With temperatures already teetering into the 90s, plopping the kids in front of the TV and cranking up the AC all summer is awfully tempting. Though we’re pretty much landlocked here in the city, there are many great ways to cool off and have fun in the great outdoors. So, when the SpongeBob DVDs run out, get out there and join the living. Don’t forget the sunscreen.
Cannonball!
There aren’t many places where it’s encouraged for adults to run around in their bathing suits and scream their heads off. At Six Flags White Water park in Marietta it’s perfectly acceptable for Mom and Dad to join the fun on one of the 50 water rides or simply laze about on a lounge chair while the kids (hopefully) exhaust themselves. With 69 acres of man-made amusements, there’s fun for everyone. Adrenaline junkies like the Cliffhanger, which takes you seven stories high and plunges you into a refreshing pool below. And no, the Caribbean Plunge has nothing to do with one too many pina coladas and a quickie marriage license; it's an exciting double-tube water flume featuring the quickest drop in the park, 100 feet in seconds.
Of course there’s plenty of enjoyment for tinier tots in Buccaneer Bay and Captain’s Cove.
Many of the rides have strict height requirements that are clearly stipulated on the park’s website. We strongly suggest measuring your child and discussing which rides he or she may enjoy before your visit. It’ll save on that other man-made moisture that no one wants to see. A $30 Flash Pass lets you jump the line; private cabanas are $125; and June 3 is the last day to buy a $99 season pass (minimum of two) that pays for itself after six visits for kids over 4 feet tall. There are many dining options onsite and reduced meal deals for purchase at the website.
10 a.m.-7 p.m. daily. $36.99 adults; $26.99 for children under 4 feet; free ages 2 and younger. 250 Cobb Parkway N., Marietta. 770-948-9290, www.sixflags.com/whiteWater.
Take it to the lake
Located 45 minutes northeast of Atlanta, LanierWorld offers myriad activities perfect for cooling off. The Big Beach area, the park’s centerpiece, is an expansive man-made beach that takes advantage of the waters of Lake Lanier. It is amply staffed with lifeguards, so parents can enjoy a good beach read or nap on the sand while the kids play. Like White Water, there are several heart-pumping slides and rides such as the Blackout, a slide that plunges you into complete darkness. The appropriately named Intimidator lulls you into a sense of comfort and then sends you on an exciting free fall. There’s also a new floating obstacle course and a Giant Fun Slide. Besides the beach, little ones can enjoy a wave pool and an area called Wiggle Waves.
The Boardwalk Promenade offers many different food options such as pizza and burgers as well as adult beverages. Naturally, there’s ice cream and other treats available as well.
Though kid-friendly, the Sunset Cove beach area has activities geared more toward teens and older. There’s a floating stage with live entertainment, full moon parties and three beachfront restaurants. For the sporty, there are regulation beach volleyball courts and a new miniature golf course, and two fire pits with Adirondack chairs for the lazy. Popular with the locals, many watercraft owners dock right in the cove and enjoy the park all summer. Book a room onsite and make a weekend out of it.
10 a.m.-11 p.m. $31.99; children under 42 inches tall, seniors 55 and older and active military $17.99. Twilight tickets 3-6 p.m. $22.99-$14.99. After 6 p.m. $16.99. 7000 Lanier Islands Parkway, Buford. 770-932-7218, www.lanierworld.com.
Rain, rain, go away
When Mother Nature puts a damper on outdoor pleasures, the Bethesda Park Aquatic Center is a fantastic option; the 31,000-sqaure-foot structure is fully enclosed but in no way suffocating. Expansive windows allow for views of the surrounding nature trails and lush greenery just steps away. Located in Lawrenceville and part of the Gwinnett County Park and Recreation Department, Bethesda was completed in 2006 and is made up of two large pools: one for leisure and one for learning. The leisure pool features “zero entry,” perfect for those just becoming comfortable with swimming or those with limited mobility. There’s a slide, interactive play stations and a slow-moving river channel.
The second pool is separated by glass walls providing noise control but still allowing for plenty of natural light. It has lap lanes and areas dedicated for swim instruction and water therapy. It’s also a great place for hosting parties as both pools are available for rent, Friday through Sunday after normal business hours.
Bethesda is also a great option for families on a tighter budget. Skip the overpriced hot dogs and sodas and pack your own lunch. Picnic tables are available right outdoors. Gwinnett residents with proper identification enjoy discounted admission.
1-6 p.m. Sunday–Thursday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday. $3-$10. 225 Bethesda Church Road, Lawrenceville. 678-924-6334, www.gwinnettcounty.com.
Adult swim
If pool time to you means relaxing with a frosty adult beverage of your choice and cabana boys (or girls), we found the hottest place in town for chilling out. There’s a pool party every Saturday and Sunday at the W Hotel in Buckhead, and all the cool kids will be there. Poolside on Peachtree was such a big hit last year that it's suiting up again and you’re invited. A ticket to the WET Deck gets you personal bar service, use of the sparkling infinity pool, towel service and discounted valet. You can also order bites from Market featuring some of chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten's "greatest hits."
And speaking of hits, on Sunday nights a DJ spins. Poolside spots are limited and must be purchased in advance via the hotel website.
Noon–7 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays. $25.3377 Peachtree Road N.E., Atlanta, 678-500-3100, www.watlantabuckhead.com.
Fountain of youths
Centennial Olympic Park in downtown Atlanta, which was constructed for the 1996 Olympic Games, is said to draw an estimated 3 million visitors annually. Many of those visitors come to cool off in the Fountain of Rings, the world’s largest interactive fountain, featuring the Olympic Rings symbol. Each of the five rings is 25 feet in diameter, a space large enough for two average-size cars. About 5,000 gallons of water per minute is recycled through the fountain, enough to fill an average-size swimming pool in five minutes.
Scheduled fountain “shows” set to music take place four times a day, 365 days a year. Those seeking a respite from the heat often leap into the ground-level sprays. This leaping is either planned or simply spontaneous; but if you wander in and hear “Twist and Shout” or “The William Tell Overture,” get ready to get wet. At night the rings are illuminated, making for a stunning display.
12:30, 3:30, 6:30 and 9 p.m. Free. Centennial Olympic Park Drive Northwest, Atlanta, 404-222-7275, www.centennialpark.com.
She's gonna blow
Located in Stone Mountain Park is the newly opened Geyser Towers. The Towers, a network of several levels of suspension bridges constructed of rope and flexible net tunnels, lead visitors to soaring platforms overlooking a gushing geyser located below. The fun of it is that one never knows when they’ll get drenched by periodic eruptions and a random squirt. To enjoy, one must be at least 32 inches tall, and youngsters between 32 and 40 inches tall must be accompanied by an adult. Tots can enjoy the trickle-down creek below, and Mom and Pop can sit in the nearby shaded area.
Bathing attire is not required for Geyser Towers, a $1 million addition to the park's Crossroads Village Fun Town. Simply queue up and cool down. It’s more economical to buy an all-day pass and enjoy the entire park, though solo tickets to Geyer Towers are available.
10:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Multi-attraction Adventure Pass is $28 for adults, $22 for ages 3-11; Geyser Towers a la carte admission: $14. U.S. 78 East, Exit 8, Stone Mountain. 770-498-5690, www.stonemountainpark.com.
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