Water Park

As part of a multiattraction expansion this spring, Legoland California plans to update the Star Wars Miniland area that debuted last summer, add a pirate-themed shoot-the-chutes water ride and install a crab exhibit at the adjacent SeaLife Aquarium. Set to open March 29, the Star Wars Gallery will include 3-foot-tall Lego models of a dozen characters from the epic film saga, including Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, R2D2, Yoda and Darth Vader.  At the same time, model builders will install new characters, weapons and spacecraft to existing Star Wars Miniland scenes rendered in 1:20 scale using Lego bricks.

THE BEST WAY TO TURKS AND CAICOS From LAX, American, US Airways, Delta, United and Jet Blue offer connecting service (change of plane) to Providenciales. Restricted round-trip fares begin at $854, including fees and taxes. WHERE TO STAY Beaches Resort, Providenciales; (888) 232-2437 for reservations, (649) 946-8000 for resort, http://www.beaches.com/main/tc/tc-home.cfm . All-inclusive family resort with anytime dining at 16 restaurants, 45,000-square-foot water park and supervised kids' program.

SeaWorld's Aquatica will introduce an innovative hybrid concept to San Diego on June 1 that combines a marine park with a water park, allowing visitors to interact with animals like dolphins, stingrays and flamingos as they zip down water slides. > Photos: SeaWorld San Diego's Aquatica water park SeaWorld San Diego purchased Knott's Soak City in Chula Vista from the parent company of Knott's Berry Farm for $15 million and plans an extensive renovation of the separate-admission water park about 20 miles south of the marine park.

The theme park industry will take a deep breath in 2013 after the launch of several landmark attractions and with more groundbreaking projects on the horizon. The last few years have seen several theme park additions that have altered the industry landscape and set attendance records -- from Cars Land at Disney California Adventure to Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal's Islands of Adventure. The future promises even more theme park innovation in the form of Shanghai Disneyland in China and Avatar Land at Disney's Animal Kingdom in Florida.

The theme park industry will take a deep breath in 2013 after the launch of several landmark attractions and with more groundbreaking projects on the horizon. The last few years have seen several theme park additions that have altered the industry landscape and set attendance records -- from Cars Land at Disney California Adventure to Wizarding World of Harry Potter at Universal's Islands of Adventure. The future promises even more theme park innovation in the form of Shanghai Disneyland in China and Avatar Land at Disney's Animal Kingdom in Florida.

The slides and wave pools at Irvine's Wild Rivers water park will be permanently closed at the end of summer to make way for an apartment complex. The 26-year-old water park and nearby Camp James, a summer day camp for children, must shut down or relocate when their leases end Oct. 2. The Irvine Co., which owns the land, has plans to build as many as 1,700 apartments on the site, which is adjacent to the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater —...

Jessica's dad and I scrambled barefoot up the stairs, dribbling water and debating whether to launch ourselves down the Rattlers, or the Sidewinder, this time. Then Mark's eyes widened and he pointed up, forcing me to confront the biggest drag an adult faces in taking children to water parks: Every now and then, you've got to act like an adult.

A tiny Orlando, Fla., family entertainment center plans to add seven attractions over the next few years in a bid to become a small amusement park with a collection of new rides that rivals its better-known neighbors. Any of the new additions - from a pair of roller coasters to a trio of towering thrill rides to a quartet of water park slides - would be the envy of any regional theme park. PHOTOS: New rides coming to Fun Spot Orlando The $20-million investment will expand the Fun Spot Action Park located along Orlando's International Drive corridor from 5 to 15 acres in three stages: The first stage will add a wooden roller coaster, a Screamin' Swing thrill ride and a double-decker carousel by February 2013.

Wild Rivers' endless summer is finally over. The Orange County water park that had been living on borrowed time for the last five seasons is now just a memory. After more than a quarter of a century of water slides and wave pools, Wild Rivers failed to secure another lease extension from the Irvine Co., which owns the land and plans to build apartments on the property. A post on the Theme Park Review fan site features two dozen photos showing the progress of the ongoing demolition work.

While theme parks often add water parks to attract more visitors and encourage longer stays,  Italy's Etnaland water park will introduce a twist on the trend by opening a theme park in 2013. PHOTOS: Etnaland theme park set to open in 2013 Set to debut in March 2013, Etnaland's new theme park will feature 27 attractions including roller coasters, thrill rides, dark rides and water rides. Park World reports that several of the theme park attractions may soft-open in late 2012.

SeaWorld's Aquatica will introduce an innovative hybrid concept to San Diego on June 1 that combines a marine park with a water park, allowing visitors to interact with animals like dolphins, stingrays and flamingos as they zip down water slides. > Photos: SeaWorld San Diego's Aquatica water park SeaWorld San Diego purchased Knott's Soak City in Chula Vista from the parent company of Knott's Berry Farm for $15 million and plans an extensive renovation of the separate-admission water park about 20 miles south of the marine park.

