One of the largest wave pools in the state can be found at Breakers Water Park in Tucson. The pool holds 1.3 million gallons of water. The park also has several slides and an area for children -- shorter than 48 inches -- known as Captain Kidd's Surfari.
One of the most popular rides at Big Surf Water Park in Tempe is Waikiki Beach, the third largest wave pool in the world, as of January 2011. It holds 2.5 million gallons of water. Among the parks most popular attractions are its body slides, dubbed Hurricane Slides. Children 48 inches and shorter can enjoy the smaller Otter Slides. Rafts and boogie boards are available for rent.
The 30-acre Wet'n'Wild in north Phoenix is the largest theme park in Arizona. It offers more than 30 rides and attractions, including Maximum Velocity, a one-of-a-kind, gravity-defying water coaster that allows riders to race on adjacent slides. Thrill seekers would also enjoy Tornado, which sends riders soaring 45 feet into the air before they plunge into a pool. Gentler rides include Cactus Cooler (a lazy river) and Monsoon Bay (a wave pool that holds 70,000 gallons of water). Private cabanas are available for rent. Personal wait staff service is included in the rental fee.
Located next to the Golfland Family Fun Center in Mesa is SunSplash, a water park that offers a seven story-high raft ride, a 450,000-gallon wave pool, an activity pool and an 800-foot ride aptly named Endless River. Youngsters and parents can partake in the fun in the Toddler Tadpole Pool.
Deemed one of the top 10 water parks by the Travel Channel, Oasis Water Park at the Arizona Grand Resort in Phoenix is only open to resort guests. Attractions include three water slides, a wave pool, river tubing and a hot tub that accommodates 25 people.
Rain or shine, visitors can enjoy the Aquatic Center in Lake Havasu City, an indoor water park that boasts a 254-foot enclosed water slide, a kiddie lagoon, an outdoor spray park, two therapeutic pools and indoor and outdoor lounge areas.
The 36,500-square foot Sierra Vista Aquatic Center, known as the Cove, features a 575,000-gallon pool with a beach entry and lap lanes for competitive swimming. A two-hour span in the morning is designated "Splash Time" for children ages 5 and younger and their parents. The Cove also offers two enclosed tube slides. An outdoor diving pool is open during the summer.
