I’m a Cancer that grew up in a town on the Susquehanna River. Weekends were spent at our river lot or on the water in our speed boat. During the winter I swam competitively and when I was old enough, I became a lifeguard. Suffice it to say, I love the water, and my kids are growing up the same way. We live on a large lake and they became proud swim team members at 6 years old. Finding indoor pools can be a challenge in our area to get us through the winter, so one of our favorite family activities is visiting indoor water parks. Each spring our entire extended family heads to Erie PA to visit Splash Lagoon. Luckily a little over a year ago a fabulous indoor park opened here at Massanutten Ski Resort, a short 1-2 hour drive from most of DC and Northern Virginia.

Although I’m not a big fan of amusement parks, water parks are a completely different story. On our first trip we left all the kids with the grandparents after spending 6 hours on the smaller rides, and headed to the BIG rides. I felt like a kid again. It’s amazing what 80 degree weather and warm water will do for your spirits. So, let’s dive right in!

First tip – get there EARLY! Seriously, if you want to grab a table for your family, get there shortly after opening, otherwise you’ll be living out of a locker and sitting on the floor for a break. If you have a family member that isn’t into water, it’s still a great time for them to watch everyone and keep an eye on your table and chairs, otherwise you may find someone has taken over when you return to dry off. Lockers are available for a fee and keys come with handy straps so you don’t lose it. Once settled we always head to the lazy river to get wet. It’s a nice way to get used to the water and scope the place out as you move around the falls. The younger crowd can start at the Frog Pond, made especially for babies and toddlers.

The body and tube slides are fairly tame at Massanutten, meaning they can be ridden by kids 7+ without any problems. Some are two riders, so they can team up with a family member or find a friend, and the lines go pretty fast.

The best part of the water park is the FlowRider. The Flow Rider is basically indoor surfing and it is totally wicked. The teachers are amazing, showing you how to find your balance, and if you do well they’ll quickly show you how to do some simple (ha!) tricks like flipping over on the board. Every couple of hours the teachers put on a show which is fantastic. My second tip for this trip – if you intend on trying out this ride, ladies wear a one piece suit, and boys make sure your string is tied TIGHT! You will lose your pants if you hit the water wrong.

After you’ve had a great workout on the FlowRider you can head over to the family hot tub, or ditch the kids and head to the adults only hot tub to relax.

Massanutten Resort
1822 Resort Drive
McGaheysville, VA 22840

Admission
$38
Under 42 inch $26
Discounts for Massanutten Owners
Season passes available