Maybe you've always suspected that there was more to San Diego's North County than beach towns, rolling hills, expat giraffes and a walled kingdom of brightly colored plastic. But frankly, they had me at beach towns. I always figured the rest - even the two marquee attractions, Legoland in Carlsbad and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park near Escondido - was just gravy. Or icing on the cake. Or maybe, given San Diego's love of beer, the chaser after the pint. But now I've spent several days on and off the beaches, and it looks as if you're right: San Diego County's northern reaches, beginning above La Jolla and ending at Camp Pendleton, deserve more attention than they get. So here are 11 micro-itineraries, which are the latest addition to our ongoing Southern California Close-Up series.

Holiday World in Santa Claus, Ind., may be the only place on Earth where you can celebrate Christmas, Thanksgiving, Halloween and the Fourth of July all in a single day. Photos: Top 10 Holiday World rides and attractions The family-owned theme park prides itself on its collection of record-setting rides and an award-winning water park that's included with the price of admission. In 1946, park founder Louis Koch opened Santa Claus Land in this small Indiana town to pay tribute to the town's namesake elf. The self-proclaimed “world's first theme park” featured a train, a toy shop, a few kiddie rides and, of course, daily visits by Santa Claus.

While theme parks often add water parks to attract more visitors and encourage longer stays,  Italy's Etnaland water park will introduce a twist on the trend by opening a theme park in 2013. PHOTOS: Etnaland theme park set to open in 2013 Set to debut in March 2013, Etnaland's new theme park will feature 27 attractions including roller coasters, thrill rides, dark rides and water rides. Park World reports that several of the theme park attractions may soft-open in late 2012.

With President Barack Obama announcing he supports same-sex marriage, the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community has a lot to celebrate at this year's 42nd LA Pride party. The annual outpouring of love and resistance takes the form this year of a Sunday parade and a three-day festival beginning Friday with music on six stages in West Hollywood Park, a water park and about 200 exhibitors including activists, artisans and activities. "Our message for 2012 is '… and proud of it,'" says Rodney Scott, president of nonprofit event organizer Christopher Street West.

The weather forecast for Legoland California this summer calls for a 100% chance of getting 100% soaking wet. PHOTOS: Pirate Reef water ride at Legoland California The new Pirate Reef water attraction opened over Memorial Day weekend at the Carlsbad kiddie park with a pair of life-size Lego pirate ships flanking the splash zone of the classic shoot-the-chutes ride. For its relatively modest size, the 25-foot-tall attraction built by Florida-based Hopkins Amusement Rides generates a surprisingly enormous splash.

I was floating on an inner tube, basking in the sun of a bluebird day in western Ventura County, as my inflatable vessel coasted on a lazy current under a spray of cool mist. On the shore, a tanned lifeguard looked down at me from behind big pink sunglasses. This is what passes for camping at Lake Casitas. Sure, Lake Casitas Recreation Area has campsites -- more than 400, plus a marina and some of the best fishing in the state. But the water park I was enjoying is the big draw here.

Not everything is bigger in Texas. The new Aquatica water park at SeaWorld San Antonio will be one-third the size and cost half as much as the innovative Aquatica water park at SeaWorld Orlando . PHOTOS: Aquatica water park at SeaWorld San Antonio Debuting May 19, the Aquatica park in Texas will feature 18 water slides on 20 acres at a cost of more than $24 million. That's considerably smaller than Florida's $50-million-plus Aquatica which debuted in 2008 with 36 slides on 60 acres as the new high-water mark for water parks.

Imagine inner tubing down a water slide only to realize you've been riding along the back of a hissing 250-foot-long snake and are about to plunge into the gaping mouth of the fang-bearing and venom-spewing King Cobra. The new racing slide debuting in early July at Six Flags Great Adventure's Hurricane Harbor in New Jersey sounds more like a terrifying psychotic nightmare than a fun-filled day at the water park. PHOTOS: King Cobra water slide at Six Flags Great Adventure With King Cobra installations already in place in Turkey and Russia, the new Hurricane Harbor water park attraction marks the United States debut of the snake-themed water slide.

Not everything is bigger in Texas. The new Aquatica water park at SeaWorld San Antonio will be one-third the size and cost half as much as the innovative Aquatica water park at SeaWorld Orlando . PHOTOS: Aquatica water park at SeaWorld San Antonio Debuting May 19, the Aquatica park in Texas will feature 18 water slides on 20 acres at a cost of more than $24 million. That's considerably smaller than Florida's $50-million-plus Aquatica which debuted in 2008 with 36 slides on 60 acres as the new high-water mark for water parks.