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    Family fun

    11 top DFW water parks, splash pads, and more places to get wet this summer

    Alex Bentley
    Jun 27, 2019 | 3:14 pm
    Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark in Grand Prairie
    Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark in Grand Prairie is one of many great options to cool down and get wet in Dallas-Fort Worth.
    Photo courtesy of Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark

    Now that summer is here, many people will be looking for ways to cool off and have fun at the same time. Those lucky enough to have a pool are the envy of all, but the Dallas-Fort Worth area offers plenty of water parks, public pools, splash pads, and more to provide endless summer fun. Below is a list of some of the best options around the area.

    Hawaiian Falls
    With four DFW locations — Garland, The Colony, Mansfield, and Roanoke — Hawaiian Falls has parks in almost any direction you travel. Each offers a variety of slides like the ultra-steep Torpedo and the two-person Hawaiian Halfpipe, wave pools, and kids areas. But for sheer bang-for-your-buck, the Roanoke location is tops, with a whopping 20 attractions, compared to 10 or 11 at the three other locations. Prices range from $17.99-$31.99 depending on when you go and how you get your tickets.

    Six Flags Hurricane Harbor
    Hurricane Harbor in Arlington is the standard-bearer, with thrill slides like the free fall of Der Stuka, the twisting darkness of Black Hole, and the high altitude Dive Bomber, among multiple other attractions. They also offer several rides for families to enjoy together, dive-in movies every Friday through August 9, a variety of great dining options, and more. Prices run from $34.99 online to $41.99 at the park, but you can drastically drop that price with a membership, which also includes access to Six Flags Over Texas. Hurricane Harbor stays open through September 22.

    NRH2O
    Located in North Richland Hills, NRH2O has a reputation for being one of the best water parks for the price in the area. Boasting 10 attractions that range from "High Thrill" to "Calm," it has something for everyone in the ride department. It also features dive-in movies every Friday from June 28-July 26, including Jaws, Incredibles 2, and Aquaman. Tickets are $15.99-$19.99 online, with discounts for North Richland Hills residents.

    Hydrous Wake Park
    Featuring locations in both Allen and Little Elm, Hydrous lets you test your wakeboarding skills in a controlled environment. Each park is designed for both experienced riders and beginners so that everyone can go at their own speed. They even have an Aqua Park with a floating obstacle course in Little Elm, for when you want to take a break from wakeboarding. Prices are $20 for one hour, $30 for two hours, and $50 for four hours, with equipment rental extra. There are deals available on Groupon for a bit of a break.

    Epic Waters Indoor Waterpark
    The newest water park in the area is also the only public indoor water park in Dallas-Fort Worth, meaning you can enjoy it rain or shine and throughout the year. It features six appropriately epic slides emanating from the same central location, along with a kids area, a Flowrider boogie board ride, and the new Epic Waves Outdoor Wave Pool, which is open through Labor Day. Prices range from $29-$34 for non-Grand Prairie residents and $17-$22 for residents, with season passes available for $79 for the summer.

    Bahama Beach
    Run by the City of Dallas, Bahama Beach features a kids area, lazy river, the "Bermuda Triangle" with three twisting slides, two high speed rides, and even a Water Wars area where you can compete in the ultimate water balloon game. And with a planned expansion in 2020, this water park will be getting even better in the future. Tickets run $11-$15, with discounts for Dallas residents.

    Splash Dayz
    Located in White Settlement, this water park was originally a Hawaiian Falls location before being taken over by the city in 2016. It features nine attractions, ranging from the soothing Lazy Dayz River to the terrifying Atomic Wedgiez. Prices range from $17.95-$19.95, and the park will stay open through Labor Day.

    City pools and splash pads
    Many cities around Dallas-Fort Worth offer recreation centers with slides attached to their indoor pools, as well as splash pads at parks. Splash pads are always a bonus since, being located in public parks, they're always free. Admission to city pools varies, but usually pales in comparison to regular water parks. Dallas just debuted The Cove Aquatic Centers at three area parks with a variety of attractions. One of the best options in the area is the outdoor Jack Carter Pool in Plano, a mini water park with two slides, a Flowrider, a high dive, pool with volleyball and basketball areas, a lazy river, and a kids area, all for only $5 for kids and $9 for adults.

