Sandcastle Water Park in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

There aren't many water parks located within the city limits of a major metropolis, but Sandcastle, improbably, does offer water slides, a wave pool, a lazy river, and many of the other trappings of a well-appointed water park in Pittsburgh proper. Granted, it's located on the outskirts of the city, along the Monongahela River, but in a matter of minutes, sweat-soaked folks from Squirrel Hill or visitors to the Strip could be racing down a slide or frolicking in a pool.

Speaking of the Monongahela River, Sandcastle is a surprisingly picturesque park, especially considering its municipal address. The urban oasis features a boardwalk, plenty of landscaping, and serene views of the river. But visitors come for the slides and rides, and the park features plenty of ways to cool down and get soaked.

Among the major attractions is Dragon's Den, a water park bowl ride, Lightning Express and The Monster, two speed slides, and Blue Tubaluba, a enclosed slide with two-passenger tubes that keeps riders partly in the dark for lights-out thrills. Smaller visitors can gravitate to Wet Willie's Water Works, an interactive water play center jam-packed with fountains, sprayers, and other gizmos, as well as Tad Pool, a wading area for the youngest guests. Older, but somewhat thrill-averse visitors can get wet in the Mon-Tsunami wave pool, the lazy river, or the Sandbar Pool.

The park offers plenty of dining choices including subs, gyros, phillys, and pizza. A particular favorite is the Potato Patch fries. These are the same tasty morsels, which are available with a huge variety of toppings, that are served at Kennywood, the nearby sister amusement park. Guests are welcome to bring their own food and drinks into the park, although it is restricted to snacks and small servings. Picnic areas are available outside the park for guests who wish to bring cooler chests and larger feasts.

412-462-6666

Location

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Discounts for guests under 48 inches or ages 55 and older. Visitors under three and under are free. Season passes, group rates, and birthday packages are available. Info about discount coupons are available online.

For larger groups, the park offers options such as catered meals and a combo pass to both the water park and Kennywood amusement park. A combo buffet meal at the adjacent Riverplex and water park admission is also available.

Private cabanas are available for rent.

The actual address is 1000 Sandcastle Drive, Pittsburgh, PA 15120.

I-376 to Exit 5 (Homestead / Greys Bridge). Proceed onto Sandcastle Drive. The park is located next to the Waterfront complex.

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Bowl ride, raft ride, tube slides, body slides, speed slides, lazy river, wave pool, interactive water play structure, swimming pool, and kiddie play areas.

Dragon's Den
A bowl ride that sends passengers in two-person rafts soaring down a darkened, enclosed tube and into a fog-filled bowl (the fire-breathing Dragon's Den) for a few swirls before being flushed out.