All You Need to Know: Sandspit and Shining Waters Family Fun Park, PEI Disclosure: Our family received a family pass for both Sandspit and Shining Waters Family Fun Park in Cavendish in exchange for this blog post. It was our goal to research the best tips for visiting these locations with your family. This is […]
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Everything you need to know: Off the Wallz Splash Park PEI Disclosure: Our family received a pass to try out the new Off the Wallz Splash Park in Summerside in exchange for this blog post. All opinions are our own. “It’s a Spiderman training area!” “It was really fun! Once I completed something, I felt […]
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All You Need to Know: Sandspit and Shining Waters Family Fun Park, PEI Disclosure: Our family received a family pass for both Sandspit and Shining Waters Family Fun Park in Cavendish in exchange for this blog post. It was our goal to research the best tips for visiting these locations with your family. This is […]
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Everything you need to know: Off the Wallz Splash Park PEI Disclosure: Our family received a pass to try out the new Off the Wallz Splash Park in Summerside in exchange for this blog post. All opinions are our own. “It’s a Spiderman training area!” “It was really fun! Once I completed something, I felt […]
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All You Need to Know: Sandspit and Shining Waters Family Fun Park, PEI
Disclosure: Our family received a family pass for both Sandspit and Shining Waters Family Fun Park in Cavendish in exchange for this blog post. It was our goal to research the best tips for visiting these locations with your family. This is the result of our quest. All opinions are our own or those we interviewed.
It was on our son’s top list of things to do this summer – go to PEI’s Sandspit and Shining Waters Family Fun Park. We decided at the last minute to make it happen, so it was a bit tricky finding a place to stay.
Our first tip is to book early if you are coming for a summer-time adventure in PEI!
Maritime Fun owns both attractions (as well as Magic Mountain in New Brunswick). We have included these two great parks together in one post with a tip section for each park, and a section for both.
For a great overview of both, check out Daniel’s newest YouTube Video!
Sandspit
This was our first time to go to Sandspit. The way the boys described it was
Sandspit is like a traveling fair but permanent and better.
Sandspit has lots of activities for all ages, making it fun for the whole family.
It is a small park, which means parents can stand just about anywhere and watch the kids, or easily pick a meeting point for older kids to go off on their own for a bit. It’s manageable and not overwhelming.
We had so much fun going on the rides together, and I have to say, there is nothing better for family therapy than bumper cars and bumper boats!
1. Arrive first thing in the morning: The park opened at 10am when we were there, and we were right there at the door. It is less hot in the morning, and fewer people were in the park. This meant the line ups were much shorter. The most we had to wait for a ride was about 5 minutes.
2. Head for the roller coaster first: As it is a popular ride, the line ups can get longer throughout the day. If you start your day at the roller coaster, the line ups are shorter.
3. Go and come back: Because you get an all-day bracelet, it allows you to come and go as you please. We left the park after about 2.5 hours when it started to get really hot. Then, we went to the beach and came back after supper.
4. Return in the evening: In August, the nights are dark again, and so we came back to Sandspit when it was dark for another hour of rides. It was so beautiful to be there in the evening with all the rides lit up!
5. Sunblock! There is little shade, especially if you are in line for the rides, so don’t forget to reapply!
We were last at Shining Waters about 5 years ago when the boys were quite small and couldn’t go on all the rides. Since we have been, there are new additions, including a roller coaster and submarine ride we used to enjoy at Crystal Palace.
I also love Shining Waters because many of the pieces came from Rainbow Valley, one of our favourite places to visit in Cavendish when we were kids. Oh, the memories!
There are many activities for kids of all ages at Shining Waters. We spent about 2 hours in the main park before heading to the water park.
There is a lot to enjoy in the water park from roller coasters to the witches’ cave, swinging bridges, a petting farm and the topsy turvy house!
Children under 8 would get the most enjoyment out of the main park, while the water park is a great place for older kids (and younger, too!) to hang out.
1. Head straight for the water park: The water park is busiest during the peak of the day. If you head to the water park between 10 -12 or 4 – 6 when the line ups are shorter.
2. Go for single tubes: There are two waterslides that require tubes and you can either use a single one or a double tube. The line up to get the double tubes is much longer, so go for the single tubes when you can.
3. Cannon Bowl Slide: The boys discovered that this ride was a lot more fun when they went on a double tube down the ride because they had the extra weight to go faster.
4. Life jackets: kids who can’t swim need to wear life jackets in the pool (which they supply several of) and puddle jumpers/arm floaties are not allowed.
5. Lockers are available in the waterpark section of the park on a pay per use basis. The cost per use is $1. 6. Stake out a deck chair and leave your towels there. 7. Bring extra towels as ours quickly become soaked.
