Mom it's hot, what can we do?

It's hot, hot, hot - So why not stay cool by visiting some of the great
pools, waterparks, splashparks and beaches near Ann Arbor!

With temperatures soaring in Ann Arbor this week, folks everywhere are thinking about how to stay cool. Here are some great local water parks, pools, beaches, parks and splash parks that are sure to dial it down a notch!

Splash Parks:

For the youngest family members, splash parks, sprayscapes, sprinkler parks and splash playgrounds are a great way to cool off. These sprinkler parks are often free although sometimes with limited hours allowing local camps and day care centers access by the bus loads. Always check the websites for current available times of operation.

Canton's Heritage Park Splash Park - Canton | free
Township Park Sprayscape - Plymouth Township | free 
Kensington Metropark - Milford | free with vehicle admission 
Farmington's Heritage Park Splash Park - Farmington | free 
Spray-scape at Independence Lake - Whitmore Lake | free with vehicle admission 

Water Parks:

Waterparks offer the entire family the best opportunity to swim or play on the waterslides or in the wave pool! To save money, many offer a discounted rate during twilight hours, which also happens to be after the hottest parts of the day when children easily get sunburns.

Rolling Hills - Ypsilanti Township | $2.50+ | M-F 11-7, S-S 11-8
Indoor Waterpark Splash Universe - Dundee | $24.95+ | 9-10
Lower Huron Metropark - Belleville | vehicle entry fee plus $5+ | 11-7

Beaches:

Because the Huron River sweeps throughout Washtenaw County, there are many metroparks that offer beaches and the opportunity to play in the water. Ann Arbor is also convenient to several state recreation areas with beaches which offer free entry to families who opted to add the fee to the licence plate tabs! If your family will go to a park more than once, consider purchasing a yearly permit to save money.

Independence Lake - Whitmore Lake
Van Buren Park - Belleville
Island Lake Recreation Area - Brighton
Pinckney Recreation Area - Pinckney
Waterloo Recreation Area - Howell
Brighton Recreation Area - Brighton
Stoney Creek Metropark - Shelby Township
Lower Huron Metropark - Belleville

Pools:

If your family prefers to swim in a pool to cool off, Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti have several convenient pools with family swim times and tot swim times.

Buhr Park Pool - Ann Arbor | $3.50+ | M-F 3:30-7, S&S noon-7, additional tot swim times available
Fuller Park Pool and Waterslide - Ann Arbor | $3.50+ | M-F 1-8, S&S 1-8, additional tot swim times available
Mack Indoor Pool - Ann Arbor | $3.50+ | T&Th 7-8:30, Sat 1-4, Sun 1-3, additional tot swim times available
Veterans Memorial Park Pool - Ann Arbor | $3.50+ | M-F 1-4:45 & 6:30-8, S-S 12-4:45 & 6:30-8
Rutherford Pool - Ypsilanti | $1.75+ | 1-5 & 6-8, additional tot swim times available
Lincoln Consolidated School Indoor Pool - Ypsilanti Township | $3+ | T&Th 7:30-9

Other Places to Cool Off:

There are many great places along the Huron River to cool off. Take the family out in a canoe, kayak or even tube the river with your own inner tubes or party islands.

Island Park - Ann Arbor | free
Gallup Park - Ann Arbor | fee based boat rentals
Dexter Huron Metropark - Dexter | vehicle entry fee plus fee based boat rentals
Delhi Metropark - Ann Arbor | vehicle entry fee plus fee based boat rentals
Hudson Mills Metropark - Dexter | vehicle entry fee plus fee based boat rentals

As the temps near 100-degrees, remember to drink plenty of fluids and stay cool. With the many great pools, beaches and waterparks near Ann Arbor, that shouldn't be hard to do!

If you have any great photos of your family staying cool this week, please feel free to send them to me at tmayrend (at) gmail dot com for submission in the blog!