Whales Tale Restaurant, Hampton

In addition to sunscreen, swim suits, and towels, you'll want to bring your sense of adventure to Whale's Tale Water Park. Park visitors are faced with any number of daring feats, including whizzing down steep water slides and swirling through dark tunnels. But even those who've left their search for thrills at home can find something to do, whether that be wading into the wave pool or take a scenic float down the tranquil river.

Here's a look at some of the ways to make a splash at Whale's Tale.

• Poseidon’s Voyage: Climb into the near-vertical launch capsule and wait for the trap door underneath you to drop, sending you whizzing down the steepest drop a water slide can give you. You'll fly at speeds up to 38 feet per second, the force of which will keep you glue to the walls as you go through a tight 360° loop.
• The Plunge: Riders race each other on parallel plunging slides, reaching speed of up to 40 miles per hour.
• Eye of the Storm: After flying through a dark tunnel, riders spin around in a funnel-shaped tube before making the four-foot drop into the pool below.