Ways to Beat the Heat and Stay Cool This Summer in Bucks and Beyond

Feeling hot hot hot! If you don’t want your kids spending every sweltering day watching YouTube, you’re going to want to figure out some ways to stay cool while having fun. Here are some ideas.

Splash Parks

Water is always the most popular way to cool off, and there are several spray pad/splash park/ water poles in the Bucks/Montco area. Best of all, most are free. (Note that I indicate if anything has an admission fee.)

Note: Most of these open Memorial Weekend or early June. I will update as I hear about 2024 openings.

Bristol Township Municipal Park Playground

2149 Bristol Oxford Valley Road/2501 Bath Road, Bristol

The Spray Park is a large area next to the playground with water shooting up from the ground. There is a low wall surrounding the Spray Park, a few benches, one table (with more a little farther away), and a bathroom.

Open Date: Predicted to open at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 25. Check Facebook to confirm!

Montgomery Township Accessible Playground and Spray Park

1030 Horsham Road, Montgomeryville, PA 18936

Located right outside the Community & Recreation Center, this inclusive playground and spray park has a lot of fun special features that make it a great spot children of all abilities. The well-designed space features shaded play areas, tables, benches and two outdoor bathrooms. The playground space includes slides, swings (a variety of types, including ADA), climbing areas, see saws, and more.

Opening Date: (Waiting on 2024 dates. Last year, it opened on 6/1), 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily.

Mason Mills Park

3500 Mason Mill Road, Willow Grove

In addition to a playground area, walking trail, Safety Town, and other amenities, Mason Mills Park also a Water Spray Pole! Kids can push the button to activate sprays of water. While it might SEEM like a mist, trust me, your kids will get adequately soaked after a few sprays! If your kids are smaller, be prepared to get wet yourself, as it might be tough for them to turn it on themselves.

Opening Date: Waiting for 2024 info.

Warwick Community Park

1733 Township Greene, Jamison

The spray area was redone in summer 2023. Warwick Community Park is located next to the local Township Building in Jamison and features all kinds of kid-friendly structures. Kids can enjoy swings (regular and tire), slides, climbing areas, tunnels, a short zip-line, pretend train and more. The park is 27 acres, with a 1.5 walking/biking path and basketball courts. Open 7 days a week from 10 am to 7 pm.

Opening Date: Opening Tuesday, May 28.

Everybody’s Playground at Lukens Park

540 Dresher Road, Horsham

I actually didn’t even realize this until we were already there, but Everybody’s Playground has a spray pole! It’s the type where you need to press a button on the pole and then it sprays down on you. It’s more of a mist, but you definitely get wet. Note: The button is a little higher up and takes some effort to push. So be prepared to help your child if they’re under 4 years old. Also, I’m not sure if it needs repairs or if it’s always like this, but there was a drinking water fountain right behind the spray pole, and when you push the button to get water, it SHOOTS out. I mean HIGH and powerful! I saw several kids, mine included, that got more wet from the water fountain than they did the spray pole! The playground is a good one, so there’s plenty to do on a hot day. Bathrooms are also open.

Opening Date: I haven’t visited or seen info for 2024 yet. Let me know if you’re aware!

Junod Playground

12770 Dunks Ferry Road, Philadelphia

This one is in the far Northeast, basically Bensalem. I haven’t been to it, but there’s a Facebook page where you can check for updates about when the Spraypark is open. The spray park hours are Monday through Friday from 1 p.m. 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m. Bathrooms are closed on the weekends but open when staff is there during the week.

Opening date: Opening Friday, Mary 24.

Neshaminy State Park

Neshaminy State Park is a popular place for walking, riding bikes, picnics and more. Plus, they also have a pool! Within the park, there’s a fenced off pool area with snack bar, swimming pool and splash park. The pool is open weekdays from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends and holidays. As of 2023, admission is $10 per day, and there are also season pass options.

Hatfield Aquatic Center

2500 Chestnut Street, Hatfield

The Hatfield Aquatic Center is similar to a smaller water amusement park with a lazy river, water slides, sprayground, water castle play area, and more. Open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. for Season Pass Holders and their guests only, then open from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. for daily pass patrons (plus season pass holders and their guests.) Season passes start at $155 per person for residents (with discounts for those ages 1-4 or 60+. You can also save by purchasing family passes. Non-residents pay more. Daily Passes must be purchased at the Aquatic Center and costs $20 for residents and $30 for non-residents. There is a $5 discount for guests ages 1-4 or over 60.

Opening date: May 25, 26- Normal Hours, May 27 it closes at 3:45 pm, Weekends June 1, 2 and June 8, 9 Normal Hours and then first full day is June 13th till Labor Day. See calendar for early closures for events like swim meets, Fun Run and also for Friday Fun Night events.

River Tubing

Have you tried river tubing?! This one’s probably better for families with older kids. If you have older/more adventurous kids, try Bucks County River Country out of Point Pleasant!

Water Parks

Based on my kids’ ages and proximity to the park, Sesame Place is our water park of choice. We have season passes and can be there in 10 minutes, so it’s no big deal for me to throw on our suits and head over for a quick visit. Water rides are open Memorial Day through Labor Day.

If your crew has outgrown Elmo and his friends, here are a few other options to consider:
Six Flags Hurricane Harbor, Digger Land (there’s now a water park, too!), Dutch Wonderland, Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom, The Boardwalk at Hershey Park

Plus indoor options: Aquatopia at Camelback, Kalahari, Great Wolf, Sahara Sam’s

Take a Trip to the Beach

I know this is an obvious summer destination, but it’s true – it’s almost always a few degrees cooler at the beach as long as you get that ocean breeze. And even if it’s hot, you can always plant your beach chair at the water’s edge!

Brigantine (just over the bridge from AC) is our choice for its quieter, laid-back, more residential feel and a deep beach that’s really never overly crowded. And if you’ve followed this page at all, you KNOW I love a good playground … so make sure to go to Shark Park, too.

It goes without saying that Ocean City is a great choice for kids, and Belmar is quieter option that’s a bit closer and very kid friendly.

Keep the Entertainment Indoors

Some days, you just need air conditioning.

(Some of these photos are from 2021. Masks are no longer required.)

Here are some of our favorites: Bucks County Children’s Museum, Playpad Bucks, Crayola Experience, Altitude, Local Libraries, Adventure Aquarium, We Rock the Spectrum NE Philly, Bowling (find out how kids bowl for FREE here), Kids Empire.

(Penn’s Little Village at the Langhorne Library and Career Corner at the Yardley Library are fun!)

More ideas: Movies, Funzilla, Franklin Institute, Mercer Museum, Please Touch Museum

Indoor Play Spaces at Local Fast Food Restaurants

After a few years of closures, finally have some options for indoor playgrounds that are free!

So far, the ones I know of that are open include:

McDonald’s in Penndel (shown above)
Burger King in Langhorne
Burger King in Feasterville
Burger King in Souderton
Chick-fil-A in Bensalem (Street Road)
Chick-fil-A in Warrington
Chick-fil-A in Warminster

Ice Cream

And since it wouldn’t be summer without at least a few scoops of ice cream …