Aquatica

You’ll have to head down to San Antonio to visit this water park—and push aside any ethical issues you might harbor (the joint is operated by SeaWorld)—but Aquatica is still a mecca on weekends for those wanting to cool down on triple-digit–temperature days. In addition to a handful of family-oriented rides (the Walhalla Wave lets the whole family climb onto a raft before shooting everyone to the top of a zero-gravity wall), there’s a stingray pool in which kids can wade for the chance to pet and swim around the animals (reservations are required).