1. Pack a picnic lunch. There are a few places to get food on site, but it’s a lot cheaper and healthier to pack your own lunch. We left our lunch in the car and went back to get it at lunch time. There are lots of tables near the parking lot.
Dogs are allowed at Sandspit. At Shining Waters, you can take your dog in the “community park ” area before the ticket booth. Otherwise, pets are not permitted in the park. Four kennels are available to rent at the front entrance on a first come, first serve basis, for a $10 refundable deposit and can be arranged through the front entrance booth.
Tickets
Tickets are available online through Maritime Fun or at the gate. CAA members receive a discount. If you’re going with a family for any amount of time it is worth it to buy the family weekly pass called the a special package called the Slide & Ride XL.
It allows you unlimited admittance to all amusements: Sandspit, Shining Waters, Ripleys Believe it or Not and the others owned by the Maritime Fun Group. The weekly pass for a family of four was $385 for a week taxes in unlimited visits (STC).
Ticket prices drop after 4pm!
If you are looking for a great way to spend a fun day with your family, head to Shining Waters Family Fun Park and Sandspit in Cavendish, PEI!
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Everything you need to know: Off the Wallz Splash Park PEI
Disclosure: Our family received a pass to try out the new Off the Wallz Splash Park in Summerside in exchange for this blog post. All opinions are our own.
“It’s a Spiderman training area!” “It was really fun! Once I completed something, I felt proud of myself for doing it!” “This is what I’m most looking forward to in PEI!”
When I saw pictures on Facebook of this new water park in Summerside, I knew we had to check it out!
Come together with family and friends where you can run, swim, climb, jump and slide your way through an inflatable structure and have a whole lot of fun!
In our words… it’s like an inflatable bouncy castle meet obstacle course in the water!
Watch Daniel’s latest YouTube Video to see of yourself!
Top Tips for Off the Wallz Splash Park
1. Sign the waivers ahead of time online. This will save you a lot of time in the lineup.
2. Arrive earlier than your allotted time. The time you sign up for is the time you are on the water. However, you still need to pay, sign waivers (see #1) and get your life jackets on. This eats up your time, so arrive early and be ready to hit the water at your allotted time.
3. Wear water shoes! I knew this, but we forgot to pack them. They will help you grip on the slippery plastic much better than your bare feet.
4. Bring a waterproof camera. You will need both hands free, but you are allowed to bring a camera at your own risk. I tied the strap to my bathing suit so we could get some action shots.
5. Bring a change of clothes. There are changing rooms and porta-potties on site.
6. Just go for it. Everyone is in the same boat (literally) and there is no graceful or elegant way to complete the course. You will look like a beached whale. You will fall off. You will need help getting back on. You are no different than anyone else.
7. Know your limitations. You will fall in the water off the structures, but don’t worry because the water is warm and you will be wearing a life jacket. However, you will need to get yourself back onto the structure. There are lifeguards stationed everywhere to help you back up, but there are no ladders or footholds.
My husband and I found that at our age and health, we no longer had the upper body strength required to pull ourselves back up. I’m not sure that I ever would have been strong enough. So, after a few attempts, he and I jumped ship and had a fabulous time watching the boys from the stands, and cheering everyone else on.
What you Will Learn
By watching, it was obvious to see how much participants learned from the experience.
Problem Solving: You have to plan out a route of how you will get around the structure. What is the best way to go? How will you make it? What is your strategy for getting there? Team work: There was an incredible sense of team work on the structure. Not only were the lifeguards helping participants up, but people were helping each other up, whether they knew them or not. Strangers of all ages worked together to complete obstacles, problem solving together. It was really touching to watch.
Sense of Accomplishment: The course is not easy, and there are some parts that are really challenging. On one section, we watched our son, determined to get across, attempt no less than 10 times without giving up. When he finally did, he was so proud of himself, and just beamed. I’m sure I would have given up and cried much sooner. In fact, I did give up, so I am extra proud of them for working so hard for an hour on the course. They definitely came out stronger and more confident than before.
Hours and Cost
The Wallz Splash Park is open 7 days a week from 10:00 am to 8:00 pm for online bookings and walk-ins.
Admission prices are $20 per person (HST included) which includes the rental of a life jacket. Every participant is required to wear a life jacket while in the park (bringing your own life jacket is acceptable). Participants must be over 48″ tall. There is also a 250 lb weight restriction. (subject to change)
Off The Wallz Splash Park Holman’s Wharf on Heather Moyse Drive, Summerside, PEI
Overall
Off the Wallz is an incredibly fun and challenging place for an adventure, especially on a hot day. Challenge yourself, but also know your limitations, and if you would make a better photographer and cheering squad than a participant!
If you are looking for a great thing to do with older kids and teens and adventure-seeking adults, this is a MUST hit place to visit on your next trip to PEI.
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