my love language. I would rather have sleep than flowers or presents. 

On those morning where my husband takes my kids to school, I will inevitably find the kitchen not "just so." There will be spills on the table or something that didn't get put away. I resist the urge to be sarcastic or to ask "Um, is there a reason we have four boxes of cereal just sitting on the counter?" or point out that it would take less than 30 seconds to wipe a tabletop or put a box back on the shelf. I resist saying stuff like "I guess if I want it done a certain way, I have to do it myself." I don't even say that to myself. 

My husband isn't "doing me a favor" by taking care of our kids. When I talked about being stressed and tired during an argument last year, he offered to take some things off my plate and giving me two mornings where I don't have to set an alarm was one of his ideas. It's part of the give and take of marriage and even though it makes me clench a little when I see spilled milk or stuff that hasn't put away, I appreciate having a partner who shares the load with me. 

My marriage definitely is not perfect and I'm in no position to give relationship advice. But for us, this one little thing is a really big deal. 

And, as I've recently discovered, a cereal box can sit on the counter for several days and the world doesn't explode. Who knew.

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Anyone else having massive “This time last year” moments?
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2020 started out so fine. We extended our kids’ winter break to take them on a Disney Cruise- no better reason than that, amiright- and I was excited about all the Disney Cruise blog posts I was going to write. Disney Cruises are (errr...were?) one of the most searched terms on my website and how a lot of people found me.
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Early 2020 was such a time of hope and light that pretty much everyone took for granted.
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While it’s become glaringly obvious the change in the calendar isn’t a magic potion, I still have hope for this year and still believe there magic yet to happen.
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You know...the good stuff.
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We got our first Raddish Kids box right before the We got our first Raddish Kids box right before the holidays and finally dug into it this weekend. Our box had a cold-weather theme which was perfect for this cold weather we're having (flurries in San Antonio can you believe it?!)

Each box contains three recipe cards, a culinary tool, an iron-on patch and Table Talk conversation starter cards. A shopping list is included and also emailed to you in advance in case you want to be ready to cook as soon as your box arrives. You buy all the groceries yourself. 

We made homemade chicken and dumplings this weekend and they turned out amazing. If you need modifications (i.e. gluten or dairy free) you can hop on to the @raddishkids website and go to the "Bonus Bites" section. You'll find modifications, food videos, extra recipes, parent info and more fun stuff. 

The price ranges from $20-$24 per box depending on what type of subscription you choose. Boxes are designed for kids 4-14+ with varying degrees of supervision needed depending on your child's skills and age. Kyle and i have done two meals from this box - we still have cookies left to make - and worked together about 50-50. It was a lot of fun. 

To order yours, here's my affiliate link https://raddish-kids-monthly-delivery.sjv.io/edoAr or read my full review (link in bio)

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I think today would be better if I could hang out I think today would be better if I could hang out with donkeys all day. 

There's a reason animals are used in therapy - they are both comforting and fun. This picture was from our October outing to Wassermann's Wranch outside of Alpine (in West Texas.) I love my beautiful state and the landscape of West Texas fascinates me because it's so different than what I see every day here near San Antonio.

Wassermann's Wranch is located just a few miles outside the city. It's a private hobby farm that sees visitors by reservation. It's absolutely worth planning your day around and you can check out more in my blog post linked in my bio.

I didn't realize I liked donkeys until I got to know these guys. The owner, Heidi, told me "I think you might be a donkey chick."

I think I'm OK with that. 

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