7 water attractions in Alabama

Those high summer temps getting to you? Don’t sweat it. From American Ninja Warrior–style water courses to man-made rapids to surfboards that practically fly, there are plenty of hot new ways to cool off across the state. So pack the sunblock and a few towels and check out 7 top water attractions in Alabama. 

There’s nothing lazy about Montgomery’s newest river. A water park like no other opens its floodgates July 7, bringing the Appalachian wilds into city confines and giving kayakers, rafters, and stand-up paddleboarders the chance to shoot Class II–IV rapids a mile from downtown. The 2 man-made, pump-fed channels at Montgomery Whitewater cater to all skill levels. There’s a family-friendly course and an Olympic-style, competition-level course on the recirculating river. Rates start at $25.

In the coming months, adventurers will find even more challenges throughout the 120-acre park, including mountain biking, a rock wall, and zip-line courses. The much-anticipated outdoor venue offers slower-paced fun, too. Guests can grab a meal at the full-service restaurant overlooking the water or watch a show at the outdoor amphitheater. And, of course, flat-water paddling is available steps away on the Alabama River (pumps not included).

Ditch white water for the neon kind. Along the southern coast, the new Sea View Tours offers night paddlers a light show in clear-bottom kayaks. Owner Zion Bethel and his crew lead family-friendly “Crab Grab” tours after nightfall in the protected waters surrounding Orange Beach’s Caribe Marina. Light-up kayaks cast pools of glowing color around each two-seater craft, illuminating the white-sand seabed below.

During the hour-long trips, paddlers disembark at nearby Bird Island. “We look for birds and different types of wildlife,” Bethel says. Some critters, like the tour’s namesake crabs, might even grab back. “We only use our hands to touch them. It’s a lot of fun.” Sunset tours are also available. $80 per person.

Check out favorites such as a 4,600-square-foot water maze, scream-worthy slides like Upsurge and Twister, and entertainment all summer long. (Pro tip: Don’t miss the 5 p.m. dive show. Performers light themselves ablaze before jumping from heights of up to 80 feet.) The free sunscreen and fountain drinks are pretty nice, too. 

Or catch a breeze on the latest family roller coaster, Cheddar Chase, on the double whammy water-and-amusement-park’s dry side. “We’re focused on families and making sure people get a good value when they come to the park,” says Alex Ramsey, marketing manager for the park. Adults and children taller than 4-foot-4, $45; children under 2, free.

The hottest new sport on the water, hydrofoil surfing looks an awful lot like regular surfing, until riders pick up serious speed. “When you lean back and the board lifts off the water, everything goes silent and it’s the smoothest feeling I’ve ever experienced on the water,” says Gavin Rudolph of Orange Beach–based Foil Gulf Coast. “All the noise just disappears.” 

Thanks to an electric motor and an airplane wing–shaped fin, hydrofoil surfboards can zip along half a meter above the sea surface. Foil Gulf Coast teaches newbies how to ride these boards anywhere between Louisiana and Pensacola.

After 30 minutes of on-land instruction, students take to the water for 90-minute sessions with Rudolph or one of his parents. (All 3 are experienced instructors.) Expect to get a little wet along the way, he says. “If you’re inclined to do other water sports, if you’re willing to play in the waves, then this is for you. It’s a ton of fun.” 2-hour session with lesson, $275.

The waterways around Wetumpka may be the state’s most enjoyable ones to play on. Avid paddlers flock to the roiling water of the Moccasin Gap rapids. Anglers certainly know the joys of kayak fishing for Alabama spotted bass, bream, and crappie along the Coosa River. But relatively few have spent a night on the water. 

Coosa River Adventures offers day trips on 7 miles of its namesake river, and more adventurous paddlers can book multi-day voyages on the Tallapoosa. Bird-watching, fishing opportunities, and abundant wildlife await along the 51-mile stretch. Kayak rentals start at $34; multi-day trips start at $100 (not including food, drinks, or camping gear).

But wait, there’s more in store. Within the beach-like chill space, Coastal Curl gives guests the chance to bodyboard and more in the new surf simulator. A retractable glass roof at Tropic Falls means it’s splash time, come rain or shine. Admission starts at $63.

First the Palomino RV Resort in Cullman opened with campsites. Then came Insta-chic glamping tents. In 2021, the minds behind the family-friendly accommodation unveiled their latest: the Slippery Summit. 

At Alabama’s largest inflatable aqua park, guests can bounce along walkways, climb blow-up mountains, and speed through American Ninja Warrior–esque stumbling blocks. And should a few racers slip into the cool water? Even better. The sprawling combo of slides, towers, and launchpads may be reminiscent of popular obstacle-course television competitions, but this one is open to both park guests and the public. One-hour sessions, $15.

Travel pro and tour host Jessica Fender makes a splash in the South and beyond at travelerbroads.com.