Houston and Galveston Area Best Local Waterparks for Summer Fun

Having a teenaged son at home, I have to stay up on all the local fun attractions that teens might enjoy. Waterparks are places where all kids--young and old, grown and still growing--can have fun, stay cool, and spend a weekend without spending a fortune.

When we first moved to the Houston / Galveston area on the Gulf Coast of Texas, we figured we'd find beaches and sand, but who knew there would be so many local attractions and local waterparks? So to appease the teenaged boy, we have visited almost all of them we could find, and below is the list of the top five waterparks in the Houston, Galveston, League City, Alvin, Friendswood, Webster, Clear Lake and surrounding suburbs area of Texas.

#5 Best Houston / Galveston Area Waterpark: Kemah Boardwalk

The reason this one comes in as #5 is because it's technically not a waterpark, but it has enough features and water-attractions that I think it qualifies. Regardless, it is a fun family place to visit, and worth the trip whether you live in the area or are visiting on vacation.

The Kemah Boardwalk offers water sprayed cooling rest tents, and central water attraction fountain for splash play, a kid's water play area, and The Beast, which is a high-speed lake motorboat ride that will get everyone wet! Open every day, with a selection of amusement park rides and enough restaurants to satisfy any appetite, and with armbands starting at just $20 for the entire day (check local businesses for discount coupons), it's a cost-efficient family fun outing at the Kemah Boardwalk.

For more information about the Kemah Boardwalk attractions, visit their website here: http://www.kemahboardwalk.com/

#4 Best Houston / Galveston Area Waterpark: Stewart Beach, Galveston, Texas

Stewart Beach is a great waterpark in the City of Galveston, right off the Texas Gulf Coast, located directly on the Galveston Seawall. With a waterslide for kids, and paid parking right on the best parts of the coastline of Galveston so families can go right from the rentable umbrellas and mats straight into the ocean, or stay and play in the kids pools and waterslides. During the peak hours, there are lifeguards on duty.

For more information about Stewart Beach in Galveston, click here: http://www.galveston.com/stewartbeach/

#3 Best Houston / Galveston Area Waterpark: Six Flags SplashTown

The Six Flags SplashTown is just as much fun as you'd expect from any Six Flags park, but this one is fun, amusement and water! Ticket prices are a little higher than some of the non-chain waterparks in the Houston / Galveston area, but the Six Flags SplashTown waterpark is big enough with enough diversity of attraction that you can easily spend an entire weekend there. Which is a great idea, since they offer weekend passes for two or three days at a time!

Their best deal is to buy a season pass for one low price, and then you and your family can visit as many times as you want during the season. This is a great option even if you're from out of town and are on vacation, because the season pass is about the same price as two day passes, and then you can use the season pass again if you come back later in the season.

For more information about Six Flags SplashTown, visit their website here: http://www.splashtownpark.com/

#2 Best Houston / Galveston Area Waterpark: Palm Beach, Moody Gardens

Palm Beach at Moody Gardens is a must-see attraction when visiting Galveston Island. If you're in the area, great, because Moody Gardens itself, with its three pyramids (Discovery Pyramid, Aquarian Pyramid, Rainforest Pyramid) is well worth the visit, but Palm Beach adds a splash to the fun. Season tickets and weekend two or three day passes are available, that include Palm Beach in the mix.

So during the heat of the day, you can visit the indoor air-conditioned facilities and then as the afternoon sun begins to burn, you can cool off while tanning at Moody Garden's own private beach and waterpark. From the Lazy River to the Wave Pool, to the private beach and the water slides, Palm Beach is an island paradise within the island paradise that is Galveston Island!

For more information about Mood Gardens, read my review here. For more information about Palm Beach at Moody Gardens, visit their website here: http://www.moodygardens.org/seasonal_fun/palm_beach/

#1 Best Houston / Galveston Area Waterpark: Schlitterbahn Waterpark

Right next door to Moody Gardens and Palm Beach, you'll find the well-renowned Schlitterbahn Waterpark at Galveston. With all the traditional attractions one might expect from a Schlitterbahn Waterpark, the Schlitterbahn at Galveston has a fantastic indoor pool that is greenhoused and available even off-season. Patrons can actually swim indoors in completely environment conditioned temperatures, even in the dead of winter!

They are available for private parties too, so definitely a top place to consider for kids even if it's not summer, but a must-see waterpark for kids, teens and the grown-up kid in all of us. My adult daughter and teen son spent two weekends at Schlitterbahn, burning themselves to a crisp when we first moved to the Galveston area, and they both have begged me to take them back soon.

For more information about the Schlitterbahn Waterpark at Galveston, visit their website here: http://www.schlitterbahn.com/gal/