Entertainment

Have cool fun on a hot day at 5 NYC area water parks

Fly through jungle terrain and drop into the water at Mountain Creek's Tarzan Swing.

Fly through jungle terrain and drop into the water at Mountain Creek’s Tarzan Swing. (Alexander Michael)

Hurricane Harbor's King Cobra drops you 25 feet at 50 degrees. Bums away!

Hurricane Harbor’s King Cobra drops you 25 feet at 50 degrees. Bums away! (Rahav Iggy Segev)

Luna Park's water-themed rides are tame enough for kids and parents to enjoy together.

Luna Park’s water-themed rides are tame enough for kids and parents to enjoy together. (Anne Wermiel/NY Post)

Splish Splash’s Alien Invasion is a “total adrenaline rush.” (Rahav Iggy Segev)

BREAKWATER BEACH

800 Ocean Terrace, Seaside Heights, NJ

Local beefcakes and families with tweens flock to the Jersey Shore’s Breakwater Beach, a compact, 2-acre water park that, while small in size, packs plenty of punch. Fifteen slides provide exhilarating experiences for the little ones, while parents relax on the half-mile lazy river.

Top Thrill: The six-lane racing slide Patriot’s Plunge sees daredevils water-sledding headfirst on racing-striped foam mats, covering 100 feet in 10 seconds. “I felt like Superman,” says 10-year-old Toms River resident Brandon Feigin, before getting back in line to ride again.

Other Fun: The park’s newest attraction, Two If By Sea, sends tubers down racing rapids in single or double tubes in and out of giant water bowls before spitting them out backwards at the end. Kids love the Perfect Storm, a waterinfused giant jungle gym complete with a ship-shaped bucket that, when filled to the brim, topples over, drenching revelers underneath. A go-kart track also provides fun for those wishing to keep their britches dry.

Snacks: Feast at one of two grilling stations with burgers ($5.25) and “Texas approved” barbecue ribs ($7.25), then treat yourself to a Dippin’ Dots sundae with M&Ms, chocolate syrup and whipped cream ($6.50).

Wet Word to the Wise: Bare feet are the norm, but the cement ground can be scorching, so bring flip-flops.

General Info: $31.95 for adults, $25.95 for kids under 4 feet; casinopiernj. com; 732-793-6488; open daily; NJ Transit bus from Penn Station to Seaside Heights ($45 roundtrip) stops at Central Avenue, walk north four blocks to Grant Avenue, turn east and walk two blocks to park.

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MOUNTAIN CREEK

200 Route 94, Vernon, NJ

Built into the side of a mountain, the family-run water park uses natural landscapes and fresh spring water to create action-packed experiences unlike any other.

Top Thrill: Though simple in nature, the fear felt before stepping off the rocky ledge of the 23-foot-tall Canyon Cliff Jump is unparalleled. Taylor Schroeper, a 16-year-old Sparta, NJ, resident, was supposed to jump at the same time as her boyfriend, but didn’t. “I left him hanging,” she admits. “I looked over the edge, and I couldn’t go [at first]. It was scary on the way down because you’ve got no control.”

Other Fun: Swing from a 20-foot rope through a mountain canopy before plummeting into chilly, crystal-clear water at the classic Tarzan Swings. “It was awesome,” says 9-year-old Gabriela Schwartz of Boreum Hill. “It was really cool because I was one of the only smaller ones, and I didn’t do a belly flop.” Park-goers also love the 99-foot drop of speed slide H2-Oh-No! and the so-wild-you-have-to-wear-ahelmet rapids of Colorado River.

Snacks: Skip the long queues at the snack shacks by dining at the sit-down Big Bear BBQ , where $10.99 gets you a zesty pulled pork sandwich and two sides, such as cornbread and mac & cheese. Relax later with a refreshing piña colada at Beach Bar ($10).

Wet Word to the Wise: To avoid lines, climb to the top of the mountain (the back of the park) and work your way down. Bonus tip: Body-conscious visitors beware: You have to remove your spare-tire-hiding shirt on most attractions, so don’t eat for a few days before arriving.

