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Macaroni Kid's Stay Cool Guide in the Treasure Valley

By Angela Flowers ~ Publisher Nampa/Boise Macaroni Kid June 23, 2016
Summer is almost here and with the temperatures rising and the kids now on Summer break, finding ways to keep them entertained while staying cool is a must. Here is a list of local pools, splash pads/parks, lakes and some indoor play places to keep cool while still having lots of family fun.

Outdoor and Indoor Pools, Splash Pads and More!

~Splash Parks/Pads~


Settlers Park
3245 N Meridian Rd, Meridian
Free-Open 11am-8pm

Julius M. Kleiner Park
1900 N Records Ave, Meridian
Free-11am-8pm

Ann Morrison Park Fountain
1000 N Americana Blvd, Boise
Free

Boise Center on the Grove Fountain
850 W Front St, Boise
Free

~Water Parks~

Roaring Springs Water Park
400 W Overland Road, Meridian
Click HERE for park hours, admission hours, and park amenities and specials
Roaring Springs is the Northwest's largest waterpark, featuring family raft rides, a wavepool, float river, racing slide, kiddie play area & more!

~Parks and Ponds~

Quinn's Pond
3150 W Pleasanton Ave, Boise
Swimming, fishing and a beach to relax on. Kayaks/Canoes are allowed

Boise River Park
Idaho's first Urban Whitewater Park
Located between the Fairview Ave. and Veteran's Memorial Parkway Bridge on the Boise River off of N. Whitewater Park Blvd.

~State Parks and Lakes~

Lake Lowell
Upper Dam Park - 12880 Iowa Ave, Nampa
Features a 20 acre park with picnic tables, BBQ grills, water fountain, disc golf course, story trail, swimming and fishing areas. Restrooms. Free public use
Lower Dam Recreation Area - Riverside Drive, Caldwell
Swimming, boating, fishing, hiking, picnic areas, BBQ grills, restrooms
Free public use

Lucky Peak State Park
74 Arrow Rock Rd, Boise
10 minute drive from Boise
Swimming, fishing, boating, picnicking, biking
Sandy Point has a large sandy beach area, water toys and Volleyball area
State Park entrance fee $5 per vehicle
Free entrance with the Idaho State Parks Passport

Eagle Island State Park
4000 W Hatchery Rd, Eagle
Features a swimming beach, waterslide, grassy picnic area, Disc Golf, and more than five miles of trail for horseback riding, hiking or walking a dog.
State Park entrance fee $5 per vehicle
Free entrance with the Idaho State Parks Passport

~Outdoor Swimming Pools~

Caldwell Municipal Pool
512 Harrison, Caldwell
Click HERE for pool hours & admission prices
Pool attractions include 3’ and 12’ slides as well as two diving boards. Our pool varies in depth from 2’ for toddlers to 12’ in our diving area. 

Nampa Lakeview WaterPark
1304 7th St N, Nampa
Located inside Lakeview Park
Click HERE for pool hours & admission prices
Patio with umbrellas for shade and chairs, Pool beach entry, spraying water toys and a two story slide. Secured item check-in, full changing rooms, showers, and restrooms.

Lincoln Pool
508 Davis Ave, Nampa
Located in Lions Park
Click HERE for pool hours & admission prices
Families, kids and teens will have fun playing through the spouting, spraying and shooting on-deck water toys, jumping off the diving board or diving into the deep end. A separate 1 to 1 ½ foot deep kids’ pool is the perfect place for toddles to enjoy the hot summer days.  Secured item check-in, full changing rooms, showers, and restrooms.

Meridian City Pool at Storey Park
213 E Franklin Rd, Meridian
Click HERE for pool hours & admission prices
High Dive (3 meters), Low Dive (1 meter)
Kiddie Pool: Shaped like Mickey Mouse, 6 fountains and 3 Funbrellas. Lots of shade
720 Degree Vortex Slide (enclosed water slide)& a 10 foot Tube Slide
Two Basketball Hoops
5 Funbrellas and Canopies: Free admission if you aren't swimming
Lounge Chairs: 25 lounge chairs are provided for optimal sun bathing and relaxation. We also have benches, picnic tables and chairs for plenty of seating!
Free Lockers/Bags, Noodles/Goggles: Rent one of our colorful noodles for $.50 or purchase a pair of goggles for only $4.

IvyWild Pool
2250 S Leadville Ave, Boise
The larger/main pool has large pretzel slide and two drop-off slides for swimmers only. The pool has a zero-depth entry with curved shapes. The wading pool has a zero-depth entry with curved shapes and numerous play amenities. The wading pool is designed for non-swimming youth ages 6 years and under.

