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Best Water Parks and Attractions in Southeast Michigan
Water slides, spraygrounds, lazy rivers and more: These family spots are turbo summer fun for parents and kids in Macomb, Oakland, Washtenaw and Wayne counties
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Rolling Hills Water Park
- Address: 7660 Stony Creek Road, Ypsilanti
- Phone: 734-484-9676
- Hours (2012): 11 a.m.-8 p.m. weekends and holidays, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. weekdays
- Costs (2012): Weekdays: $6 Washtenaw County residents, $8 non-residents. Weekdays after 5 p.m.: $4 and $5, respectively. Weekends and holidays $7 and $9. Kids 36" tall or under: Free. Vehicle admission fees also apply.
A snazzy venue all the way, the 'Hills has it all: a wave pool, water slides, a zero-depth entry activity pool for kids (complete with a gentle bubbler, geyser, waterfall and kiddy slide for children under 45"), sand playscape, lazy river and two spraygrounds. Plus, there's a cool sun deck that stretches throughout the water park, along with concessions and various essentials sold or rented onsite, from sunscreen to life jackets.
Romulus Aquatic Center
- Address: 35765 Northline Road, Romulus
- Phone: 734-942-2223
- Hours (2012): Outdoor: generally noon-6 p.m. daily, until Sept. 3 (Labor Day). Indoor: generally noon-9 p.m. (subject to swim classes and lessons).
- Costs (2012): $7 Romulus residents, $10 non-residents, $5 if attending with a Romulus Athletic Center member
Dip your toes into this indoor water wonderland – you've got five pools to choose from. It's all here under one roof: a Splash Pool complete with water curtain, 150-gallon tipping bucket, kiddy slide and geyeserinos; a 240-foot long Lazy River Pool (inner tubes available); the fire-engine red two-story twisting water slide – and a lap pool and hot tub, to boot. And, just outside, splash around in more tipping buckets, water geysers, cannons and foaming jets (grab a snack at the concession stand, too).
Splash 'n' Blast at Kensington Metropark
- Address: 2240 W. Buno Road, Milford
- Phone: 248-685-0603
- Hours (2012): 11 a.m.-7 p.m. daily, until Sept. 3 (Labor Day)
- Costs (2012): Regular: $4 adults, $3 kids ages 15 and under plus seniors. Twilight (5-7 p.m.): $3 adults, $2 kids and seniors. Add Huron-Clinton Metroparks vehicle pass: $5 daily, or $25 annual. Children under 2 are free.
Zoom – or coast – down the two 250-foot twisted waterslides at this summer Metropark destination. For the wee ones, this water mecca has a cool sprayground complete with palm trees, serpents and cannons that all spray H20 galore. Note that waterslide riders must be 48 inches tall. Dry off at adjacent Martindale Beach (and, for more water fun, don't miss the nearby chances to rent a kayak, canoe, paddleboat or rowboat).
Turtle Cove Family Aquatic Center at Lower Huron Metropark
- Address: 17845 Savage Road, Belleville
- Phone: 734-697-9181
- Hours (2012): 11 a.m.-7 p.m. weekdays, 11 a.m.-8 p.m. weekends and holidays, until Sept. 3 (Labor Day)
- Costs (2012): $8 adults 48" and taller, $6 kids 30"-47", free for kids under 30", $5 twilight fee (after 5 p.m.). Add Huron-Clinton Metroparks vehicle pass: $5 daily, or $25 annual. Coin-operated lockers are 50 cents.
This exciting respite from the summer heat offers a bevy of brilliant ways to get sopping wet. Like what? We're talking two waterslides for speed demons, a laid-back never-ending lazy river, a sunning hill and a sweet water playscape with a 300-gallon dumping bucket. Don't forget the zero-depth entry pool with lap lanes. Top it off with food and beverages at Turtle Cove Grille. Ages 10 and under must be with parent.
Veterans Memorial Pool
- Address: 2150 Jackson Ave., Ann Arbor
- Phone: 734-794-6235
- Hours (2012): General: Noon-7 p.m. weekends, 3:30-7 p.m. weekdays. Family swim: 5-6:30 p.m. daily (ages 18-plus with adult). Open Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day weekend.
- Costs (2012): $4 adults, $3.50 ages 17 and under, $3.50 seniors ages 55-plus, free for kids 3 and under with a paying adult.
While officially classified as a city public pool, this Ann Arbor spot is so family friendly, affordable and filled with soak options, it earns our nod. Kids over 42 inches tall can twist and turn down a cool water slide, and littler ones can frolic in a variety of water-shooting contraptions, like a mushroom, fountains and pipes. These "raindrop" apparatus are part of a Tot Splash that's noon-1 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays (ages 7-plus).
Waterford Oaks Waterpark
- Address: 1702 Scott Lake Road, Waterford
- Phone: 248-858-0918
- Hours (2012): Regular season (June 8-Aug. 26): 10 a.m.-7 p.m. weekends and holidays, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. weekdays. Late season: Aug. 27-31 11 a.m.-3 p.m. and Sept. 1- 3 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
- Costs (2012): Weekends and holidays: $12 over 43" tall ($10 residents), active military and seniors ages 62-plus receive a $1 discount. Weekdays: $8 Twilight (after 4 p.m. Monday-Friday only, minus holidays): Buy one get one free. Coin-operated lockers are 50 cents. (Get full Waterford Oaks Waterpark cost info here.) Free parking.
This tropical-themed, palm tree-decked oasis is a sweet getaway. Its Dual-flume Slidewinder Waterslide is wicked fun, while the wave-action pool is heated to a just-right 78 degrees. Youngin's can hit the Big Bucket children's water playground to dabble in 30-plus interactive activities, including a giant tipping bucket, waterfalls and sprayers (kids must be 56" or shorter for this one). And don't miss the Ragin' Rapid, a group raft ride that drops your crew three stories of twists and turns!
