Water park fun on hot summer days
This August-like weather has forced us to re-think our June activities somewhat. We’re not used to getting out sprinklers or using water parks so early in the season. Grace says she could get used to not being used to it…. I had trouble understanding that too, but the main thing is they’re having a blast.
We have a great sprinkler toy that fills with water and then waits… waits… and then sends a blast of water way up in the air when you least expect it. George calls it the scream machine because of its effect on the kids. But even the scream machine can’t hold a candle to some of our favourite watering holes.
The water park at Transfer Beach in Ladysmith is one of the best around. George wanted Ella to try out the bucket dump; the bucket fills with water and then wait… wait… down it pours on unsuspecting children. Yep, more screams. But George didn’t properly calculate the water-to-Ella weight ratio; she was no fool and left the deluge to her big sister.
Nanaimo has several city parks with water equipment, but our favourite is the Harewood Mining Community Park on Howard Ave in the south end of the city. A lot of the water features are built around a painted train track and the kids love to race around it and get sprayed as they go.
Parksville community beach has a classic old water park with some particularly tricky sprays built into the ground, which unsuspecting parents can get caught it while they’re keeping an eye on the kids. Ok, only George, who keeps forgetting that the nozzles are there.
While up in Parksville the kids also can’t resist going on the bumper boats at Paradise Fun Park – the place with the giant mini-golf courses. Tip for parents and older kids – the taller you are, the more you’ll get sprayed. Hmm, I guess that’s kind of a tip for the younger kids too, isn’t it…
