Beat the Heat! Head For Orlando's Water Parks

If you are heading for Orlando anytime soon (Or anytime, for that matter!), be sure to pack beach towels and bathing suits for the entire family. The temperatures are sure to be conducive to a visit to any of the area's fantastic water parks. The average temperature in August registers 92 degrees Fahrenheit; September cools off just a bit with an average high of 90 and October still finds the temps in the mid-80s. Be prepared to spend the greater part of the day having a blast; there is something to keep every member of the family happy (and cool!) everywhere you turn.

AQUATICA AT SEA WORLD - If you only have time to visit one water park while in the Orlando area, you might seriously consider checking out Aquatica at Sea World which opened in early 2008. This park has it all and then some: sandy beaches, private cabanas, tube slides, raft rides, mat-racing slides, wave pools, family raft rides, lazy river, an action river, live animals, interactive play area center and play areas for younger kids. The most popular ride in the park is the amazing Dolphin Plunge where you'll find two side-by-side enclosed tube slides which send you racing through an underwater world that is home to a playful group of beautiful dolphins. Known for their incredible speed, you'll probably see them racing right along side you as you speed your way down. This ride, alone, is worth a visit to the park. It is the only ride of its kind in the world. Tassies Twister is another of the most popular attractions you'll find here. To get to this ride you must make your way to the island in the center of a huge body of water and climb to the tower. After arriving at the top, tubes will shoot you at lightning-fast speed into a giant bowl where you'll spin and spin and spin until you spin yourself right back into the Loggerhead Lane Lazy River. Pay a visit to the Conservation Cabana to learn more about what the good folks at SeaWorld are doing to help conserve and care for wildlife and wild places around the world. Take a tour of the entire park when you visit their website (requires Flash).

There are two wildly-popular Disney water parks:

TYPHOON LAGOON - This Park is a favorite among visitors for many reasons. You can shoot down any of nine waterslides, float down a lazy river on an inner tube or conquer the waves at their hugely popular wave pool. Even after you've experienced all that, your adventure may just have begun. For the most adventurous in the group, you won't want to miss a visit to Shark Reef. Here, you will swim into a tank with real sharks and tropical fish! The saltwater adventure takes place on a picturesque reef built around an overturned sunken ship. Even the non-swimmers can get a bird's eye view of the underwater action by going inside the ship and watching the sharks through portholes. Gang Plank Falls is an adventure the family can enjoy together. Hop aboard a giant four-person inner tube and enjoy the ride as you whoosh through caverns dripping with water on this crazy, winding course. For more information, visit the Typhoon Lagoon area of Disney World's website.

BLIZZARD BEACH - This is a water park unlike any you've seen; it's a winter wonderland (of sorts) in the heart of Disney! Ride the Slusher Gusher, a slippery slide that drops you off at the foot of snowy Mount Gushmore. For family fun, you can't beat Toboggan Racers: race each other down this eight-lane slide you'll ride while on slippery rubber mats. Hop aboard an oversized inner tube (with seating up to six) and wind your way down the crazy, curvy path of Teamboat Springs. Tike's Peak is where the youngster can run, splash and play to their heart's content. This snow-covered play area is perfect for tots to pre-teens. Slides and water spouts, as all as interactive water games can be found throughout this popular area. Everyone can take a break and enjoy their massive wading pool, which stretches more than an acre and is surrounded by beautiful waterfalls. Please visit the Disney World website for complete details.

Equally popular among visitors is WET n' WILD where you are certain to find more chills and thrills (per square inch) than most other water parks. Experience what a cyclone feels like when you ride The Storm. This thrill ride spins you round and round until it drops you into the swirling waters below. Brainwash has to be experienced to be believed! Drop five-stories straight down into a 65-foot domed bowl where you'll find more adventure among the raging waters. Wet n' Wild has a great place for the youngsters to spend the day - it's called Kids' Park. Kids' Park features giant bubbles the little ones will love climbing up and sliding down; oversized water buckets they can play beneath … every now and then the buckets turn over and cover the kids in cool, fresh water. All of Wet n' Wild's most popular attractions have been scaled-down to kids-size and can be found in this area of the park as well. For more information, including a complete list of attractions, visit their website .

After a day (or days) of standing in lines and dizzying rides, visiting any of these lovely water parks is a perfect way to unwind and to cool off. For ticketing and additional information on all of these water parks click here.