If you're going to the zoo with little ones, Safari Splash is totally worth the extra $5 with zoo…read moreadmission. If you're a zoo member, it's $4 (kids 2 and under are always free).
This little splash pad is great fun if it's not too crowded and you can get a couple chairs. There's plenty of shade around the chairs and tables, and there's a few rentable cabanas as well -- $40 for 2 hours and $15 for each additional hour. Totally worth it to guarantee a shady spot to rest and eat! They say the cabanas hold 10 people but I think that'd be pretty crowded. They look more suited for 6 guests when you consider most people have bags, towels, strollers, and small ice chests to store as well.
The splash pad itself is small, this isn't a huge water park. Seems best for little kids, like 10 and under. Most kids we saw were probably under 7. Lots of little toddlers! The bigger kids spend most of their time up in the main playground and on the bigger slides, leaving the outskirts of the pad to the little ones. There's a few toddler stations and itty bitty slides, perfect for babies with some supervision. Just be on alert, there's always a big kid or 3 that'll come barreling through at any moment.
There are no pools here, no lazy river. It's all splash pad! 14,000 square feet; a "water play area equipped with four slides, a water dump tower, a fill wall for your water toys, animal-shaped water cannons, and a designated toddler play area." There's also concessions; sandwiches, chips, drinks. And a little stand that has anything you might have left at home: swimsuits, towels, goggles, sunscreen, swim diapers...
We had the best time here. We were lucky enough to visit when it wasn't packed. Even though it's brutally hot out, we stayed cool in the shade after being splashed. We're zoo members so we'll definitely be back.