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Get Wet! Guide to Boston Area Water Parks

New Englanders may be chilled to the bone all winter long, but come summer you know it can get hot, hot, hot! A longtime favorite way to beat the heat is a family trip to a water park. You are sure to pay more than for a trip to the beach, so here is a guide to help you pick the best park for your money.
Water-Country
(credit: watercountry.com)

Water Country – Portsmouth, NH

2300 Lafayette Road
Portsmouth, NH, 03801
603-427-1111
www.watercountry.com

Located about an hour north of Boston, Water Country is open from mid-June through early September. It features a wave pool, lazy river, a wide selection of water slides and a children's area.

Tickets: $37, $24 under 48", Free under 2 years old

Parking: Free

Save Money: $5 off adult tickets when you buy online (2010 season); ½ day tickets after 3 p.m.; visitors are allowed to bring your own food.

Tips: No masks, goggles or flotation devices allowed; park supplies life jackets; no smoking in the park

Water-Wizz
(credit: waterwizz.com)

Water Wizz – East Wareham (Cape)

3031 Cranberry Highway
East Wareham, Ma 02538
508-295-3255
www.waterwizz.com

Located near Buzzards Bay on Cranberry Highway, Water Wizz is a hit for those headed to the Cape. Open from mid-June through early September, the park features a wave pool, lazy river, a wide selection of water slides and a children's area.

Tickets: $30, $15 under 48", Free under 2 years old

Parking: Free

Save Money: Adult ticket discounts offered after 4 p.m.; $2 off coupons at Tedeschi's (2010 season); visitors are allowed to bring your own food.

Tips: No masks or water toys; goggles and life jackets are allowed, or the park will supply life jacket; you can bring your own lawn chair; no smoking in the park.

Six-Flags-Hurricane-Harbor
(credit: sixflags.com)

Six Flags, Hurricane Harbor – Agawam

Route 159, 1623 Main Street
Agawam, MA 01001
413-786-9300
www.sixflags.com

About two hours west of Boston, near Springfield, Six Flags is home to one of the largest water park is the region. Hurricane Harbor opens later and closes earlier than the rest of the amusement park. It features two wave pools, a lazy river, more than a dozen slides and a children's area. There is no separate admission for Hurricane Harbor; it's included with general admission to Six Flags.

Tickets: $43, $33 under 54", Free under 2 years old

Parking: $15, $25 for preferred parking

Save Money: Adult tickets $33 when you buy online (2010 season); discount ticket combos pair parking or a meal with admission; AAA discount available at the gate

Tips: Visitors are not allowed to bring food into the park; life jackets are first-come, first-served; there are designated smoking areas.

Canobie-Lake-Park-Castaway-Island
(credit: canobie.com)

Canobie Lake Park, Castaway Island – Salem, NH

85 N. Policy Street
Salem, NH 03079
603-893-3506
www.canobie.com

Inside of Canobie Lake Park sits Castaway Island, an interactive water play area where all ages are allowed. Located about 45 minutes north of Boston, it looks like a giant jungle gym with water falling everywhere and includes several small water slides, waterfalls and water cannons. There is no separate admission for this part of Canobie Lake; it's included with general admission.

Tickets: $30, $21 under 48", Free under 3 years old

Parking: Free

Save Money: Arrive after 5 p.m. and pay $20; discount coupons for M-F admission at McDonald's, Market Basket, Rite Aid, Tedeschi's (2010 season).

Tips: Visitors are not allowed to bring food into the park; while dogs are allowed inside Canobie Lake Park, they are not allowed inside Castaway Island; smoking is allowed in designated areas.

Liquid-Planet
(credit: liquidplanetwaterpark.com)

Liquid Planet – Candia, NH

446 Route 27
Candia, NH 03034
603-483-2200
www.liquidplanetwaterpark.com

Just under two hours north of Boston, Liquid Planet is open mid-June through early September. It features two water slides, a large spray park, a swimming lake and mini golf. Liquid Planet also runs a summer camp for kids over 6 years-old.

Tickets: $24, $19 under 48", Free under 2

Parking: Free

Save: $4 off online coupon (2010 season); discount tickets after 2 p.m.; active military get in free with military i.d.

Tips: Visitors are not allowed to bring food into the park; seats are limited, but you can bring your own chairs & sun umbrellas; life jackets are available

CocoKey
(credit: cocokeywaterresort.com)

CocoKey – Danvers or Fitchburg

Crowne Plaza Boston North Shore
50 Ferncroft Road Danvers, MA 01923
866-754-6959
www.cocokeywaterresort.com

Courtyard by Marriott Fitchburg
150 Royal Plaza Drive Fitchburg, MA 01300
978-342-7100
www.cocokeywaterresort.com

Looking for the fun and adventure of a water park during those cold New England winters? CocoKey has two indoor, hotel-based waterparks in Massachusetts: at the Crowne Plaze in Danvers and the Marriott Courtyard in Fitchburg. These parks feature several water slides, a river ride, children's area and hot tub. Danvers also has a popular "tube-in theater."

The only way to guarantee a ticket to Coco Key is if you make a hotel reservation. Day passes for non-hotel guests are based on availability and require advance purchase.

Day Pass (Danvers): $27, Free under 2 years old (check seasonal pricing)

Day Pass (Fitchburg): $30 Fri-Sun, $25 Mon-Thurs, Free under 2 years old (check seasonal pricing)

Parking: Hotel Parking

Save Money: $5 off of a day pass if you sign up for their email list; Danvers offers discount after 3 p.m.; Fitchburg offers Wacky Wednesday tickets for $20

Tips: Temps in the 80s year-round; visitors are not allowed to bring food into the park; goggles are allowed but no water toys; life jackets are first-come, first-served; bar serves alcoholic beverages for 21+

Cape-Codder
(credit: capecodderresort.com)

Cape Codder – Hyannis

1225 Lyannough Road
Hyannis, MA 02601
888-297-2200
www.capecodderresort.com

Nestled inside this Hyannis resort is a small waterpark with a wave pool, two waterslides and a giant hot tub. Day passes are based on availability, so call ahead. Waterpark admittance is included for hotel guests.

Day Pass: $25 Fri-Sun, $20 Mon-Thurs

Tips: lockers are complimentary on a first-come, first-served basis

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