Splash pads in Hampton, New Hampshire

Hampton Beach is the New Hampshire seacoast classic and the sprayground at the state park is the best free hot-day cool-down on the entire 18-mile coastline. The pad sits steps from the boardwalk, the Atlantic, the arcades, and the legendary fried-dough stands. NH State Parks runs the sprayground mid-June through Labor Day, daytime, weather permitting. Beach parking is the gotcha ($1.50/hr meters, fills fast on summer weekends). Restrooms at the bathhouse, free band-shell concerts most summer evenings, and the fireworks every Wednesday night in summer are the legally required big-kid bonus. Bring water shoes for the rocky tide pools.