Arizona Grand Resort & Spa

Arizona Grand Resort and Spa

6 Epic Water Park Resorts to Stay Cool This Summer

When the sun lingers and the hotter temps roll in, the best way to beat the heat is with water. And preferably a slide.

In the Southwest, you can pair luxury resorts and all their amenities with lazy rivers and 100-foot water slides. It’s a vacation that offers something for the kids, something for the parents—and really something for both (because parents can have fun, too). Whether you’re looking to be on the coast, in the mountains or in the desert, here are some of the most epic water park resorts to explore.

Arizona Grand Resort & Spa

Phoenix, Arizona

The list of resorts with water parks in Arizona is a long one, especially in the Scottsdale and Phoenix areas. But Arizona Grand makes the list for two reasons: it’s an original, and the waterslides are intense. Arizona Grand Resort & Spa opened in 1987 and has been a staple among water resorts in Arizona ever since. The rooms were recently renovated with casita options available. The 7-acre Oasis Water Park includes a pool bar lounge area, a volleyball net, a lazy river and plenty of slides. The most adventurous is the 8-story slide that drops fast—perfect for anyone who enjoys the thrilling sensation of their stomach briefly relocating to their throat.

Learn more at arizonagrandresort.com.

JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge

Phoenix, Arizona

Located in north Phoenix near the beautiful Scottsdale and Fountain Hills area—where saguaros, mansions and mountains coexist—JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa is designed for nonstop activities throughout your stay. There are kids’ programs with a Kid’s Night Out/Date Night Escape for parents to enjoy the adult-only island or book a spa service while the kids enjoy arts, crafts and other activities.  But of course, the best part: the water park. The resort’s AquaRidge WaterPark features four waterslides that twist, drop and spiral down toward the pools below, with multiple pools and shaded cabanas perfect for relaxing between rides. Families can float the lazy river, splash around in the family pools, or claim a lounge chair and settle in for an afternoon under the Arizona sun.

Learn more at marriott.com/en-us/hotels/phxdr-jw-marriott-phoenix-desert-ridge-resort-and-spa/waterpark/.

Grand Hyatt Indian Wells Resort & Villas

Indian Wells, California

Near the Palm Springs area, the Grand Hyatt Indian Wells Resort is a luxurious hotel, water park adventures and tennis tournaments all wrapped into one. The resort’s HyTides Water Park features some of the most epic waterslides in the Greater Palm Springs area with a collection of tall, twisting slides that send riders rushing through bright tubes and splashing into the pools below. There’s also a lazy river winding through palm-lined landscaping, and plenty of pools to give families space to spread out. When you’re ready to dry off, the resort offers just as much to do beyond the water. Guests can book treatments at the spa, book a round of tennis or pickleball, or hit the adjacent championship golf courses. The surrounding city of Indian Wells is also known for world-class tennis at the nearby Indian Wells Tennis Garden, home of the annual BNP Paribas Open. With mountain views, lush grounds and a long list of activities both in and out of the water, the resort makes it easy to fill an entire desert getaway without ever leaving the property.

Learn more at hyatt.com/grand-hyatt/en-US/champ-grand-hyatt-indian-wells-resort-and-villas.

Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa & Marina

San Diego, California

For adventure both in the pools and on the sea, head to San Diego. Set on the waterfront of Mission Bay, this Hyatt hotel offers three waterslides that look carved into a mountain, with each slide delivering a slightly different thrill—one spirals through tight corkscrew turns, another drops in a fast, straight rush toward the splash pool and a third winds its way down in sweeping curves.

The fun doesn’t stop at the pool’s edge. Because the resort sits directly on Mission Bay, guests can easily transition from poolside play to ocean adventure. Paddleboards, jet skis, kayaks and sailboats are available for rent onsite for a different kind of adventure. Back on land, spacious guest rooms—most with water views—pair with spa services, waterfront dining and easy access to San Diego’s beaches and attractions.

Learn more at hyatt.com/hyatt-regency/en-US/sanis-hyatt-regency-mission-bay-spa-and-marina.

Circus Circus Hotel

Las Vegas, Nevada

Since its opening in 1968, Circus Circus has been a full-on theme park in one resort. There’s the Adventuredome Indoor Theme Park with 25 rides, including a double loop rollercoaster and carnival rides. And then outside is the main attraction we’re looking for—the resort’s Splash Zone pool complex. It includes two large pools, splash areas for younger kids and three colorful waterslides that twist above the pool deck before sending riders racing toward the water below. But the most exciting ride would be the towering 50-foot waterslide that begins high above the deck and winds downward in a fast series of curves before splashing riders into the pool. Between runs, guests can relax in lounge chairs, float in the pools, or retreat to shaded cabanas while the kids burn off energy on the slides. And after all, you are in Vegas—which means the resort also comes with a casino and a grand buffet waiting once the swimsuits come off.

Learn more at circuscircus.com.

Great Wolf Lodge

Colorado Springs, Colorado

While the days can get warm, Colorado sits at a higher altitude, with nice, cool nights in the winter. A nice escape from the 100+ degree temps of the desert regions of the Southwest? Absolutely. A place with warm water in the pools? Not always. That's where the Great Wolf Lodge comes in.

Inside this massive indoor water park resort, the temperature stays a perfect 84 degrees year-round and includes a whole variety of water park attractions: twisting tube slides, fast body slides and family raft rides that send groups splashing through tunnels and drops. Younger kids have their own areas too, with splash playgrounds, small slides and other interactive water features.

Beyond the slides, guests can float the lazy river, ride the waves in the indoor pool or relax in the hot tubs. When everyone finally dries off, the fun continues throughout the resort with arcades, bowling and mini golf. And if you’re traveling elsewhere in the region, there are two other Great Wolf Lodge locations in the Southwest as well, including resorts in Scottsdale, Arizona, and Anaheim, California.

Learn more at greatwolf.com/colorado-springs.