Summer is fiiiinnaaallly here and that means time for some fun in the sun!  Splish Splash water park, one of the best NYC area water parks, is celebrating 25 years of fun so we hit the road to check it out.  Here are my Top 10 Tips for Visiting Splish Splash, Long Island:

1) Lather on the sunscreen at home so you and your kids can jump right on to the rides and slides when you arrive. There are many shaded areas for sitting and strolling but most of the pools are slides are in the direct sun. Be sure to bring along sunscreen so you can reapply throughout the day.

2) Aim to arrive around opening time since you’ll get the best parking spots and the park will be empty. We got there around 10:20 am and found a great parking spot right near the entrance. We headed to the kiddie areas first and there were plenty of chairs and no lines. The parking lot area is huge so I’m guessing the crowds get much larger as the summer heats up.

3) Grab a map and make a plan. If you’re with older kids (48” and up), you’ll want to start with the more adventurous rides like Cliff Rider and Tunnel of Terror.  If you’re with toddlers, start at the Octopus Pool and slides. If you’re with young kids (under 48”), start with Pirate’s Cove and the kiddie slides. The water attractions are spread out over 90 acres but things are really much closer than they seem on the map. Once you get your bearings, there are plenty of large maps along the way so you won’t need to carry around a soggy map.

4) Grab a locker or have someone to help carry your camera, sunscreen and cover ups/towels while you are on the rides. There are plenty of lockers (starting at $14) and there are also a lot of free open cubbies where you can store your towels and shoes throughout the park.

5) Travel light but don’t forget family friendly summer essentials.  If you’re going on rides, you really just need a comfortable bathing suit or rash guard and a light cover-up or sarong. Water shoes (the stretchy tight types – not crocs or flip flops) and sun hats are a great idea for kids. Some kids prefer wearing goggles in the water so if its your child’s first water park visit, bring a pair along just in case. If you have a waterproof phone or camera, you might want to bring that along too. Skip the heavy towels and bring a lightweight quick dry beach towel.

6) If you’ll be splitting up kids and parents, plan to meet up for some family time. The wave pools, lazy river and Mammoth River raft ride are great for the whole family. If you’ve got teens, older family members or kids who nap, you may want to consider renting a cabana for the day so older kids can run around freely and check back throughout the day. If you’re with babies and toddlers, you’ll want to claim your seats or cabana around the Octopus pool (think water swings on tentacles!) and kiddie slides.

7) Plan to splurge on calories and sweet treats. I think most families who visit amusement parks are looking for some variation of chicken, hamburgers, fried treats and french fries at lunchtime and that is exactly what you’ll find here. Ice cream at a water park is a natural fit and you’ll find lots of sweet frosty options including Dole soft serve. If you’re hoping to eat healthy fare, you’ll want to store your lunch in a car cooler and get your hand stamped to re-enter the park.

8) Get wet!  One of my 5-year old daughter’s favorite spots was Monsoon Lagoon which featured water slides and climbing ropes.  It was a little hidden away so be sure to check it out. In addition to all the kid areas, the lazy river and wave pools were big hits. The open tunnel rides like Dinosaur Falls were also fun for us. There were plenty of attractions for her height and she also loved watching the ones she wasn’t tall enough to ride like Shotgun Falls.

9) Relax. All in all, it was a very fun filled and somewhat relaxing day. My daughter is a good swimmer and the kids water play and slide areas are surrounded by shallow water so I felt very safe letting her play while I watched from the sidelines. Each ride and pool area features multiple lifeguards who carry flotation devices (even in the kiddie pools). The lifeguards kept a close watch on all the kids as they went down the slides and exited the pool which was impressive. In addition, the grounds were very well kept and the staff members were quite friendly.

10) Tickets at the entrance gate cost $41.99 for general admission and $31.99 for kids (under 48″) and seniors. Save $7 on general admission and $4 on kids and seniors by using this Splish Splash coupon code.

Splish Splash is located in Calverton, Long Island about 90 minutes (without traffic) from NYC. If you’re heading to the Hamptons, this is a great pitstop along the way. If you want to make a weekend of it, there is plenty of family fun on Long Island’s East End.

What’s your favorite water park?

Special thanks to Splish Splash for inviting us to visit.  As always, all opinions are my own. If you don’t want to miss a post, subscribe to Globetrotting Mommy for daily updates!