Old Fourth Ward Splashpad

How to Keep Cool in Atlanta: Splash, Raft, Tube, Swim, Water Ski

By Carol Carter

Last Updated May 7, 2026

Add Discover ATL as a preferred source on Google

Artículo disponible en español.

Whether it’s sitting on the dock of Lake Clara Meer in Piedmont Park, tubing down the Chattahoochee River, water skiing at Lake Lanier, getting soaked at a neighborhood splash pad or swimming at a public or hotel pool, Atlanta is home to plenty of ways to beat the summer heat. You can even get in the water at the Georgia Aquarium.

Lakes

Stone Mountain Lake, located inside Stone Mountain Park, is a destination for boating, kayaking, canoeing and paddleboarding. In addition, Stone Mountain Park offers pontoon boat tours and rentals.

Located in Midtown’s Piedmont Park, Lake Clara Meer is a popular spot for catch-and-release fishing or just relaxing on the dock or in the gazebo. The lake is routinely stocked with fish, including largemouth bass, crappie, bream and catfish. Be sure to have a valid Georgia fishing license.

About an hour’s drive north of Atlanta, find Lake Lanier, popular for swimming, boating, water skiing and fishing. The lake was the venue for rowing and canoe/kayak competitions at the 1996 Summer Olympics in Atlanta. Margaritaville at Lake Lanier Islands features sandy beaches, water slides and lake-front cabanas.

Chattahoochee River

A person stands knee-deep in a calm river, surrounded by lush green trees and foliage in Atlanta, Georgia. — The Chattahoochee River flows right through Atlanta. (Photo courtesy of the National Park Service)

The Chattahoochee River originates in Union County, Ga., north of Atlanta, and flows through the Atlanta metropolitan area before terminating in Lake Seminole, at the Georgia-Florida border. Atlantans love the ‘hooch for tubing or rafting, which is known as shooting the ‘hooch in Atlanta. During the summer, especially, Atlantans flock to the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area for walks, rafting through rocky shoals, fishing or picnicking. The Chattahoochee Nature Center, located on the banks of the river in suburban Atlanta, features trails, exhibits, programs and events on 127 acres of forest, wetlands and river habitat.

Atlanta Attractions

Atlanta Botanical Garden

Children playfully splash in a water park, surrounded by decorative fountains and sculptures in Atlanta, Georgia. — Find this splash pad inside the Children’s Garden at Atlanta Botanical Garden. (Photo courtesy of Atlanta Botanical Garden)

The Midtown oasis, which is the Atlanta Botanical Garden, is a treat any time of year, and during the summer months, kids who visit the Children’s Garden can get wet in the splash pad.

Three women in wetsuits smile as they hold a spotted eagle ray underwater near a rock wall in Atlanta, Georgia. — Yes, you can get up close and personal with sharks at the Georgia Aquarium. (Photo courtesy of Georgia Aquarium)

There is a whole lot of water at Georgia Aquarium, one of the world’s largest aquariums with more than 10 million gallons of water. Did you know that you can get into the water at the aquarium? Well, you can. Try the immersive shark and ray interaction. You can suit up and get in the water with the sharks and rays or you can swim alongside the whale shark and manta rays.

Six Flags Over Georgia

A vibrant water park features a towering, colorful water slide with multiple loops and a crowded pool area in Atlanta, Georgia. — Bonzai Pipeline is one of the attractions in Hurricane Harbor at Six Flags Over Georgia. (Photo courtesy of Six Flags Over Georgia)

Six Flags Over Georgia’s Hurricane Harbor water features include Bonzai Pipeline, Calypso Bay Wave Pool, Paradise Island water playground and Tsunami Surge.

Six Flags White Water

An aerial view of a colorful, winding water slide complex at a water park in Atlanta, Georgia. — Python Plunge at Six Flags White Water features plummeting drop-and-dive sensations from five stories high. (Photo courtesy of Six Flags White Water)

Six Flags White Water is home to 20 water rides/attractions. The Python Plunge is a fast-paced, two-person water slide featuring multiple swirling discs and adrenaline-pumping drops.

Zoo Atlanta

Children in colorful swimsuits playfully splash in a public water fountain on a sunny day in Atlanta, Georgia. — There’s more than animals at Zoo Atlanta. Just ask these kids. (Photo courtesy of Zoo Atlanta)

Splash Fountain at Zoo Atlanta is located on a 2,500-square-foot section of the zoo’s KIDZone rides and attractions area. The fountain features 18 water jets. It is open from April 1 through Oct. 31.

Swimming Pools

All outdoor public swimming pools operated by the city of Atlanta’s Department of Parks and Recreation open at 12:30 p.m. in the summer months and close at 7 p.m. Admission is free. They are located in neighborhoods ranging from Adams Park, home to a park listed on the National Register of Public Places, to Candler Park, known for its charming homes; and Grant Park, where you’ll also find Zoo Atlanta.

Another option is hotel pools. Many Atlanta hotel pools offer day passes. Take a Daycation at these Incredible Rooftop Pools in Atlanta.

In addition to the swimming pools run by the city of Atlanta, there are community pools in Piedmont Park, Garden Hills and Chastain Park.

Splash Pads

Children play in a splash pad with multiple water fountains and blue shade structures in Atlanta, Georgia. — Splash pads like this one are located all across the metropolitan area. (Photo by Joleeen Pete)

Most public splash pads in Atlanta are open May 1 through Oct. 1. The following are sprinkled throughout the city:

Center Hill Sprayground, 2305 Donald Lee Hollowell Parkway NW

Rodney Cook Sr. Park, 616 Joseph E. Boone Blvd.

Fountain of Rings at Centennial Olympic Park, 265 Park Ave. W NW

Old Fourth Ward Park, 680 Dallas St. NE

Two children swing on a playground, enjoying the sunny day with smiles in Atlanta, Georgia. — You’ll have a difficult time dragging the kids away from the Old Fourth Ward Park splash pad. (Photo by Erin Sintos)

Legacy Fountain at Piedmont Park, 1320 Monroe Drive NE

The Rev. James Orange Park, 1305 Oakland Drive SW

Perkerson Park, 770 Deckner Ave. SW

D.H. Stanton Park, 213 Haygood Ave. SE

Looking for more ways to have fun? Here are 10 Free Things to Do with Kids in Atlanta during Summer Break. Also, visit our Ultimate Guide to Summer in Atlanta.

Carol Carter was a founding staff member of Atlanta Business Chronicle where she later served as editor. She served as editor of seven magazines including a 150-year business history of Atlanta. She worked as a reporter for WXIA TV’s Noonday Show, has written for the New York Times and is a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism. Carol is author of “Junior Dragster Dreams: How Sam Found His Own Ride,” a children’s book.

Originally Published May 23, 2025