7 Great Places To Beat The Heat
It’s the middle of summer. It’s hot and you and your family are desperate for ideas. Before you go jumping into the nearest water source uninvited (i.e. your neighbor’s pool), we recommend checking out the following list of local outdoor parks & water activities guaranteed to keep everyone in your group entertained and cool during the hot summer months. Ready to beat the heat? Let’s dive in.
1. The Ravine Water Park
2301 Airport Road, Paso Robles, CA
The Ravine Waterpark is a great family attraction located in Paso Robles with a number of pools and slides to enjoy all day long. Choose between the mammoth Thunder Run slide, the four-lane Quadzilla slide, the Anaconda & Viper slides, the five-story Kamikaze slide, the 195,000-gallon Calypso Bay Wave Pool, the Kickback Kreek for easy-going inner tubing, and the Tadpool wading pool for the kiddos to splash around in. Feeling adventurous? Experience Vertigo, a 35-foot long enclosed tube slide that empties into a large spinning bowl before dropping down into an 8-foot-deep pool of swirling water. https://ravinewaterpark.com
2. Mustang Water Park
6840 Lopez Drive, Arroyo Grande, CA
Bring the whole family to Mustang Waterpark at Lopez Lake and campground for a fun-filled day of reserved cabanas for dining and relaxation, inner tubing down a 38-foot half-pipe, sliding down two giant 600-foot curving waterslides, splashing around in the kiddie pools (ages 9 & younger), hitting up the snack bar, or exploring the Lopez Lake recreation area with bike and go-kart rentals. https://mustangwaterpark.com
3. Dinosaur Caves Park
2701 Price Street, Pismo Beach, CA
Join families, dog lovers, and joggers while you explore the cooler weather, grassy lawns, playground & walking trails of this fun-filled oceanfront bluff-top-11-acre park. The trails offer great views of the ocean and caves below. The Park itself features a large play area for kids that includes a gentle dinosaur, three blue-speckled dinosaur eggs, two concrete dolphins, three playful seals, a ship playground (The USS Imagination), a tire swing and tot swing. Amenities include a wedding location area overlooking the ocean, a grass reception area, an amphitheater, restroom, and off-street parking.
4. Templeton Park & Community Pool
34 6th Street, Templeton, CA
Enjoy the beauty and tranquility of one of the most favored parks in North County. Templeton Park, a 3.5-acre park located in downtown Templeton features shady oak trees, picnic tables, a community pool, kiddie wading pool, a charming white gazebo, kid’s playground area, restrooms, and large grassy playing field. Consider a delicious picnic lunch comprising of deli salads, chicken, turkey, or Tri-Tip sandwiches, or some fried chicken strips with potato wedges from the Templeton Market & Deli (a local favorite) to complement your park and pool time with family and friends.
5. Atascadero Lake Park
9305 Pismo Ave, Atascadero, CA
Atascadero is home to a handful of parks, most notably the Lake Park, which is a local favorite among residents and visitors year-round. Along the edge of the lake is a large path where locals enjoy walking their dogs, taking strolls, biking, and jogging while taking in the beauty of the lake and island bird sanctuary. The park is complete with workout stations for exercise enthusiasts, a lake pavilion, a gazebo, a kid’s playground, swings, paddle/kayak boat rentals, restroom facilities, barbecue pits, picnic table areas, horseshoe pits, and a sand volleyball court. The Charles Paddock Zoo is another attraction located at the front of the park. Pack the sunscreen and the kids in the car and go enjoy some lake park & zoo time!
6. Heilmann Regional Park
9400 El Bordo Ave, Atascadero, CA
Check out Heilmann Park near Chalk Mountain if you have younger kiddos. It features a great water play area for little ones to stomp and get wet during the hot summer days. Heilmann Park also features covered picnic areas, tennis courts, disc golf course, a large grass area, and a nearby dog park. You’ll also discover the park is right next door to Chalk Mountain Golf Course, another local 18-hole favorite.
7. Morro Bay Stand Up Paddleboarding
601 Embarcadero, Morro Bay, CA
Are there teens or young adults in your crew? Make a reservation and head over to Morro Bay with a friend or group of friends to experience stand up paddleboarding (SUP) on a 4-mile-long, safe-water harbor that stretches from the iconic Morro Rock to Los Osos in the south. They offer lessons, rentals, and tours. Check it out! https://supmorrobay.com
Do you have a Central Coast water activity in mind (other than the beach) that should have made our list? Share your ideas in the comments below!
