Take a mini-vacation without ever leaving Atlanta! These parks feature plenty of watery attractions that cool down the summer heat and turn up the summer fun.

Note: This story was accurate when it was published. Please be sure to confirm all details directly with the companies before planning your visit.

The Beach at Clayton County International Park
2300 Hwy. 138 SE, Jonesboro
770-473-5425
www.thebeachccip.com

Tues.-Fri., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Adults, $10; children 3-12, $8; 2 and under, free; parking $3
 

Get relief from the summertime heat by taking a dip in a variety of splish-splashing oases, including a kiddie pool, multiple slides, a sandy beach and a water trampoline. Add to that a fully-equipped fitness center, hiking and biking trails, volleyball and tennis courts and a fishing lake chock-full of trophy catches, and you’ve got all the ingredients for a glorious summer day.

Lake Lanier Beach and WaterPark
7000 Holiday Rd., Lake Lanier Islands
770-932-7200
www.lakelanierislands.com

Tues.-Fri. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

Adults, Mon.-Fri., $27.99; Sat.-Sun. $29.99' Children 42" and under, $17.99; under 3, free.

Cool off in style with Georgia’s largest wave pool, an exciting three-story “FunDunker,” waterslides galore and a half-mile long sand beach. There’s also a Kiddie Lagoon and Wiggle Waves child-sized wave pool for your smallest kids to enjoy.

Red Top Mountain
50 Lodge Rd. SE, Cartersville
770-975-0055
www.gastateparks.org

Open daily, 7 a.m.-10 p.m. Free admission; parking, $3. 

The park’s Lake Allatoona is a great place for watery adventures. The sandy beach is ideal for swimming, and the lake is great for fishing and boating. Visitors can bring their own boats or rent on-site. Other attractions include hiking trails, miniature golf, tennis courts and picnic pavilions.

Robin Lake Beach,
Callaway Gardens
Hwy. 18, Pine Mountain.
800-225-5292
www.callawaygardens.com.

Open daily, 9 a.m.-6 p.m.

Adults, $13; children, $6.50; under 6, free.

Relax on a one-mile stretch of white sand beach while the kids chill out on Iceberg Island, which contains climbing walls, trampolines, aqua totters and slides. Other activities include miniature golf, table tennis, shuffleboard, volleyball, paddle boats and the “Flying High” Circus, which has daily performances (except Wednesdays) throughout the summer.

Skull Island at Six Flags Over Georgia
275 Riverside Pkwy., Austell
770-948-9290
www.sixflags.com

Hours vary.

Adults, $39.99; children under 48", $29.99; under 3, free. In advance from Publix: free children’s admission with purchase of adult admission.

Drop anchor at Skull Island for an interactive water adventure. Attractions include three giant water-dumping towers, six waterslides and a variety of water blasters, sprayers, fountains, jets, water wheels and pumps.

Sun Valley Beach
5350 Holloman Rd., Powder Springs
770-943-5900
www.sunvalleybeach.com

Open daily; 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

Adults, $17.95; children 2-11, $14.95

Dive into one of the largest pools in the Southeast or relax on Sun Valley’s sandy white beach. Attractions include 11 waterslides, a dolphin fountain, a showering umbrella, lumber jack log roll, diving platforms and swinging ropes. Bring a picnic, light up the grill or buy lunch at the concession stand.

White Water Park
250 Cobb Pkwy., Marietta
770-948-9290
www.sixflags.com/whitewater

Opens daily at 10 a.m.; closing times vary.

Adults, $36.99; children under 48”, $26.99; under 3, free.

Enjoy thrills and spills with the slippery 250-foot triple drop of Dragon’s Tail, or the six-story funnel of fear that is Tornado. For smaller splashers, there’s Captain Kid’s Cove, an Activity Pool, Tree House Island and many other water play activities.

Don’t have the time (or the funds) for an epic, all-day water park adventure? Check out these budget-friendly options. Children can splish-splash to their heart’s content at local aquatic centers for only a few dollars, and many of the centers have waterslides or toddler areas.

Note: This story was accurate when it was published. Please be sure to confirm all details directly with the companies before planning your visit.

