There’s nothing better than a relaxing lazy river where you can flop down on an inner tube and dissolve your worries as you float through a tropical paradise of lush greenery. Every now and then, we could all use a break like this.
You can simply drift away from other people and find yourself relaxed, carefree, and peaceful in your own world. Add some poolside drinks and water slides to keep the kids occupied, and you’ve got the ideal recipe for a summertime getaway.
Offering much-needed comfort in the warmer months, these top-rated hotels and resorts take pampering to the next level with their over-the-top pools. So from romantic retreats to family-friendly vacations, here are the top 5 resorts with lazy rivers in the US.
Why settle for just one lazy river when you can have a few? You’ll float past a water coaster, waterslides, and water-based games on the twisty Rio Rapids Action River at the Chula Vista Resort’s Lost Rios Indoor Water Park in Wisconsin Dells.
It has gentle rapids and incredible waterfalls. And it’s a fantastic way to escape the weather outside if you live in a colder region of our country.
There’s also an outdoor waterpark for summers, and it has a second lazy river that’s only six inches deep, designed explicitly for children.
For an incredible place to stay, Chula Vista’s Bennett building has rooms inspired by and featuring the work of historical photographer H.H. Bennett, complete with beautiful landscaping and fire pits outdoors.
Some guests will even get river views in The Pines, which houses budget lodging and family suites.
Anyone who’s been to Sin City knows all about how easy it is to get caught up in the bright lights and forgetting what day it is. But Las Vegas has much more to offer. Trust us. It’s worth stepping outside the MGM Grand to relax out by the hotel’s 6-acre pool complex.
Besides the beautiful crystal-clear pools, four to be exact, there are also three hot tubs and an amazing quarter-mile-long lazy river.
And even though you won’t find much around the lazy river to shade you from the notorious Vegas sun, there are pool chairs with umbrellas spread throughout the complex, or you can rent a daybed or cabana for the day.
If you want to stay for the week, you’ll find room rates at about $125 a night.
Pack your bags, leave the Mickey ears at home, and jump into an inner tube to take a ride down the 850ft lazy river at the Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate.
This is one of the highest-rated hotels in the Sunshine State, and it’s got a lazy river where you can go back in time and feel like a kid again as you flow past shooting water cannons, tunnels, and waterfalls. But this place has something for everyone.
If you’re done relaxing, you can check out the 36-hole championship Orlando golf. Here you’ll find stylish guestrooms in addition to a family pool, water tower, 125ft corkscrew water slide, and wave pool.
With the Gulf of Mexico on one side and Cotton Bayou waterway on the other, you’d think visitors would prefer to swim outside of the hotel. But many guests are drawn to this magnificent resort’s stunning swimming pools.
The main outdoor pool has a waterfall with a kiddie pool nearby for those traveling with children. The indoor pools include underwater speakers, two hot tubs, and a sauna. But the main draw, the lazy river, runs its course outside, on the fourth-floor level in the west tower.
At specific points, only a fraction of concrete divides the channels of this lazy river. So you can high-five your loved ones as you pass them!
Like an oasis in the desert, the Adventure Water Park at Westin Kierland Resort and Spa will satisfy your thirst for fun and relaxation in the sun. Guests receive access to two pools, a FlowRider surf simulator, a 110ft long waterslide, and a whopping 900ft long lazy river.
And the best way to experience it is on your very own private island! The Tommy Bahama Relaxation Reef is located on a secluded cove within the lazy river and is created for groups of up to 12 people.
This island cove comes decked out with lawn chairs, a dining table, a daybed, an umbrella, and your very own tubes, specially for your group. There’s also a more extensive private area for groups of up to 20 individuals.
However, this kind of luxury comes at an extra cost. But we say it’s doable on a budget if you split it with a group of friends. Cabana rentals are also available at this relaxing resort.
…Pack your bags, and don’t forget your swimsuit because we saved the best for last!
This tropical paradise actually has a few fantastic hotels with lazy rivers. But one of the best is Atlantis Paradise Island. This mega-resort takes up a huge piece of Paradise Island, and it’s just off the coast of Nassau. Visitors can get to the island by a beautiful ferry ride.
And once there, you won’t ever want to leave this place. The grand resort has 11 different pools you can choose from. Among them, you’ve got the Grotto Pool, the Baths Colonnade Pool, and the Mayan Temple Pool.
But the best area to cool off at this resort has to be the lazy river, which is almost 2000 feet long. You can spend the afternoon twisting along on rubber tubes, relaxing, and enjoying the scenery.
There’s a current that’s strong enough to keep your tube drifting down the river but gentle enough that you’ll barely even notice it.
Last but definitely not least, this one may just be one of America’s most favored lazy rivers. It never gets too crowded, it’s got plenty of innertubes for you to enjoy, and the scenery continuously changes along the river.
Lay back and soak up the sun while looking at the stunning scenery of the resort itself, floating under local fauna, or gliding by the rows of private cabanas.
This lazy river will also pass directly by the poolside bar if you want to stop for refreshments for the rest of your trip around the pool area.
After you’re done enjoying the lazy river, you can try your luck in the on-site casino or check out the spa for a relaxing Dirty South Salt Scrub and a mud mask.
The kiddos in your family can also go to the arcade to play some games without the threat of emptying your wallet…Because that’s you’re job! The hotel has a shopping mall, complete with souvenirs, home goods, apparel, accessories, flowers, and even a pro shop!
We hope you enjoyed reading about all of these relaxing hotels that have lazy rivers. Be sure to let us know which of them was your favorite.
And if you liked this article, we also recommend reading: Europe: 5 Stunning Low-Cost Vacations You Can Take TODAY
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