Although it originally opened in 1974 as a picnic, camping, and fishing site, the area currently known as Wild Water Adventure Park has changed dramatically over the decades. The three fishing lakes are still there—stocked with everything from bass and catfish to bluegill and sushi rolls—but its 52 verdant acres now hold 38 water slides and 20 different attractions, creating an expansive all-ages retreat at the base of the Sierra Nevada Mountains.

More than one million gallons of crystalline water power the massive wave pool's four-foot waves. On the slide side, tube-riders can brave the pitch-black twists of the Vortex and the Sidewinder's three-story plunge. Even younger children can savor appropriately scaled thrills in the play area's splash pool plus 15,000 square feet of toddler-friendly activities. This range of aquatic amenities has made Wild Water Adventure Park a perennial staple on The Fresno Bee's People's Choice Awards, routinely winning the title of Best Water Park.

Not every activity at Wild Water Adventure Park requires a bathing suit, however. Sand volleyball courts, horseshoe pits, and a softball diamond all provide ample space for outdoor fun. Numerous barbecue stations dot the grass, allowing families to cook up a hearty lunch.