Best Day Trip – Wet

Schlitterbahn

Back in the day, the ol' Florida Citrus Commission had a saying: "A day without orange juice is like a day without sunshine!" We'd like to offer this Lone Star revision for 2004: "A summer without Schlitterbahn is like a summer in Hell!" The Texas summer – even one as mild and perfect as 2004's – is just unthinkable without watery respite. And whether slippery slides of screaming speed are your thing, or you prefer calmly coasting the cool current, Schlitterbahn – home of the nation's No. 1 water-ride innovator – is Central Texas' wettest destination. Cozily and compatibly parked along the banks of the Comal River in charming New Braunfels, less than an hour south of Austin (plus a South Padre location open since 2001 and a Galveston park opening soon), Schlitterbahn is not only Texas' theme park, she's nature's theme park as well.

Schlitterbahn
381 E. Austin St., New Braunfels, 830/625-2351
33261 State Park Road 100, South Padre Island, 956/772-7873
2026 Lockheed, Galveston, 409/770-9283
14353 S. Padre Island Dr., Corpus Christi
www.schlitterbahn.com