Photo: Big Surf in Tempe will be celebrating its 50th season this year.
When the temperatures hit the triple digit mark for days (and weeks!) on end, there is no better place to be than in the water. No pool? No problem! There are many ways to get you and the kids out of the heat and into the pool.
ResortPass
ResortPass is an online booking platform for access to resorts and hotels for pool, spa, fitness and amenities. Based in Santa Monica, CA, the company launched in May 2016 and currently offers deals in seven states.
You can search by city or zip code to find a deal close to home where you can take a “daycation” to a resort pool or spa.
Listings include a brief description of the hotel and what the day pass will include. You then select the number of people, an available day in the calendar and book it!
Some of the resorts in the Valley on the list include the Royal Palms Resort & Spa, Arizona Grand Resort & Spa, Andaz Scottsdale Resort & Bungalows, Hotel Valley Ho and Mountain Shadows. Rates run $30 & up for the day pass or $150 & up for a cabana.
resortpass.com
Waterparks
There are three (with a fourth joining in October 2019) stand-alone waterparks in the Valley that offer slides, rides, pools and events throughout the summer.
Wet ‘n’ Wild waterpark at 4243 W. Pinnacle Park Road in Phoenix has a new owner and a new name. Now Six Flags Hurricane Harbor Phoenix, the park still offers thrill rides, lots of slides, a kid soak ’em playground, wave pool and an adventure river.
Day and season passes available. The advantage to a season pass is that you also get unlimited visits to Six Flags Magic Mountain in California. sixflags.com/phoenix
Big Surf at 1500 N. McClintock Dr. in Tempe will celebrate its 50th season this summer when it opens on May 4. When the park opened it 1969, it housed the only wave pool in the United States. The park offers a variety of slides, kid and toddler areas in addition to surf passes and surf lessons (on specific times) in the 2.5-million-gallon wave pool. Day and season passes available. bigsurffun.com
Mesa Golfland-Sunsplash at 155 W. Hampton Ave. in Mesa not only offers thrill rides, slides, wave pool and activity pool at the waterpark, but they also have miniature golf, a fastcar raceway, bumper boats, laser tag and an arcade housed inside a castle. Day passes, internet specials, packages and season passes available. golfland.com
Great Wolf Adventure Park & More will open in Scottsdale on Oct. 17, 2019. The resort offers both an indoor waterpark and out-of-water activities for the whole family. Enjoy miniature golf, an arcade, MagiQuest interactive game, eight dining options, and more – all under one roof. Your stay includes access to the water park, daily events and more. greatwolf.com/Arizona
Jewish Community Centers
The J Aquatics Center at the Valley of the Sun Jewish Community Center at 12701 N. Scottsdale Road in Scottsdale offers a heated competition pool, activity pool, splash pad and a climbing tower. Programs include swim programs, lessons and aqua-fit classes. The area also offers a variety of seating and umbrellas provide plenty of shaded areas to relax. vosjcc.org/aquatics
The J-Ray’s Swim School at the Tucson Jewish Community Center at 3800 E. River Road in Tucson offers swimming lessons for ages 6 months to adult. Other programs include swim teams, triathlon training and aquatic workouts including Glide Fit (interval training on a floating fitness mat) and CrossH2O (swimming meets cross training). tucsonjcc.org/sports-and-wellness/aquatics
Parks & Recreation
An affordable option throughout the Valley, city pools offer swimming lessons, special events or just a place to cool off on a hot day. Several even offer slides and a miniature waterpark setting. The Rhodes Aquatic Complex at 1860 S. Longmore in Mesa gives visitors a chance to test their skills on the FlowRider. The FlowRider crosses snowboarding, skateboarding and wakeboarding into an exciting ride. Kiwanis Recreation Center in Tempe also offers an indoor wave pool when the temperature is extra hot. Most city pools open Memorial Day weekend and begin registering for swimming lessons the beginning of May.
Contact for city aquatics is as follows:
Phoenix: 602-534-6587 or phoenix,gov/parks/pools
Scottsdale: 480-312-6677 or scottsdaleaz.gov/sports/aquatics
Mesa: 480-644 PLAY (7529) or mesaparks.com
Gilbert: 480-503-6200 or gilbertaz.gov
Tempe: tempe.gov
Glendale: 623-930-2820 or glendaleaz.com/parksandrecreation
Surprise: 623-222-2500 or surpriseaz.gov
