When the temperature outside is so cold that the kids’ fingers freeze despite their fleece-lined gloves, it’s time to think about warmer climates, even if it’s just for the day. There are great options within a two-hour drive, and even though many have the same types of activities, each place definitely has its own feel.

Fun for a Day

Greater Plymouth Community Center

2910 Jolly Road, Plymouth Meeting

This is a hidden gem that’s close by and super affordable! The weekend open swim times, including a splash area and a slide, are only $10 per person for residents and non-residents.

Coco Key Water Resort

915 New Jersey 73, Mount Laurel, New Jersey

About an hour away, Coco Key Water Resort has plenty to entertain the family for a long afternoon. For the big kids, there are three big slides, an aquatic jungle gym, lazy river, and activity pools like Lily Pad Adventure. Younger guests will enjoy the wading pool and smaller slides, and the zero entry aquatic jungle. The littlest ones will love Dip-In, a wading pool with miniature slides. This is a perfect spot for a day off of school, and you’ll even be home in time for dinner. Do bring your own towels.   

H2Oooohh! 

Split Rock Resort
100 Moseywood Road, Lake Harmony

 

H2Oooohh!! is a smaller water park that parents love for kids under 10. It has five exciting slides, some of which twist and turn four stories down, a wave pool, activity pool, aquatic play structure, crossing activity, FlowRider surf machine, and hot tubs. The little ones will love the Jungle Falls and Leapin’ Lizards play areas. At two hours away, it’s a little on the far side for just a day, but if the plan is to go for a weekend in the Poconos and you’re looking for another activity for the kids, this is a great option.     

Sahara Sam’s Oasis

535 North Route 73, West Berlin, New Jersey

 

For a day of aquatic action, Sahara Sam’s Oasis can’t be beat. Four slides, a leisure pool, a lazy river, a FlowRider surf machine, aquatic jungle gym, activity pool with basketball hoops and balancing activities, and a pool just for toddlers round out all the activities. It’s super close — less than an hour away — and features a relaxed environment. 

Caribbean Indoor Water Park

2100 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster

 

Caribbean Indoor Water Park is available as part of the Water Pack Package at the Budget Host Inn and Wingate by Wyndham. This is a smaller park that’s good for kids ages 3 — 10, with two water slides, a plunge pool, an activity pool, a vortex pool, a water walk pool, a spa with waterfalls, and a wading pool with a giant spilling bucket. There are showers and locker rooms in the facility, but note that there’s no restaurant, so you’ll need to go off site for dinner or order delivery.                  

Water Parks in Resorts

If a getaway is in the plans for one of these frigid winter weekends, and each member of the family has a different idea of what he or she wants to do, one of these resorts might be the answer.

Aquatopia

Camelback Resort, 193 Resort Drive, Tannersville

 

For those who want the best of both worlds, aquatic fun in the morning and skiing or snowtubing in the afternoon, Camelback Resort‘s Aquatopia is a great option. Rated one of the top indoor waterparks in the country, Aquatopia is guaranteed to keep the kids busy and entertained. With 13 water slides, seven pools, a lazy river, hot tubs, and small-kid friendly zero-entry pools and activities, there’s tons to do. The temperature is kept at 84 degrees and the transparent roof allows the sun to shine in, so it might even feel like you’re someplace warm and sunny.

Great Wolf Lodge

1 Great Wolf Dr., Scotrun

 

For a true vacation weekend, Great Wolf Lodge sets the standard for water parks. It’s the perfect weekend destination. The space is immense, with eight different water slides, activity pools, wave pool, hot tubs, lazy river, aquatic jungle gym with spilling bucket and much, much more. One of the newest attractions, slideboarding, combines gaming and water slide action for a truly unique experience.  Parents love Great Wolf Lodge for the attention to detail, the variety of activities inside and outside of the water park, and the friendly and helpful staff.            

Kalahari Resort

250 Kalahari Blvd., Pocono Manor 

 

While you don’t have to stay the night, there’s so much to do that you might want to consider it. There are six exciting water slides, an aquatic jungle gym, a lazy river (and a smaller lazy river just for the preschool set), pools, hot tubs, a FlowRider, and a special pool with slides and activities for babies and preschoolers.  Outside of the water park, the resort has of a wide selection of restaurants, including a buffet, pizza place, tavern, café, and restaurant. 

 

Photograph courtesy of Kalahari Resort.