Escape the heat and head to this thrilling water theme park, just a few kilometres from the city.
Water World is one of the largest water theme parks in America, so whether you’re a true adrenaline junkie or part of a family group with young children, the perfect ride is there to be discovered. With excellent on-site facilities, you can easily spend the whole day cooling off from the summer sun.
The park covers 25 hectares and there are over 49 different attractions to choose from, so it is a good idea to pick up a map from the information kiosk when you first arrive. This is also where you’ll find the changing rooms and lockers, essential if you are carrying anything of value.
For the most exhilarating thrills and spills, head to the park’s newest ride – the Mile High Flyer. Travel at speeds of over 30 kilometres per hour up and down the hills and drops of this hydromagnetic water coaster. You may not believe it until you see it, but this ride makes water flow uphill! Other daredevil rides include The Revolution, a six-story drop in darkness that ends with a dizzying spin around the bowl at the bottom, and the Turbo Racer, a super-fast waterslide with eight parallel tubes where you race against your friends.
There are also exhilarating rides suitable for all the family together. Voyage to the Centre of the Earth is the park’s most famous ride. Climb aboard a multi-passenger raft and embark on a journey through the cavern, full of animatronic dinosaurs. The youngest visitors will love Wally World, a miniature water park all to themselves.
You can also take things at a slower, more relaxing pace in this theme park. Float gently along the Lazy River on an inflatable tube, or take a dip in one of the two wave pools: Captain Jack’s at the upper end of the park, or the larger Thunder Bay in the centre.
Once you’ve worked up an appetite, choose from any of the park’s 12 food outlets, offering burgers, salads, Mexican food and a wide variety of delicious deserts. Alternatively, you can bring your own picnic and sit in the shade of the covered pavilions.
Water World is open from the end of May to the beginning of September. Suitable swimwear must be worn. The park is a 25-minute drive from downtown Denver, and free parking is available.
