When the weather heats up, it’s nice to know about a few places you and your family can go to cool down. Whether it’s a swimming pool, a splash pad, or a local beach, you’ll want to have some ideas up your sleeve for where you can take your family for some fun water play this summer. We’ve put together this list of five ideas for where to take your kids to beat the heat near Chanhassen, Minnesota, in the coming months.
Richfield Outdoor Pool
In nearby Richfield, there’s a fantastic outdoor pool where you and your family can splash and swim. The pool, which is 50 meters long, has plenty of room for kids to make waves, and there’s also a zero-depth entry children’s pool area with play equipment. Other amenities offered at this location include a wheelchair-access ramp for the pool, a double water slide, water volleyball nets, lap lanes, and a diving board. There’s also a concession stand that sells various drinks and snacks to keep your kids fueled while they play.
Please note that children ages 9 and under must be accompanied by an adult to swim, and little ones still in diapers must wear a swim diaper — not a regular diaper — to use the facilities. The pool is open daily during the summer season.
- Location: 630 E. 66th St. in Richfield.
- Contact: 612-861-9350.
SandVenture Aquatic Park
At SandVenture Aquatic Park, you’ll find sandy beaches leading to a sand-bottom, chlorinated pool. This unique destination offers the best of both worlds when it comes to water recreation. You’ll have the joy of playing on the beach and the thrill of splashing in the pool at one lively location. You can also enjoy the 300-foot water slide, a diving board, two drop slides, and a concession stand serving an array of tasty snacks and drinks. The lifeguards here are certified and trained by the American Red Cross, so you can have peace of mind while your little ones swim.
Children must be at least 48 inches tall to use the diving board or ride the slides unless they can pass a swimming test to show that they can swim back to the edge on their own once they’re in the pool. Another great thing about SandVenture Aquatic Park is that it offers a Splish and Splash Tot Time, where children age 6 and under can swim in the zero-depth entry pool before the park opens to the public. This is a great time for little ones to play with kids their own size before the park starts to get busy.
- Location: 1101 Adams St. in Shakopee.
- Contact: 952-233-3840.
Clayhole Swimming Beach
There’s much for your family to enjoy at Clayhole Swimming Beach. Clayhole Lake was named for the clay quarry that used to operate here. Now, there’s a sandy beach, a boardwalk, a picnic area, a concession stand, and a playground. Kids can play in the lake, where there’s a lifeguard on duty, or they can get wet in the splash pad located near the park shelter and bridge area. Head to the concession stand to rent a paddle boat to explore the lake for $10 per 30 minutes.
You’ll also find shaded picnic tables and green spaces near the concession area that are perfect for your family picnic. Meals and snacks, such as pizza, nachos, hot dogs, pretzels, soda, and chips, are on offer here. If you’re in the mood for something sweet, get some ice cream for the perfect ending to a fun-filled day at the beach. The concession stand is open from 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Lifeguards are on duty from noon to 9:30 p.m.
- Location: 3210 Chaska Blvd. in Chaska.
- Contact: 952-227-7746.
Splash Pads Around Chanhassen
Splash pads are a great alternative to an all-day adventure at the beach. Your kids still get to frolic in the water, but on days when you want a quicker outing, you don’t have to pack as much gear or dedicate as much time. Luckily, there are several splash pads around Chanhassen. Check out these locations:
- Miller Park, 8202 Eden Prairie Road in Eden Prairie.
- Lions Park, 1103 Adams St. S. in Shakopee.
- Round Lake Park, 16691 Valley View Road in Eden Prairie.
- Burnes Park, 301 Second St. N. in Hopkins.
- Eagan Central Park, 1507 Central Parkway in Eagan.
Lake Minnewashta Regional Park
There are various amenities for you and the kids to enjoy at Lake Minnewashta Regional Park. From swimming to boating, you’ll have plenty of choices when it comes to having fun in the water. There’s a warm, sandy beach where you can soak up the sun before cooling off in the refreshing lake. If you and your family enjoy fishing or would like to give it a try for the first time, there’s a fishing pier stretching out over the lake to make fishing more accessible. And if you have a boat, there’s also paved boat access and a dock.
Lake Minnewashta Regional Park has lots of other amenities as well. Bring along your furry friend and take advantage of the 18-acre off-leash dog area or walk along the trail that surrounds the lake. If you need a place to store your canoe or kayak, you can do so for a fee, and you can also rent a sheltered area if you’d like. This park also features a Little Free Library, where you can take a book to peruse while you relax on the beach and watch the kids play.
- Location: 6900 Hazeltine Blvd. in Chanhassen.
- Contact: 952-361-1500.
Summer Fun in Chanhassen
As you can see, there’s a lot of fun to be had in and around Chanhassen when the temperatures soar. We at Crème de la Crème of Chanhassen wish you a safe and joyful summer, and we hope you can try out one or more of these great local places to beat the heat this season.
Image by Drew Gilliam is licensed with Unsplash License