Coco Key Water Resort at Cherry Valley Lodge
Description:
The 50,000-square-foot water park includes an interactive-adventure area for young children, body slides, an activity pool with water basketball and a fast-paced tube ride.
Location: 2299 Cherry Valley Road, Newark (Licking County)
Open: Operating hours vary, check website for daily hours
Admission: $19.95 for ages 2 and older; free for ages 1 and younger
Parking: Free
Most popular attraction: Parrot's Perch, an interactive play island for young children that features water cannons and a large bucket that dumps hundreds of gallons of water every few minutes
Least-busy days: Weekdays
Wheelchair access: Yes
Where to buy tickets: www. cocokeywaterresort.com
Information: (866) 754-6956
Fort Rapids Indoor Waterpark Resort
Description:
The 60,000-square-foot park includes an area with two small slides for young children; a 40-foot-tall interactive play area with a water cannon, four slides and a 1,000-gallon tipping bucket; and an activity pool with basketball hoops.
Location: 4560 Hilton Corporate Drive, Columbus (Franklin County)
Open: Year-round
Admission: $26.95 all-day pass, $21 after 4 p.m., $9.95 spectator pass
Parking: Free
Most popular attraction: Black Out Pass, a slide that exits the building briefly, then spins riders in a funnel and shoots them into a lazy river.
Least-busy days: Tuesday and Wednesday
Wheelchair access: Yes
Where to buy tickets: At the park
Information: (877) 337-7527, www.fortrapids.com
Ohio State Fair
Description:
The state’s premier fair, including entertainment, livestock competitions, rides, youth organizations, agriculture and natural resources and creative and fine arts.
Location: Ohio Expo Center, I-71 and E. 17th Ave., Columbus (Franklin County)
Open: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. July 28 through Aug. 7, 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Aug. 8
Admission: $10 at the gate for ages 13-59; or $8 for ages 60 and older and ages 5-12; free for children 4 and younger; special discount days throughout fair run.
Midway wristbands for unlimited rides: $22; $1 coupons for individual rides available. One coupon required for most “kiddie” rides, two for each “spectacular” and “super kiddie” ride, three for “super spectacular” rides.
Parking: $5
Most popular attractions: Skyride, Giant Slide, fair food, butter cow
Least-busy days: Tuesday through Thursday
Wheelchair access: Yes
Where to buy tickets: Advance $6 tickets available mid-June through Aug. 8 at participating AAA, Kroger and Ticketmaster outlets. All-day wristband vouchers, $19, available at Kroger and Ticketmaster outlets through July 27.
Information: (614) 644-FAIR, www.ohiostatefair.com
Zoombezi Bay
Description:
The 22.7-acre water park — adjacent to the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium — features 15 water slides, a wave pool, an action river, a lazy river, private cabanas and a kiddie play pool.
Location: 4850 W. Powell Road (Delaware County)
Open: Daily, operating hours vary May 22-23 and May 29 through Sept. 6
Admission: $29.99, or $24.99 for ages 2-9, free for ages 1 and younger
Parking: $5
Most popular attractions: Cyclone, dropping from a 55-foot start, a four-person raft cruises into an enclosed reducing-radius tunnel; and Wild Tides Wave Pool, a 544,500-gallon wave pool with a maximum depth of 6 feet, where waves can reach up to 4 feet