by Lindsay Irvin
Little Rock Family Staff
7/1/2010
The humidity alone is causing many central Arkansas families to lament their decision to staycation this summer, while others are forced to stay home for economic reasons. Meanwhile, the BP oil catastrophe has scared many Arkansans into canceling planned trips to their popular gulf coast destinations. But fortunately for us landlocked folks, there are two retreats from the heat right here: North Little Rock's Wild River County and Hot Springs' Magic Springs & Crystal Falls offer affordable water fun to help cool your whole family down - and you don't have to worry about oil stains on your swimsuit. Wild River Country: Your Beach Within Reach A Gold winner in our 2010 Family Favorites reader poll last month, Wild River Country is already the choice for hundreds of Arkansas families - and rightfully so. The water park is the state's largest, with more than half-a-million gallons of water activities. "We greatly appreciate Little Rock Family readers for voting us 'favorite water park or pool' - and we look forward to serving them again this summer," said park manager Lauren Sanders. "Our crew, which has more than 60 years combined experience in water safety and maintenance, works very hard to maintain a safe, friendly and healthy park, and our lifeguards are American Red Cross trained." Sanders said the park staff likes to make summer days off easy on parents. While tweens and teens love daring body flumes - like the Black and White Lightning - the 'rents can opt for kicking back aboard rafts that wind along a lazy river or for riding the rhythmic waves (some up to four-feet high) in the wave pool (of course the kids will love those, too). Others still, who don't want to spend the entire day in the sun, can seek out the shady spots - and there are plenty of those to go around, Sanders said. Parents will also find refreshment stations to feed their broods poolside in the park, or they can pack a picnic to eat just outside before heading in for all the water action. Also pleasing to parents, Sander said, are the multi-person tube rides throughout the park. "Families can go on most of the rides together," she said. The most popular of these is Cyclone, which blasts four-person rafts down 475 feet of partially-enclosed tube. Second favorite? That's Wild River Rapids, because it simulates floating a natural river with rapids, Sanders said. But there are a total 19 attractions "offering greater entertainment value than your average public pool," she added, listing off Vortex, Vertigo, Sidewinder, Pipeline and Accelerator. And the little ones have their place at the park too. They can splash and play safely in the Tad Pool that has water toys and climbing obstacles, and its depth ranges from 0- to 12-inches. Stop by any Sonic Drive-In location within the state of Arkansas for a $6-off admission coupon; and visit Wild River Country's website to see a complete schedule with the park's varying hours of operation.
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