Wondering what to wear to a water park? Here are the essentials.
Are you wondering how to be properly prepared for your upcoming water park visit to Adventureland Resort, or another water park near you? Do you want to make sure to enjoy your family water park day to the fullest? Well, we’re here to help make sure that happens!
You probably guessed that bringing a bathing suit is an essential item you won’t want to forget. But you might be surprised by some of the other essential water park items we’ll mention in this article.
Bringing all the essentials is the key to enjoying a relaxing day at the water park while feeling fully comfortable the entire time. Whether you’ll be visiting the water park as a family with kids, a group of friends, or as a couple, there are several essentials you won’t want to miss out on bringing!
Continue reading until the end of this article to learn about all the essential things to bring to a water park for your next visit.
The right bathing suit
Everyone wants to be comfortable without sacrificing style, but when visiting a water park, you’ll need to keep in mind that wearing a practical swimsuit should be the number one priority. This is because water parks have a wide range of activities that require a more athletic clothing choice than, say, lying next to the pool all day sipping on martinis.
You’ll be going down water slides, body surfing waves in wave pools, and possibly chasing your young children around the kiddie areas. For this reason, avoid wearing flimsy bikinis. This helps prevent any accidental flashing incidents or the possibility of losing your bikini top or bottom on a slide or in a pool area.
So, it’s essential to wear a well-fitted bikini, or more ideally, a one-piece bathing suit for women. Not only is a one-piece or an athletic-style bikini more practical, but they are incredibly comfortable so that you can just focus on having fun and enjoying the day rather than holding up your bikini top and bottom all day long! When you wear a one-piece or an athletic-style bikini to a water park, you’ll have the freedom to move, slide, play, and jump into as many waves as you like. It’s also the perfect solution for mothers who will be chasing around toddlers or young children all day long.
For men, we recommend wearing well-fitted swim trunks with an attached “underwear” layer to avoid swim trunks falling off or needing to be adjusted during the more active water park activities.
Rule number 1 of going to a water park is essential: Just be sure to show up in a bathing suit that fits well, is practice, and of course, comfortable! These water park clothes are the most important thing to remember, as it sets you up for a day filled with fun and happy times with your friends and family members.
Sun protection is vital
There’s nothing like a sunburn to put a damper on your day at the water park. Going to water parks is a purely summer activity, meaning it’s crucial to anticipate that the sun will be hot and strong during your visit. It’s also important not to underestimate the sun’s ability to give you a sunburn, even if you’ll just be exposed to direct sunlight for 30 minutes to an hour.
If you’re wondering what things to bring to a water park to avoid sunburns, dehydration, and sun damage, be sure to bring protective accessories like sunglasses, sunhats, and sunscreen. Always pack a sunscreen that is SPF 50 or higher, especially if you’ll be visiting the water park during peak sunlight hours or for several hours on end. Don’t forget to reapply throughout the day continuously. Even though most sunscreens are waterproof, their effectiveness loses strength over time, and sunburns can appear if it’s not reapplied every few hours.
Protect your eyes and avoid headaches caused by too much sun with high UV protection. Always look for sunglasses labeled with UV 400 or higher to protect from harmful ultraviolet light rays. Wearing sunglasses also prevents squinting, which helps prevent wrinkles and premature aging.
For the ultimate protection from the sun during a water park visit, bring a large sun hat. This helps offer extra protection on top of sunscreen and sunglasses, especially to facial skin, which is extra sensitive to sun exposure. Find a hat that you enjoy wearing and that is both stylish and comfortable so that you’re more likely to wear it.
Avoid any accidents while walking around the wet and slippery water park by wearing secure sandals or flip-flops when walking between attractions. Find a pair that is waterproof and that fit your feet perfectly for the safest and most convenient experience while walking around the park. This is also a great way to protect your feet from accidentally stepping on something with bare feet.
For the best and most relaxing experience with the perfect break from the hot summer sun, look into renting a private cabana for the day! The shaded cabanas at Adventureland Resort come complete with chairs, a table, and loungers. Whenever you need a break from the sun and action of the water park, your private cabana will be waiting for you. Cabanas should be reserved in advance, so call the park before your visit or reserve yours online today.
If you’re wondering what to wear to a water park, always keep in mind that protection is a priority. But if you’ve got a practical swimsuit, foot protection, eye protection, and sun protection, you’ll be guaranteed to have a wonderful day!
Pack some dry things to change into
But wait, that’s not all! Your pool bag isn’t complete and ready for a visit to the water park without the last essential items: some dry clothes to change into and an absorbent pool towel.
Nobody, and I mean nobody, enjoys hanging out in a wet swimsuit for very long. It’s not comfortable and it’s impractical. Plus, wearing a wet bathing suit under your clothes or for longer than necessary can also cause skin irritation and allows bacteria to form as the wet bathing suit creates a damp environment.
For instance, after you’ve spent hours exploring the wave pool, lazy river, water slides, and kiddie water play areas at Adventureland Resort’s water park area, Adventure Bay, you’ll likely want to head over to the park’s many restaurants and cafes for a meal at some point. Instead of just wearing your swimsuit as you move onto other activities, it’ll be a lot more comfortable to simply change out of your wet clothes and into some dry clothes so that you can enjoy yourself more and avoid any unwanted consequences of wearing a wet bathing suit for too long.
Be sure to pack a pair of comfortable and practical, dry clothes to wear throughout the rest of your day at the water park. There are numerous changing areas throughout Adventure Bay that you can change in. And last but not least, be sure to bring a lightweight, absorbent towel to completely dry off before changing. Microfiber towels are excellent for water park visits because they are lightweight, ultra-absorbent, and they don’t take up a lot of space in your pool bag.
So, now that you know all the essentials of what things to bring to a water park, you’re all ready to enjoy a fun and thrilling summer day with your friends and family at a water park! Here’s a convenient list to copy and paste while you pack your water park essentials pool bag:
A practical, well-fitting bathing suit (one piece for women; double layer swim trunks for men)
UV protectant sunglasses
50 spf or higher sunscreen
A large sunhat
A lightweight, absorbent pool towel
Dry clothes to change into
- A water bottle to stay hydrated throughout the day (electrolyte packets are also a good idea)
If you’re based in Iowa, a visit to Adventure Bay water park at Adventureland Resort is a must this summer. The enormous water park has a variety of rides for visitors of all ages, including thrilling waterslides, family-friendly pools, a lazy river, and numerous kiddie areas. Stay entertained for hours on end visiting all the water park attractions, trying the delicious dining options, and lounging in your own private cabana. There’s really not a better way to enjoy a hot summer day in Iowa!
Come make some memories at Adventure Bay Water Park this summer with your friends and family. Enjoy the summer to the fullest with unlimited water park visits when you purchase Adventureland Resort season passes, which give you access not only to the water park, but the entire theme park! Will you only be around Des Moines for a day or a weekend? Opt for a day pass.
We can’t wait to see you here!
