The Cove Waterpark

The Cove Waterpark sits on about 10 acres in Riverside, making it one of the Inland Empire's go-to spots when temperatures hit the triple digits. This isn't Knott's Soak City, but it doesn't try to be. Instead, you get a solid neighborhood water park that locals have been coming to for years.

The main draw is a decent-sized wave pool that generates waves every 15 minutes or so. Kids love timing their jumps with the wave cycles, and parents appreciate that it's not so intense that little ones get knocked around. The slide collection includes a couple of body slides that give you a good rush without being terrifying, plus some tube slides that families can ride together.

What really works here is the lazy river that actually moves at a relaxing pace. I've seen too many parks where the current is either non-existent or feels like whitewater rafting. The Cove gets it right.

The kids area has smaller versions of the big slides plus fountains and dump buckets. Teens might find it a bit tame compared to the mega-parks, but younger families will appreciate that they can actually relax while their kids play safely nearby. The pool deck gets hot, so bring water shoes or plan to hop from shade spot to shade spot.

Speaking of shade, rent a cabana if you're staying all day. The few umbrella tables fill up fast, especially on weekends. Food options are typical water park fare, but the prices aren't outrageous for Southern California.

Pro tip: arrive right when they open to snag good seating and avoid the afternoon rush. Parking is free, which saves you the $20-25 you'd pay at bigger parks. The Cove works best for families with kids under 12 who want a fun day without the crowds and costs of the major theme park water attractions.