We’ve found a new summer bucket list obsession – water parks. Yesterday, we spent the day at Knott’s Soak City and it was fun for the whole family. Darren and I loved the water slides, Athena loved Gremmie Lagoon, and we all enjoyed Tidal Wave Bay and Sunset River. We didn’t waste any of the day, arriving at opening and leaving at close. Shriveled like prunes and exhausted from all the fun, we drove home chatting about how soon we can return. Knott’s Berry Farm is one of my favorite amusement parks, a great place to spend Halloween during Knott’s Scary Farm and a summer bucket list must at Knott’s Soak City.
When we arrived at Knott’s Soak City, we went directly to Gremmie Lagoon. It offers a playground of interactive octopus, submarines and other over-sized landmarks that squirt, sprinkle, soak and splash kids and parents too. It was the ideal introduction to the water park for Athena, allowing her to get use to the water and splashing before more intimidating experiences like Tidal Wave Bay. She built up her courage to go down a water slide at Gremmie Lagoon before we asked her to try Sunset River.
Athena had never been on a lazy river before. The gentle current of Sunset River at Knott’s Soak City moved us along in the water and Athena sat comfortably on my lap while we floated in a tube. Darren was our anchor and guided us through the water if groups or kids were too close for comfort. Once Athena relaxed, she wanted to try floating in the water like Daddy.
It was the greatest part of our day or even our month. She tried to run in the water but the current was too strong for her. Darren and I each held her arm and ran while the water rushed against her. She loved it. The faster we went, the more she giggled. She wanted to pull us too. We may be lighter in the water, but she still struggled to make any headway. We did an entire lap like this and she was exhausted, but joyful, when we got out. She thought the big pool, Tidal Wave Bay, would be a good place to relax. She was obviously in for a surprise.
There weren’t any waves when we first got into the pool. It was calm and relaxing. Athena bobbed up and down as she sang songs and danced in the water.
Darren and I took turns staying with her while the other parent went on a water slide. We’re both just big kids so we love the water slides and splash zones.
When the waves came in Tidal Wave Bay, we both stuck around with Athena. They worried her and she wanted to be in our arms. She quickly calmed down, though, and really loved when a big wave got us.
Our summer bucket list includes dozens of family fun activities like camping, hiking, traveling, swimming, various lessons, beach and pool days, museums and visiting family. We packed it full of adventures and unique opportunities. Even though we’ve now visited Knott’s Soak City water park, it’s not time to cross it off the list just yet. I’m certain we’ll all want to return again and again. This is one summer bucket list item that will be on every list for years to come.
She’s always smiling. Gotta love the simplicity of doing fun things with the people with love to make us feel happy! 🙂
I’m grateful that she’s such a happy child. It makes life easy and fun. 🙂
What’s one of your favorite, simple things to do with family?
We loved the few times we had done water parks when the kids were younger (they are 10 and 7 now). The wave pools and slides are always great fun. Athena looks like she had a wonderful time as did the parents 🙂 Great memories to keep for years to come!
My daughter always liked water too, and we’ve been to a couple water parks, or hotels with a mini-park. I don’t care too much for slides, but she loves them, but we’ve been known to spend hours on lazy rivers. Glad you discovered how much fun it is as well!
We’ve yet to take our kids to a water park, and for some reasons I’ve never really considered it (probably because there are none near to us?!) but having seen your photos I know how much they would love it – could your daughter look any happier?! 🙂
What wonderful pictures! My kids love water parks too – just wish there were some nearer to us!
We went last year and loved it. I think we’re going to have to place it back on our list again for this summer!
I have always been a little bit nervous at water parks.. mostly because every time I went as a kid I came home FRIED. My son is a bit funny with water as well, so we haven’t made it out to Knotts yet. But this looks super fun. I am going to plan a day for August when it’s miserably hot and we need some cool relief!
My kids were water babies when they were little. We visited many water parks and the kids and my husband always had so much fun. I, on the other hand, have never been a fan- unless it was a slow day, which is bad for business. The busier it got, the more nervous I became. They loved the slides while the lazy rivers were more my speed.
Looks like so much fun! I hope to hit a few water parks myself this summer.
I love Soak City! Well, I’m a huge fan of water parks in general, but Soak City is one of my favorites!
Looks like a great day out full of memories and happy smiley photos!
Your post made me smile 🙂 I haven’t been to a water park in ages, a colleague from work kept telling me all summer how fun it is and how much he enjoys it, almost made me go as well, haha.
Sounds like the perfect summer bucketlist you’ve got organized! So glad she loved the water and waves! And perfect system of sharing the waterslide rides – fun for adults as well as the kids – love it!
Water parks were just getting popular while my kids were growing up. We went to a few of them and loved them. We don’t go anymore now that the kids are grown and we’re busy with other things. However, this past spring I tagged along on a conference that my husband attended in Arizona. The resort had a water park, and I couldn’t resist floating on the lazy river one day while he was in his meetings. I stayed on it for at least an hour. Is there anything as relaxing?
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