When the Texas temperatures go up, up, up, it's time to hit the beach in San Antonio at the Alamo City's favorite waterpark -- Splashtown. Located just minutes north of downtown on I-35 North, 18 acres of cool, clear water slip, slide and slosh in a myriad of fun configurations that thrill and chill visitors of all ages. Colorful tubes and slides of pink, yellow and orange twist and turn against a backdrop of bright blue summer sky, transporting park visitors to a happy splashdown. Rolling waves swoop down and carry bobbing swimmers merrily along. And just up the beach, "surfers" engage in a spirited game of beach volleyball in the sand.

Water Rides Galore

This water entertainment mecca has been delighting visitors looking for a fun way to cool off since 1985 and just keeps getting bigger and better. The lazily flowing "Siesta Del Rio" and the Wave Pool it encircles (the largest in South Texas), the serpentine Hydras slides and the Double Dipper speed slide complex all have provided water-based entertainment since the park's first guests splashed through. Today's biggest crowd-pleasers are Starflight (intricate twists and turns traversed in a maze of solid black tubing) and Headrush, the only head-first mat ride in San Antonio.

A long-time favorite is the Lonestar Luge, more than two football fields in length and seven stories high, which carries up to three at a time on a Texas-size, water-bobsled ride. New this season is a mind-blowing, orange water slide that shoots water adventurers straight down from atop a 60-foot tower. Finding the perfect name for it has been left up to park visitors in a contest this summer.

For the Small Fry

For the kiddos, there's the Kids Kove area, offering scaled-down rides, slides and attractions, interspersed with irresistible animal statuary for clambering into and over, a Kids Lazy River and Kids Starflight. Crystal Falls features a series of rocky waterfalls and slides, shallow lagoon and water curtain elements, while in the Activity Pool complex, giant floating lily pads and logs challenge agility and strength. Patrolling the park is an affable alligator character named Tube Tyler.

In addition to the 50-plus water rides and attractions are seven volleyball courts, a basketball court, "Dive-In Movies" (at the Wave Pool Friday nights), tasty meals and snacks at the Sidewalk Café, and a gift shop with everything from swimsuits to suntan lotion. They're all nestled in landscaped acreage studded with covered tables, trees and shady cabanas -- giving you just the right mix for "cool" fun in the summertime. Surf's up! It's time to head for Splashtown!

Splashtown
3600 I-35 North
(Splashtown exit)
210-227-1100
Sunday-Thursday
11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Friday and Saturday
11 a.m. to 10 p.m.
General Admission -- $21.99
Under 48² -- $16.99
After 5 p.m. -- $13.99 all
Non-participant -- $5.99
plus $16 refundable deposit
Under 2 yrs. & over 65 yrs. -- Free