Water Parks

Haven't been to Shipwreck Island in years - Big Kahuna is still going strong. One thing's for sure: both will be very crowded. You should get some interesting responses here.

Many SoWalers on this board rarely venture West of Santa Rosa Beach - that's too close to the dreaded 'forbidden zone'
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Just curious (as a cat), not judging....but why do people drive to the beach to go to a water park?

Just curious (as a cat), not judging....but why do people drive to the beach to go to a water park?

That's a good question . . . if it were up to my husband and I, we'd not do the water park trip. This will be our 6th trip to Sowal, and last year was our first water park adventure. But we've got a 4 year old and a 6 year old, and they love to go to the water park. We went last year on our first full day at the beach so that we'd have the remaining 6 days to do nothing but bask in the sun. . . and that's our plan this year as well. :funn:

Many SoWalers on this board rarely venture West of Santa Rosa Beach - that's too close to the dreaded 'forbidden zone'
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Amen!

Just curious (as a cat), not judging....but why do people drive to the beach to go to a water park?

Because most cities do not have them.

:?: ....can't you just tell them it is closed for repairs???

Because most cities do not have them.

Okay, I can buy that.

:?: ....can't you just tell them it is closed for repairs???

And:
"Sorry, guys, all the go-carts are out of gas."

And:
"Sorry, guys, all the go-carts are out of gas."

Oh no...we always went to the Track to ride go-karts at least once when we would venture into "town" for dinner.

And:
"Sorry, guys, all the go-carts are out of gas."

Thankfully, my boys have not figured out that there ARE such things as go carts yet. Hopefully we've got a couple more years before we have to do that.

Shipwreak is much larger than Big Kahuna's and has the big trees for shade. Big Kahuna's may have a comprable amount of rides and pools, but it is all crammed together so not as pleasant an experience as Shipwreak.

A locals tip: The waterparks are the least crowded on Saturdays because most rentals are from Saturday to Saturday and therefore Saturday is a travel day for tourists.

A locals tip: The waterparks are the least crowded on Saturdays because most rentals are from Saturday to Saturday and therefore Saturday is a travel day for tourists.

Thanks for the tip!

I agree with CCK. Our family likes Shipwreck more than Big Kahunas. It's more spread out and the food is a bit better. If you're a parent and sitting and waiting for your kids to exhaust themselves, there are better places for hanging out and reading at Shipwreck. They have a good "family" ride at Shipwreck, where 4-5 people can get in a big round raft type thing and go down a winding slide. That's always a winner for our crew.

CCK is right that Saturdays (and SUndays) are less crowded. Also, if you go to Shipwreck I recommend wearing watershoes or flip flops. Some of the pavement gets very hot and they use a lot of that black plastic non-skid stuff which can get rough on the feet after a while.

Just curious (as a cat), not judging....but why do people drive to the beach to go to a water park?

For the same reason that many rental homes have pools...many people do not like to go into the Gulf. Despite my best efforts, my son is one of them. He prefers to immerse himself in places that are clear, non-salted, without stinging critters, and with four sides.

shipwreck all the way. the wave pool is better than big kahunas. the rapid at shipwreck is the best ride out of both parks. if your lucky you migh get some good old red necks doing triple back flips off the ship swing ;-) trust me i am a waterpark expert. ;-)

shipwreck all the way. the wave pool is better than big kahunas. the rapid at shipwreck is the best ride out of both parks. if your lucky you migh get some good old red necks doing triple back flips off the ship swing ;-) trust me i am a waterpark expert. ;-)

Do you agree that Saturday is the least crowded day to go? If not is there a particular day of the week to go?

Do you agree that Saturday is the least crowded day to go? If not is there a particular day of the week to go?

Hey kurt, that is not my opinion, but what I was told by both water parks. I of course had assumed the oppposite since in most non-tourist communities, the weekends would obviously be more crowded than the weekdays.

Hey kurt, that is not my opinion, but what I was told by both water parks. I of course had assumed the oppposite since in most non-tourist communities, the weekends would obviously be more crowded than the weekdays.

Yeah, you wouldn't go near our waterpark on the weekend. You'd have to be crazy. Monday's are the slowest days.

I know every time we have gone by Shipwreck Island the lazy river ride is backed up at a standstill. No tubes are moving. We too are the ones coming in on a Saturday afternoon and leaving early the following Saturday morning so that makes a valid point that would be the least busy that day unless alot of locals hit it, which I doubt. I too prefer a swimming pool over the ocean. The one time I went in this fish kept bumping my arm and my thigh repeatedly and I never saw the fish to see what it was for about 10 minutes. And the one time we tumped over on a waverunner in about 20 feet of water that I couldn't see through I haven't been comfortable on one since. Wouldn't even ride one last year. The water is out for me!

We're visiting Sowal in three weeks (and we can't wait). Our young sons love to visit Shipwreck Island Water Park in PCB. I'm just wondering . . . how does Shipwreck Island compare to the water park in Destin? Trying to decide if we should try the Destin park this year instead. Thanks!

Having been to both, I prefer Destin. Life Guards are much more serious. My sons (now 8 and 10) could ride lots more stuff at Destin. Heights requirements at PCB only allowed them to ride a few things. Go on a Monday and go real early.

Having been to both, I prefer Destin. Life Guards are much more serious. My sons (now 8 and 10) could ride lots more stuff at Destin. Heights requirements at PCB only allowed them to ride a few things. Go on a Monday and go real early.

b/c the rides are better dude!

Do you agree that Saturday is the least crowded day to go? If not is there a particular day of the week to go?

i wouldn't be surprised if that was the least crowded. that is turn over day as you know kirkifunnnnnnn

Bchlvr and Shallows Nole, I put a new thread on the sowal lounge showing the new aquatic center at Frank Brown Park in PC Beach on Back Beach Rd.! Have included the link. Has a big circular pool more for kids with a slide and a olympic size pool. Really looks like a nice place. Price for kids is $6.00 for the entire day.

b/c the rides are better dude!

I agree but my kids were not tall enough to ride much. At Destin they could ride most everything. Kahuna's layout is terrible. But my kids had alot more funn.

ok-so what is the name of the park in destin-that seems to be the best for kids that are my kids ages-8-10-12. Thanks