The 8 Best Places to Get Wet in Atlanta This Summer

We all know Atlanta is totally cool... just not literally. Like, at all. So we rounded up the best places -- from rivers to man-made lakes and rooftop pools -- for you to get cool, and wet (!) in and around the ATL. You’re welcome...

Flickr/Robertlz

650 Watson Mill Rd, Comer
Built in 1885, this beautifully picturesque park not only has the longest covered bridge in the state, it has gorgeous shallow shoals full of cool, clear North Georgia mountain water for you to splash around in. It’s a bit of a drive to get here, but the relative seclusion and optional hiking, horseback riding trails, and/or picnicking possibilities make it well worth your while.

Shoot the Hooch

Shoot the Hooch on the Chattahoochee River

203 Azalea Dr, Roswell
This is one of Atlanta’s most beloved places to get wet, and for good reason -- you can canoe, kayak, tube, and more along the legendary Chattahoochee River. Oh, and you can bring along a floating cooler, just remember: no glass! If you get hungry, don’t worry, the outfitters also offer great summer eats like hot dogs, ice cream, and pulled pork BBQ sandwiches.

Flickr/jeffgunn

1750 Mount Vernon Rd, Lithia Springs
Sharing a name with one of Atlanta’s most popular local beers doesn’t hurt this park’s appeal, and neither do all the options it offers for wet summertime fun. Visitors can explore the creek’s rapids and calm, cool waters by renting fishing boats, canoes, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, or pedal boats. Or you can just stick your feet in for free.

Flickr/Bearden

1345 Piedmont Ave NE, Midtown
Arguably one of Atlanta’s oldest and most beloved public pools, this behemoth in the heart of Midtown features lap lanes, a beautifully landscaped deck, and beach entry with a current channel for floating alongside natural and structured shade on the pool deck. There’s also plenty of space for sports like water polo and volleyball if you want to do more than just chill.

Old Fourth Ward Splashpad

680 Dallas St, Old Fourth Ward
One of the first urban park elements of the Atlanta BeltLine project, this is a cool green space that’s an equally perfect spot to get soaked. With multiple jets of water coming from both the ground and overhead, you can beat the heat and get in touch with your inner child. Best of all, you’ll feel nothing but cool relief when you stumble here after boozing at your favorite BeltLine bar.

Lake Lanier Islands

7000 Lanier Islands Pkwy, Buford
Just 45 mins from Northeast Atlanta, this 1500-acre fancy-pants resort has a variety of attractions, restaurants, and activities, but forget all that -- we’re here to talk about its water park, LanierWorld. It’s not only got gorgeous white beaches, Raging River rapids, and carnival rides, it also boasts the South’s largest wave pool.

Flickr/sporadic

1138 State Rte 20 Spur SE, Cartersville
Constructed by the US Army Corps of Engineers, Lake Allatoona has more than 250 miles of shoreline and a whopping 12,000 acres of cool water for you to swim and splash about in via one of its 15 day-use beaches.

W Buckhead

WETBAR, WET, & WET pool decks at W Downtown, W Midtown & W Buckhead

Multiple locations
If fantastic cocktails, nationally acclaimed food, and music from scorching DJs isn’t enough to interest you, you’ll also find some of the most breathtaking views of the Atlanta skyline at any of these three rooftop pools in Buckhead, Downtown, and Midtown. Oh, and there are lots of beautiful women too, some of whom probably need help applying sunblock to their backs.

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