Families and other travelers planning to make one last summer splash to beat the heat before the end of summer can now look to TripAdvisor’s 2011 list of the top 10 water parks in the United States before selecting their aquatic destination.

The Midwest has long been a champion of the mega water park, perhaps to make up for the lack of an ocean coastline, and this year has three parks on TripAdvisor’s list, including the top spot. The others range from New England to Williamsburg to Texas. None of the water parks on the West Coast made the list.

1. Holiday World & Splashin’ Safari, Santa Claus, Indiana
With high marks for cleanliness and organization, this combined water and theme park includes “Wildebeest,” the world’s longest water coaster, and “ZOOMbabwe,” the world’s largest enclosed waterslide at nearly 900 feet long. Admission includes soft drinks and sunscreen: $42.95 for adults, $32.95 for guests less than 54 inches tall and seniors.

2. Typhoon Lagoon, Orlando, Florida
This Sunshine State water park offers body slides, inner tubing, surf lessons and more. Travelers can raft the 2,000-foot long waters of “Castaway Creek” and snorkel with sharks, stingrays and tropical fish at “Shark Reef.” Admission: $52.29 for adults, $43.67 for children ages 3 to 9.

3. Noah’s Ark Water Park, Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin
The largest water park in the United States features 49 rides, two wave pools, two endless rivers and four children’s water play areas. Attractions include “Scorpion’s Tail,” the first near-vertical looping waterslide in the United States, and a 4-D “Dive-In” theater. Admission: $35.99 for adults, $28.79 for children and seniors.

4. Morey’s Piers, Wildwood, New Jersey
Travelers have two water parks to explore here: Ocean Oasis Waterpark and Beach Club, with its “Cliff Dive” speed slide, and Raging Waters Waterpark, with “Sky Pond Journey” and its slide complex of four elevated splash pools. Admission: $36 for adults, $28 for guests less than 54 inches tall, free for seniors.

5. Kahuna Laguna, North Conway, New Hampshire
Located in the middle of the mountains at the Red Jacket Mountain View Resort, northern New England’s first indoor water park has four high-speed tubes, a swirling wave pool and a water basketball court—where travelers can “dunk” to their hearts’ content. Admission: $40 for adults and children.

6. Water Country USA, Williamsburg, Virginia
Virginia’s largest water park has more than 30 water rides and attractions, including the darkened tunnels of “Aquazoid,” with speeds of 20 feet per second, and “Big Daddy Falls,” which boasts 700 feet of flumes and tunnels. TripAdvisor users also give nods to its selection of healthy foods. Admission: $46.99 for guests ages 10 and up, $39.99 for ages 3 to 9, free for children under 3 years of age.

7. NRH20 Waterpark, North Richland Hills, Texas
Travelers can ride the “Green Extreme,” a seven-story tall waterslide, or plunge head first down the four-lane “Accelerator.” Admission: $23.99 for guests at least 48 inches tall, $19.99 for those less than that height, free for children under 2 years of age.

8. Adventureland, Des Moines, Iowa
This 180-acre resort has both an amusement and water park with four intertube slides on the “Bermuda Quadrangle,” and more than 100 water features on the seven-slide “Kokomo Kove.” Admission: $35 for guests ages 10 and older, $30 for ages 4 to 9 and seniors.

9. Aquatica, Orlando, Florida
SeaWorld’s water park, Aquatica, has the “Dolphin Plunge” submerged tube slide and the lazy river ride, “Loggerhead Lane.” Admission: $47.99 for adults, $41.99 for children ages 3 to 9.

10. Wild Water & Wheels, Surfside Beach, South Carolina
Located just south of Myrtle Beach, Wild Water & Wheels has 24 slides—from the “White Water Express” to the enclosed depths of “The Dark Hole.” Admission: $29.25 for guests at least 48 inches tall, $18.40 for those less than that height and for those 55 and older, free of charge for children under 2 years of age.

Image: TripAdivsor

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