What better way to finish the summer than taking the family to a water park. With plenty of excitement for the kids, relaxing pools and saunas to melt into, and the exotic swim-up bars, it's the perfect way to let loose.

To get the most out of your visit try and arrive before midday, as that's when the crowds pour in. Most parks tend to quieten down around mid-afternoon and this is also when some parks give discount admissions, so keep this in mind if you want to do some sightseeing first.

No mention of water parks would be complete without Schlitterbahn. Based in New Braunfels, Texas, the 3 parks are considered the best in the world. Catering to water lovers of all ages, the parks boasts a vast array of slides and attractions. Home of the Boogie Bahn - the world's first surfing machine, several uphill water blasters, and over 3 miles of inner tube rides, it's little wonder this park has been nominated the best water park in the U.S. With a "Transportainment" layout that lets you travel almost everywhere without getting out of the water (yes, even queues), it really is the hottest, coolest time in Texas!

Especially fun for kids is, of course, Walt Disney World Resort, Florida. This iconic theme park is home to two of the most wonderful water parks; Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach. Typhoon Lagoon, the home of the worlds largest wave pool, features a host of sandy beaches and thrilling rides. As is signature with everything Disney, the park whisks you into an imaginary world of sunken wrecks, winding rivers, and waterfall caves. Its partner, Blizzard Beach, was inspired by the legend of an alligator sliding down a melting ski resort. This explains the huge, 90 feet tall Mount Gushmore, a color-coded hill in the center of the resort. This park also features a wave pool, racing slides, and the Cross Country Creek; a river that carries guests through a bone-chilling ice cave. The rest of the pools and slides are heated to a comfortable 80 degrees.

For the adrenaline seekers out there, the San Dimas Raging Waters park in <a href=" is for you. This all-out, pulse-pounding excitement center is designed for thrills. It has rides like The Dark Hole, 500 feet of pitch-black rapids; the 7 story high Dropout that hurls riders down in just four seconds, at speeds reaching nearly 40 miles an hour; or the Bermuda Triangle, which consists of three twisting, downward tunnels that recycle more than 2,500 gallons of water a minute. Raging Waters has recently added a Flowrider, a huge artificial wave machine that allows riders to surf on a 30mph sheet of water.

Water parks are great fun for all the family, whether it's pure whitewater adrenaline you're after, or simply soaking in a Jacuzzi. Wherever you decide to travel, TripMama can get you there for the lowest prices online, proof that you don't have to splash out to make waves!