Island Kingdom, Denver

Island Kingdom sits right next to Elitch Gardens theme park in downtown Denver, giving you the unique experience of hearing roller coaster screams while you're floating down a lazy river. The combo ticket deal makes this one of the better values in Colorado - you can literally walk between the theme park and water park all day. The water park itself is compact but well-designed, with a solid mix of slides that range from family-friendly tube slides to a couple steeper body slides that'll get your heart pumping.

The wave pool is the centerpiece here, and it gets busy fast on hot summer days. I'd recommend hitting the slides first thing in the morning before the crowds build up. The kids area has smaller slides and water features that work well for younger families, though teenagers might find the overall selection a bit limited compared to some of the bigger Colorado water parks.

What really sets Island Kingdom apart is that downtown Denver location - you can see the city skyline from the top of the slides, which is pretty cool. The food options are standard theme park fare, so consider eating before you come or be prepared to pay theme park prices. Parking can be a nightmare during peak season since you're sharing the lot with Elitch Gardens visitors, so arrive early or be prepared to walk several blocks.

The facility shows its age in some areas, but they keep it clean and the staff is generally helpful. If you're planning to do both parks, definitely get the combo ticket and plan for a full day. Pro tip: the water park tends to empty out in late afternoon when people head over to ride the roller coasters, so that's prime time for shorter slide lines.