    Altitude H2O
    This attraction located on Grapevine Lake at Meadowmere Park debuted last year, but it's currently closed due to high lake levels. Should the waters recede later in the summer, it will reopen. It is the largest floating aqua park obstacle course in Texas, an enormous floating playground that features attractions like monkey bars, slides, trampolines, and balance beams. Unlike other water parks, you only pay if you're participating, so adults/chaperones can sit in a special area while the kids have fun.

    Grapevine hotels
    If you're looking for nice staycation, Grapevine offers two great options. Great Wolf Lodge has an 80,000-square-foot indoor water park that rivals any of the outdoor ones. Just down the road, the Gaylord Texan has Paradise Springs, one of the best hotel pools around, featuring a giant lagoon, lazy river, interactive water features, and three winding waterslides. The water areas usually are available only to registered guests. However, Great Wolf Lodge has just begun offering day passes to the water park, starting at $50 per person.

    Crystal Lagoons at Windsong Ranch
    The buzziest water attraction in the Dallas-Fort Worth area is also its most exclusive. Crystal Lagoons at Windsong Ranch in Prosper is a huge oasis with five acres of pristine beaches and clear waters for swimming, stand-up paddle boarding, kayaking, and more. Alas, it's only available for residents of Windsong Ranch and their guests, so it's time to start making friends who live in Prosper.

    kidsfamilies
    news/entertainment

    Movie Review

    Michelle Pfeiffer is an unappreciated mom in Oh. What. Fun.

    Alex Bentley
    Dec 5, 2025 | 2:23 pm
    Michelle Pfeiffer in Oh. What. Fun.
    Photo courtesy of Amazon MGM Studios
    Michelle Pfeiffer in Oh. What. Fun.

    Of all the formulaic movie genres, Christmas/holiday movies are among the most predictable. No matter what the problem is that arises between family members, friends, or potential romantic partners, the stories in holiday movies are designed to give viewers a feel-good ending even if the majority of the movie makes you feel pretty bad.

    That’s certainly the case in Oh. What. Fun., in which Michelle Pfeiffer plays Claire, an underappreciated mom living in Houston with her inattentive husband, Nick (Denis Leary). As the film begins, her three children are arriving back home for Christmas: The high-strung Channing (Felicity Jones) is married to the milquetoast Doug (Jason Schwartzman); the aloof Taylor (Chloë Grace Moretz) brings home yet another new girlfriend; and the perpetual child Sammy (Dominic Sessa) has just broken up with his girlfriend.

    Each of the family members seems to be oblivious to everything Claire does for them, especially when it comes to what she really wants: For them to nominate her to win a trip to see a talk show in L.A. hosted by Zazzy Tims (Eva Longoria). When she accidentally gets left behind on a planned outing to see a show, Claire reaches her breaking point and — in a kind of Home Alone in reverse — she decides to drive across the country to get to the show herself.

    Written and directed by Michael Showalter (The Idea of You), and co-written by Chandler Baker (who wrote the short story on which the film is based), the movie never establishes any kind of enjoyable rhythm. Each of the characters, including competitive neighbor Jeanne (Joan Chen), is assigned a character trait that becomes their entire personality, with none of them allowed to evolve into something deeper.

    The filmmakers lean hard into the idea that Claire is a person who always puts her family first and receives very little in return, but the evidence presented in the story is sketchy at best. Every situation shown in the film is so superficial that tension barely exists, and the (over)reactions by Claire give her family members few opportunities to make up for their failings.

    The most interesting part of the movie comes when Claire actually makes it to the Zazzy Sims show. Even though what happens there is just as unbelievable as anything else presented in the story, Showalter and Baker concoct a scene that allows Claire and others to fully express the central theme of the film, and for a few minutes the movie actually lives up to its title.

    Pfeiffer, given her first leading role since 2020’s French Exit, is a somewhat manic presence, and her thick Texas accent and unnecessary voiceover don’t do her any favors. It seems weird to have such a strong supporting cast with almost nothing of substance to do, but almost all of them are wasted, including Danielle Brooks in a blink-and-you'll-miss-it cameo. The lone exception is Longoria, who is a blast in the few scenes she gets.

    Oh. What. Fun. is far from the first movie to try and fail at becoming a new holiday classic, but the pedigree of Showalter and the cast make this dismal viewing experience extra disappointing. Ironically, overworked and underappreciated moms deserve a much better story than the one this movie delivers.

    ---

    Oh. What. Fun. is now streaming on Prime Video.

    moviesfilm
    news/entertainment

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