Bethesda Park Aquatic Center
225 Bethesda Church Rd., Lawrenceville
678-924-6334; www.gwinnettparks.com

Mon. and Wed., 11 a.m.-5 p.m., 7:10-8:30 p.m.; Tues., Thurs.-Sat., 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun., 1-6 p.m.
Adults, $5; children 4-10, $4; under 4, $2.

South Cobb Aquatic Center

Besides water parks and aquatic centers, there’s plenty of places around town to get wet. In addition to your community pool, here’s what some local parks and recreation have to offer:

City of Alpharetta 2 pools www.alpharetta.ga.us 678-297-6108 City of Atlanta 22 pools www.atlantaga.gov 404-817-6788 Bartow County 2 pools www.bartowga.org 770-387-5626 Clayton County 5 pools www.co.clayton.ga.us 770-477-3766 Cobb County 6 pools www.cobbcounty.org 770-528-8471 City of Cumming 1 pool www.cityofcumming.net 770-781-2030 DeKalb County 12 pools www.co.dekalb.ga.us 678-937-8921

Douglas County 2 pools www.co.douglas.ga.us 770-489-2175 City of Gainesville 2 pools www.gainesville.org 770-531-2680 Gwinnett County 11 pools www.gwinnettcounty.com 770-822-8840 City of Marietta 2 pools www.mariettaga.gov 770-794-5601 Paulding County 1 pool www.paulding.gov 770-445-8065 Peachtree City 5 pools www.ptrecreation.org 770-631-2525 City of Smyrna 1 pool www.smyrnacity.com 770-431-2842

Bogan Park Aquatic Center
2723 North Bogan Rd., Buford
770-614-2063; www.gwinnettparks.com

Weekday hours vary; Sat. noon-6 p.m.; Sun. 1-6 p.m.
Adults, $5; children 4-10, $4; 3 and under, $2

Central Aquatic Center
520 Fairground St., Marietta
770-528-8465; www.prca.cobbcountyga.gov

Open daily; call for times.
Adults, $3.18; children 2-17, $2.12

Collins Hill Aquatic Center
2200 Collins Hill Rd., Lawrenceville
770-237-5647; www.gwinnettparks.com

Leisure pool hours: Mon., Wed., Fri., Sat., Sun., 1-6 p.m.; Tues., Thurs., 1-5 p.m., 7:10-8:30 p.m.
Adults, $5; children 4-10, $4; 3 and under, $2

Kedron Aquatic Center
202 Kedron Dr., Peachtree City
770-631-2525; www.ptcrecreation.org

Mon.-Fri., 7:45 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sat., 1-7 p.m.; Sun., 1-5 p.m. Adults, $3; children 3-11, $2; free

Mountain Park Aquatic Center
1063 Rockbridge Rd., Stone Mountain
770-564-4650; www.gwinnettparks.com

Mon., Wed., Fri., Sat., noon-6 p.m.; Tues., Thurs., noon-5 p.m., 7:10-8:30 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., 1-6 p.m.
Adults, $5; children 4-10, $4; 3 and under, $2

Mountain View Aquatic Center
2650 Gordy Pkwy., Marietta
770-509-4927; www.prca.cobbcountyga.gov

Open Swim: Mon., Wed., Fri., noon-3:30 p.m., 6:30-9 p.m.; Sat., 2-5 p.m.; Sun., 2-5 p.m.
Adults, $3.18; children, $2.12

Rhodes Jordan Aquatic Center
100 E. Crogan St., Lawrenceville
770-822-5143; www.gwinnettparks.com

Weekday hours vary; Fri.-Sat., 11 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sun., 1-6 p.m. Adults, $5; children 4-10, $4; under 4, $2

South Cobb Aquatic Center
875 Six Flags Dr., Austell
770-739-3180; www.prca.cobbcountyga.gov

Mon.-Thurs., 2-4 p.m., 7-9 p.m.; Fri., 2-9 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., 2-5 p.m. Adults, $3.18; children 2-17, $2.12

West Cobb Aquatic Center
3675 MacLand Rd., Powder Springs
770-222-6700; www.prca.cobbcountyga.gov

Mon.-Thurs., 2-4 p.m., 7:30-9 p.m.; Fri., 4-9 p.m.; Sat.-Sun., 2-5 p.m.Adults, $3.18; children 2-17, $2.12