Borah Pool
801 S Aurora Dr, Boise
Click HERE for pool hours & admission rates
"L" shaped with 25 yard length and 6 lanes in long section. 4100 square feet surface area, 220,000 water gallons. Deep end 12 feet deep, has two one-meter diving boards. Shallow area has step in entry and slide for ages 5 and younger. Separate sprayground facility on NE side of pool deck.

Fairmont Pool
7928 W Northview St, Boise
Click HERE for pool hours & admission rates
"L" shaped with 25 yard length and 6 lanes in long section. 4845 square feet surface area, 188,500 water gallons. Fairmont pool offers an inflatable obstacle course.  It will be available during open swim on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 1:30pm-5:30pm, Fridays from 7pm-9pm, and all day on Sundays. Swim test will be required to participate.  There will still be areas of the pool available for those who do not wish to play on the inflatable.  

Lowell Pool
1601 N 28th St, Boise
Click HERE for pool hours & admission rates
Oval shaped, with 30 yard length at longest diameter. 3100 square feet surface area, 168,000 gallons of water Very limited deck space. Deep end 12 feet deep, with one one-meter diving board.

Natatorium Pool and Hydrotube
1811 E Warm Springs Ave, Boise
Click HERE for pool hours and admission rates
Rectangular shaped, 40 yards by 20 yards main pool. 7200 square feet surface area & 240,000 water gallons in main pool. Separate wading pool for children 6 years and under. Deep end 12 feet deep, with two one-meter diving boards. Hydrotube & separate splashdown pool. Hydrotube has a separate admission price.

South Pool
921 S Shoshone St, Boise
Click HERE for pool hours & admission rates
Oval shaped, with 30 yard length at longest diameter. 3100 square feet surface area, 168,000 water gallons. Very limited deck space. Deep end 12 feet deep, with one one-meter diving board.

~Indoor Swimming Pools~

Nampa Recreation Center Aquatics Center
131 Constitution Way, Nampa
Click HERE for pool hours & admission prices
Five indoor swimming pools with different features to offer great options for every swimmer. Lap pool, diving well, hydro pool, recreation pool, kids pool, spa, sauna & steam room. Water fountain, water slide, diving board, Tarzan rope, diving well and water tubes.

West Family YMCA and Boise Aquatics Center
5959 N Discovery Place, Boise
Click HERE for pool hours and admission prices
50-meter swimming pool with water slide, Training pool, Children’s pool with slides and water toys,
Hydrotherapy pool

Treasure Valley Family Caldwell YMCA
3720 S Indiana Ave, Caldwell
Click HERE for pool hours & admission prices
Recreational pool, 25-yard, six-lane lap pool, Drop slide and diving board, “Lazy river” connecting to recreational pool, Children’s pool with water toys, pretzel slide, and splash pad, Dry sauna, steam room, and Jacuzzi

Downtown YMCA Aquatics Center
1050 W State St, Boise
Click HERE for pool hours & admission prices
3 swimming pools, Heated spa pool (104 degrees, must be 15 or older or accompanied by guardian, ages 5 and under not allowed)
25-yard, 6-lane lap pool (heated at 80-82 degrees),
Recreational pool (heated at 87-89 degrees) with two slides, a “pretzel” and drop slide, and 3 lap lanes
Children’s pool for kids 6 and under (1-1.5 feet deep with a dragon-shaped slide and tumbling buckets of water)Swimming Lessons, Swim Team, and more for youth, Swimming Lessons, Aquatics Group Exercise, and more for adults

~Indoor learning and places to play, stay cool and have fun~

Big Al's Meridian
Bodies in Motion
Chuck. E Cheese's
Dart Warz Meridian
Dave & Busters
Fast Lane Indoor Kart Racing
Fred Meyer Playland
Fort Boise Open Gym
Gem State Gymnastics
Jabbers Play Date
Jump Time Boise & Meridian
Idaho IceWorld
Little Gym of Eagle/Meridian
Nampa Roller Drome
Neighborhood Open Gyms
Planet Kid at Wings Center
Play Areas - Fast Food Restaurants and Boise Towne Square Mall
Pojos Family Fun Center
Wahooz Fun Zone
Libraries - Meridian, Star, Kuna, Boise, Nampa, Caldwell
Deer Flat National Wildlife Refuge
Discovery Center
MK Nature Center - Idaho Fish and Game
World Center for Birds of Prey