Take the kids: Affordable water park opens in Kinston

The new Lions Water Adventure Park in Kinston opened in May and is offering families an affordable way to cool off in this summer heat.

The water park is just over an hour's drive from Raleigh and is located beside the Kinston Community Center on West Vernon Avenue.

Lions Adventure Water Park is a scaled-down version of Wet 'n Wild Emerald Pointe in Greensboro, but I highly recommend it. This water park only offers a few attractions, but kids and adults will have a blast on the three water slides and a lazy river the length of a football field.

Although this water park has far fewer attractions than Emerald Pointe, the price is sweet for families on a budget. Tickets are super affordable – just $10 on weekdays and $15 on Fridays and weekends. Children 2 and under are free. Single-day passes to Emerald Pointe start at $39.99

Small kids will enjoy the splash pad and kiddie pool with tiny slides and other splashy water attractions at Lions Water Adventure. There's also a lap pool dedicated for swimmers.

The water slides are all three stories tall, and two are tunnel slides. One is a complete tunnel, and the other opens in the mouth of "Swimba," the lion mascot of the water park. Both were very fast and not for the lighthearted!

My favorite water slide was the open-air zebra slide, which requires you to use an inner tube. This slide is also very fast but exciting – and you're never in the dark. Kids must be 48 inches tall to ride the slides.

Many adults will enjoy the lazy river, which is actually very relaxing, with lifeguards stationed along the loop to keep people in their floats and discourage splashing and noise. Anyone in the lazy river must be in an inner tube the whole time. There are some mischievous monkeys and some opportunities to get splashed along the way, but I found it super refreshing!

We used a GoPro in the lazy river. Ride along here!

The lifeguards were all very friendly and ready to help people get in and out of the tubes. They will even steer your tube to the exit and hold it steady when you're ready to get off.

Hours

The water park opens at 11 a.m. Monday through Saturday and 12 p.m. on Sunday. On Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays early admission is available at 10 a.m., but tickets must be purchased online in advance.

Lions Water Adventure closes at 5 p.m. daily.

Things to know

• The bathrooms are small, cramped and typical water park bathrooms -- not ideal for changing clothes. If you can, arrive in your swimsuit and dry off before you leave so you don't have to spend a lot of time in there.
• I strongly recommend buying tickets online in advance. This way you can skip the long ticket line and head straight to the entrance.
• Small lockers are available, but you have to bring your own padlock or buy one for $7 on-site. There is no cost to rent a locker.
• Since the lockers are small, pack lightly. A swimsuit, sunscreen and sunglasses are a must!
• If your kids go in the lazy river, they must be in an inner tube. The lifeguards don't allow any rowdy play or swimming in the river.
• If there is a long line for the water slides, make sure you're in the right line for your slide. People who want to use the zebra (open air) slide can bypass people without inner tubes waiting for the tunnel slides.
• No outdoor food or drink is allowed in the park.
• There are several shaded picnic areas and a concessions stand selling hotdogs, hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, grilled cheese, nachos and ice cream. The menu is not expensive, with most items under $6.
• Water, Gatorade and sodas are available for purchase.