Best Water Parks In South Florida

You'd think that with the long hot days and year-round sunshine South Florida would host a lot of water parks, but surprisingly, that's not the case. Three new parks have been announced, but for now, you have a handful of choices or the beach. While it may seem warm all the time here, these parks do have a season. Check their hours before you visit.

Rapids Water Park

6566 N. Military Trail
Riviera Beach, FL 33407
561-842-8756
www.rapidswaterpark.com

Located a bit north of Miami-Ft Lauderdale, Rapids Water Park is a giant wet playground, the the biggest water park from the Keys to Orlando. It has 17 slides, tubes, and pools, including the Lazy River for tubing, the Big Surf wave pool, and the huge Big Thunder, where the whole family can ride a raft down one of the biggest open water slides you've ever seen. The park is closed from October to March, and usually open only weekends until school is out. If you need creative ways to get wet, and have a lot of fun in the process, try the Rapids.

Grapeland Water Park

1550 NW 37 Avenue,
Miami, FL 33125
Phone: 305-960-2950
www.miamigov.com

Operated by the City of Miami Parks and Recreation department, Grapeland Water Park offers a number of child-oriented attractions combined with a lagoon pool and a river-style pool. Shipwreck Island is intended for kids 5 and under, and dumps a huge bucket of water on the kids. Pirate's Plunge, intended for older kids, includes a water slide and another giant bucket. It's a bit low-key, but still an inexpensive way to have fun in the water.

Paradise Cove Water Park

CB Smith Park
900 N. Flamingo Rd.
Pembroke Pines, FL 33028
954-357-5170
broward.org

Part of the Broward County park system, Paradise Cove is located inside CB Smith park. Crazy Creek offers a 410-foot-long tube ride with interactive play elements along a curved route. Parrot's Point is for kids 5 and under, is a shallow pool that includes two waterslides, and  Sharky's Lagoon has an 18-inch-deep pool that includes three waterslides that are 83 feet, 98 feet, and 125 feet long. H2Whoa! has two 450-foot water slides. Don't wat to get wet? The lake at the park offers boat rentals. Closed from November-March.