General Info: $39.99 for adults, $27.99 for kids under 4 feet; mountaincreek. com; 973-827-2000; open daily; NJ Transit express bus 304 from Port Authority ($25.50 for round-trip ticket).

HURRICANE HARBOR

Six Flags Boulevard, Jackson, NJ

This sister park to Six Flags Great Adventure draws visitors from all across the tri-state area thanks to its 45 acres boasting more than 25 slides, a half-mile lazy river and wave pool that takes a million gallons of water to fill.

Top Thrill: The screams abound, but the sleek, slithering design of single-rider tube slide King Cobra comes out on top. Two riders race in enclosed slides to a 50-degree-angled, 25-foot plunge and then ricochet back and forth in the “mouth” of the cobra at 30 miles per hour.

Other Fun: The new Big Wave Racer sends competing sliders down four stories and 1,800 feet of slide on foam mats, and teenagers get into the competitive spirit, as evidenced by a group of guys razzing their buddy for his last-place finish. The Tornado slide dares tubers to whirl into its 60-foot-diameter funnel, and the Blue Lagoon wave pool hypes swimmers up with 5 minutes of raucous waves every 7 minutes.

Snacks: Snacks are pricey, but a family of four can chow down on a bucket meal deal for $39.99 that includes 12 chicken strips, fries and four drinks. Wet Word to the Wise: Arrive right when the park opens (10:30 a.m.) to avoid long lines — the crowds start roaring around noon.

Info: $41.99 for adults, $31.99 for kids under 4 feet; sixflags.com; 732- 928-1821; open daily; express NJ Transit bus 308 from Port Authority ($60.50 roundtrip package with water park ticket).

LUNA PARK

1000 Surf Ave., Coney Island

Cleaner, faster, better-run, Luna Park is the new Coney Island. Those who complain it has lost its soul apparently never used the bathrooms at the old place.

Top Thrill: Although Wild River is listed in the “High Thrill” category, this old-fashioned log flume isn’t going to send anybody into cardiac arrest, but it’s greatly satisfying, especially for mellower adults. Pick the back seat for the most splash action.

Other Fun: With its four-passenger cups slowly spinning in a shallow pool, Water Mania looks even milder. The hook is that the cups have water guns for soaking friends and foes alike. And that never gets old.

Snacks: Totonno’s is three long blocks away, but the pizza is worth the hike. A puffy crust topped with a perfect balance of sauce and cheese make this one of the city’s top Neapolitan pies. 1524 Neptune Ave., 718-372-8606

Wet Word to the Wise: Weekday afternoons are more manageable, even with all the day campers.

General Info: This pay-per-ride park makes it easy with its own Luna Card. Wild River costs 6 credits (about $6); 718-373-5862; open daily; D, F, N or Q to Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue.

SPLISH SPLASH

2549 Splish Splash Drive, Calverton, NY

This lush, 96-acre Long Island oasis is home to 19 water slides and plenty of other attractions for every type of heat-relief seeker.

Top Thrill: Among visitors on a recent Saturday, the consensus was clear: Nothing topped the Alien Invasion tube slide. As haunting, out-of-this-world tunes blare, up to four riders sit in a cloverleafshaped tube that plummets down a slide into a giant funnel before being spat out into a pool at the bottom.

Other Fun: The all-new Bootleggers Run hydromagnetic water coaster begins with a click-click rise up a nearly five-story hill, before descending through the ups and downs of 983 feet of track at speeds of up to 30 miles per hour. The eight-story straight-shoot Cliff Diver body slide provides a quick thrill without any line fuss.

Snacks: Refuel with “The Mutt,” a hot dog with sauerkraut and onions ($3.29).

Wet Word to the Wise: The current most popular attraction, Bootleggers Run, has a line for singleriders. If you don’t mind straddling strangers, line up for as little as 20 minutes versus the usual hour-plus wait.

General Info: $39.99 for adults, $29.99 for kids under 4 feet and seniors; splishsplashlongisland. com; 631-727- 3600; open daily; take the LIRR to Ronkonkoma Station and transfer to the North Fork Express Bus (package tickets including park admission and round-trip fare are $63.75 for adults and $50 for kids).