Nothing could be better than jumping into sparkling cool water this sizzling hot season. Add a couple of breathtaking water slide rides, surf riding and maybe a romantic moonlight walk along the beach and you have got yourself a perfect summer day.

No need to cast envious eyes on those heading off to exotic beaches. Everything from white sand beaches, swaying palm trees, the sound of boats whistling, all sorts of water slides, relaxing spas and more terrific attractions can be found at local water parks.

Here are some of the most exciting water parks in Korea. Take your pick and have a blast.

Caribbean Bay

Located next to the amusement park Everland in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, Caribbean Bay is the country’s first water park and is still the biggest. A single day might be a bit too short to enjoy everything the 135,600-square-meter water park has to offer.

Though it opened in 1996, the facilities and water slides do not seem outdated at all because they have been continuously updated. This year, they replaced all the tubes with new ones, expanded the locker rooms to 1.5 times the former size and installed 276 more shower heads.

Wave Pool, the main attraction, remains the same but is always the most fun. With 2.5-meter-high artificial waves crashing down on the white beaches every few minutes, the area is always full of excited screams.

Not too far away from the Wave Pool, you can spot the three notorious 26-meter-high waterslides which are the water park’s landmark. Curvy, straight and tunnel-like, the three water slides, which riders have to ride tubeless, with their arms crossed in the front, offer the ultimate thrill.

One very important tip: Make sure you take the time to straighten your bikinis and swimsuits after you come down the ride if you are not looking for some serious public humiliation.

If going tubeless is too frightening for you, try out Wild Blaster. Consisting of four Master Blasters, which you can go down -- and sometimes even upwards at the U-shaped sections -- riding on a tube, and six regular Tube Slides that crisscrossed, allow the riders to actually enjoy 20 different routes. Added up altogether, the Wild Blaster offers a 1,092-meter-long way to go down.

Visitors can also enjoy surfing at the Surfing Ride. The spot is popular even among those who do not surf, because members of “FlowRider,” a surfing club, showoff their incredible surfing skills every day.

Caribbean Bay is open from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. until Aug. 22 and to 6 p.m. after Aug. 22. The opening hours vary after Aug. 22. Tickets range from 22,000 won to 37,000 won. If you buy the tickets in advance at the water park’s website, you can enter the water park without waiting in line. It takes about an hour to get there from Seoul by car. For more information, call (031) 320-5000 or visit www.everland.com/caribbean.

Ocean World

Slightly smaller than Caribbean Bay but surrounded by nature is the 99,174- square-meter Ocean World located in Hongcheon, Gangwon Province. All the water in the park comes straight from the Hongcheon River.

Ocean World emerged as Caribbean Bay’s rival soon after it opened in 2006, thanks to its wild water slides. Its main features this year are Monster Blaster and Super Bumerango. There is usually an hour-long cue for the rides, but they are definitely worth it.

Monster Blaster, which is 300-meters long, is the world’s longest water slide. Riding on a tube for two, the riders go through numerous turns through the tunnel-like slide at extreme speed. Do not close your eyes because you will miss the view outside that whizzes by.

Six people get on a tube for the Super Bumerango, a U-shaped slide inclined at 68 degrees at the highest point at 23.5 meters. When the tube rushes up to the apex and slowly turns around, getting ready to whoosh down the 90-meter-long water slide, the riders will experience weightlessness. 

A woman waves her hand before swooshing down the Monster Blaster at Ocean World.                                                                                                                                               Ocean World

Open-air spas in every nook and corner of the water park help you loosen up after the wild rides. Especially the ones placed on two of the three islands floating above the surfing mount, where the 2.5 meter tide slams down on swimmers, offers a unique experience.

The water park can be more attractive at night. During the high season, Ocean World opens for two more hours -- until 10 p.m.

Not only are tickets much cheaper, but the whole ambience turns extra romantic with the star-studded night sky, beautiful lightings and fireworks. Most of the family visitors are gone by then, so the less crowded water park becomes a couples’ haven.

Ocean World opens from 7:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. until Aug. 14 and to 8 p.m. after Aug. 14. Tickets range from 20,000 won to 7,000 won. It takes about an hour and a half to get there from Seoul by car. You can take free shuttle buses at various stops in Seoul and other cities by making reservations. If taking the subway, get off at Yongmun station, Line No. 1, and take a free shuttle bus from there. For more information, call 1588-4888 or visit www.daemyungresort.com/vp.

Tedin Water Park

Tedin Water Park within the Huracle Resort in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, is the nation’s newest water park, which just opened its doors earlier this month. Approximately 66,000 square-meters large, it is smaller compared to its rivals.

Under the theme “Tedin Family’s Trip to Europe,” facilities in the water park resemble some of the famous buildings in European cities such as Venice and Santorini. Tedin is the name of the teddy bear character which the water park created.

The water park’s main attraction is Tsunami Slide, a water slide that ambitiously presents a seriously sharp dip.

Wild Extreme River is another source of pride. About 371 meters long and five meters wide, it is the nation’s longest artificial river featured at a water park. Visitors can take a relaxing ride around the water park via the river while relaxing on a tube.

Tedin Water Park is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tickets range from 27,000 won to 65,000 won. Shuttle buses run from Seoul, Bundang, Gyeonggi Province, Cheonan and Daejeon, South Chungcheong Province to the water park. For more information, call (041) 906-7000 or visit www.huracle.com.

By Park Min-young

(claire@heraldm.com)