Even New Englanders can water slide in the wintertime. While you may be planning a ski getaway or two, you’ll make your little fish’s dreams come true with a tropical-inspired trip to these nearby water parks in Massachusetts, Vermont and New Hampshire. Whether you just want to escape for the day, or for the whole weekend, resorts and water parks around New England are offering some serious deals for families to beat their winter blues! Here are a few of our favorites.
Coco Keys North Shore, Massachusetts
Where: 50 Ferncroft Rd, Danvers, MA
Your kids just might vote you Mom of the Year for taking them to Coco Keys, the closest major water park option for Boston families. There are slides and splash pools for both swimmers and non-swimmers. With a constant water temperature of 84 degrees and private, poolside cabanas for purchase in which to relax between dips, it’s the closest thing many of us will get to a tropical getaway this winter. Thursday and Sunday afternoons tend to be the least crowded times to go; bring your own towels to avoid paying for “souvenir” versions.
Drive time from Boston: 55 minutes
Cost: $35-$50 per person (depending on height and entry time); starting at $71.99 for a family four-pack (deal online only).
Great Wolf Lodge New England, Massachusetts
Where: 150 Great Wolf Dr, Fitchburg, MA
The highlight of this Fitchburg Resort (at least for the kids) is the two enormous water activity areas. One features a wave pool and four-person tubing runs, and the other has a giant “wet” playground, a lazy river, an indoor/outdoor jacuzzi and yet more tubing and body slides. Be sure to hit the ropes course, kids’ spa, mini golf and arcade games during your stay, too! Though the waterpark used to only be accessible by guests staying overnight, day passes are now available. Read our complete guide to visiting Great Wolf Lodge here.
Drive time from Boston: 1 hour and 35 minutes
Cost: Overnight stays start around $180 per night during the winter; Half-day and full-day passes are now available; price varies by day of the week.
Cape Codder Resort & Spa, Massachusetts
Where: 1225 Iyannough Road, Hyannis, MA
This water park on Cape Cod has a pirate theme, with giant slides that run through a replica ship, and the “Pirate Bay” area for little ones, which includes a dumping bucket, water cannons and small water slides for not-so-experienced swimmers. Relax in the wave pool or jacuzzi, and be sure to float along the “stormy” river and get splashed by the squirting humpback whale. Make an overnight stay of your visit, and check out the Beach Plum Spa (one of our favorites), easy access to beaches and a packed kids’ activity schedule, which may mean some alone time for you.
Drive time from Boston: 1 hour and 45 minutes
Cost: $40 per person, $30 per child under 48 inches, $20 non-swimmer pass for the day, children 3 and under are free.
Kahuna Laguna Water Park, New Hampshire
Where: 2251 White Mountain Hwy, Conway, NH
You’ll find 40,000 square feet of fun at this water park, which is part of the Red Jacket Mountain View Resort in North Conway, New Hampshire. Make your way down any of the four slides, then hit the wave pool or basketball court. Little swimmers can stick to the Little Kahuna play area with smaller slides and a shallow depth, while everyone can enjoy the water cannons and 175-gallon tipping bucket at the Bamboo Bay Adventure Tower. The Tiki Tide Cafe has a few meal options (hamburgers, hot dogs, chicken fingers, etc.) available for hungry guests. There are only a limited number of day passes for non-hotel guests, so call or book online ahead of time before making the drive. You’ll find great wintertime deals for overnight stays at the resort, though.
Drive time from Boston: 3 hours
Cost: $29.99-$50 for day pass, depending on date.
Jay Peak Resort, Vermont
Where: 830 Jay Peak Rd, Jay, VT
While we suppose you could drive four hours for a day at the Pump House water park, Jay Peak has it all and we can’t imagine why you wouldn’t make a weekend out of this trip. The Vermont resort offers skiing, beautiful lodging, and, of course, the water park. Go for a dramatic ride (er, drop) down the La Chute slide or ease along the Big River. This park also offers a boogie-board ride experience you’d otherwise only get by hitting up the ocean. There are plenty of slides and a kids’ play area, too.
Drive time from Boston: 4 hours and 22 minutes
Cost: $41 for a day, $31 for kids ages 4-14, 3 and under are free
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