Splash pads in Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Prescott Park is Portsmouth's harborfront jewel and a New Hampshire seacoast must on summer weekends. The splash feature sits near the formal gardens, with the Piscataqua River traffic (tugboats, the USS Albacore submarine museum across the river) as your kids' backdrop. Portsmouth Parks runs the spray mid-June through Labor Day, daytime, weather permitting. The Prescott Park Arts Festival runs free shows most summer evenings on the lawn, the Strawbery Banke museum is steps away, and Market Square's restaurants are a five-minute walk. Garage parking on Hanover Street, restrooms throughout the park, stroller-easy paths, and gorgeous October foliage even when the spray closes.