Somehow Spring passed in a flash and Summer is already heating up. Great thing the metro area is packed with indoor and outdoor aquatic centers and splash zones perfect for cooling off. Check out where to get wet and keep your cool this season.
Piedmont Park Aquatic Center
As if you needed another reason to love the gem that is Piedmont Park. The clean, kid-friendly outdoor pool is surrounded by a current channel, perfect for little floaters, and fun fountains. If you’re just looking for a quick splash, the Legacy Fountain features more than 70 jets reaching up to 30 feet in the air and an amazing lighting feature sure to stimulate the senses. Opens Sunday, May 25.
Where: 1320 Monroe Drive NE
Cost: Aquatic Center, adults, $4; ages 6-16, $2; ages 5 and under, $1; Legacy Fountain, free.
Cherokee Aquatic Center
Just up the road from the Outlet Shoppes of Atlanta and Downtown Woodstock, this center in Holly Springs rivals the best of water parks. With two wild water slides, a playground featuring water cannons, geysers, deck sprays and basketball hoops, it’s truly an outdoor oasis. The zero-depth entry and current channel make it great for toddlers and preschoolers, too. Since they do not allow any outside food or drink, the facility also prides itself on offering healthy concessions. Outdoor oasis opens Saturday, May 17. The indoor pools are currently open.
Where: 1200 Gresham Mill Parkway, Holly Springs
Cost: Adults, $6; ages, 2-13, $5; under 2, free
D.H. Stanton Park Splash ‘N Play
Kids love the spray jets and stationary water cannons at this free splashpad, which also happens to be the first solar-powered park in the city. There’s something about cooling off in an eco-friendly way that makes it just a little more awesome – to mom and dad, at least. Opens Thursday, May 1.
Where: 1052 Martin Street SE
Cost: Free
South Cobb Aquatic Center
Giant twisting slide, check. Lazy river, check. Little ones can take it slower down the smaller tube slide while the big kids splash it out on the big. Prepare for lots of fun for everyone and, if you have any energy left, Six Flags is down the street.
Where: 875 Six Flags Drive, Austell
Cost: Adults, $4.50; ages 2-17, $3.50; under 2, free.
Bethesda Park Aquatic Center
If there was ever a place to vent out sibling rivalry, the dunking buckets here are beyond perfect. This indoor center has a little something for everyone, including a play structure with a two-feet deep area especially for the younger set, 100 pounds or less. And, a 100-foot enclosed slide sure to cause some screaming. Did we mention the vortex, ceiling spray and hydrotherapy benches? They have those, too.
Where: 225 Bethesda Church Road, Lawrenceville
Cost: Adults, $10; ages 4-10, $8, 3 and under, $4. Half price for Gwinnett residents and their guests.
Splash Zone at Wills Park
All swim-tennis communities aside, we love this family-centric public pool in the ‘burbs. With a dumping pelican, water tunnel and giant whale, this city pool offers kids 2,000 square feet of fun. Perfect for the pitter-pattering of little ones just starting to get their feet wet. Opens Memorial Day weekend.
Where: 1815 Old Milton Parkway, Alpharetta
Cost: Adults, $3; ages 50 and older, $1; ages 3 and under, free.
Where will you keep cool this summer? Tell us in the comments section below!
—Nicole Williams
Photos courtesy of Piedmont Park Conservancy via Facebook, Cobb County Aquatic Center via Facebook, Gwinnett Park Life via Facebook, City of Alpharetta Recreation and Parks Department and Play Atlanta
Need some fresh ideas?
Related reads
