The Red Bay Water Park is one great option for cooling down this summer in North Alabama.

The Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association has released some ways North Alabama residents can beat the heat this summer, all while having a great time.

On their list is a Franklin County attraction that has helped cool down hundreds already this summer – the Red Bay Water Park.

Other options for water-based fun offered by the AMLA include: Point Mallard Park in Decatur, Spring Valley Beach in Blountsville, and Guin Waterpark in Guin.

Also, Delano Park in Decatur, Earlyworks in Huntsville, and Spring Park in Tuscumbia have splash pads where the kids (or adults) can splash around; the Huntsville Botanical Garden has Pollywog Bog for the little kids to take a dip; and DeSoto State Park and Rickwood Caverns State Park have public pools that are open all summer long.

But if getting wet isn’t in the plans, venture deep underground where it’s typically 60 degrees even on the hottest day. Cathedral Caverns in Grant, Rickwood Caverns in Warrior, and Sequoyah Caverns in Valley Head provide a cool excursion to check out all sorts of rock formations.

If the indoors is ideal, check out Earlyworks Museum, Sci-Quest, or the U.S. Space & Rocket Center in Huntsville. Each attraction has many interesting exhibits and activities to stimulate the mind while keeping cool.

And finally, ice-skating is typically thought of as a winter activity, but the Point Mallard Ice Complex is open year-round for ice-skating. Now that’s the way to beat the heat – with ice!

About Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association (AMLA)

AMLA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the promotion and development of the travel industry within the 16 northernmost counties of the state. It is supported by 500-plus members consisting of chambers of commerce, Convention & Visitors Bureaus, attractions, campgrounds, festivals, communities, counties, golf courses, restaurants, tour operators, accommodations, vendors, financial institutions, and individuals. Counties included within the AMLA region are Blount, Cherokee, Colbert, Cullman, DeKalb, Etowah, Franklin, Jackson, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Limestone, Madison, Marion, Marshall, Morgan, and Winston.

Additional information on North Alabama destinations, accommodations and special events is available from the AMLA by calling 800.648.5381 or by visiting their web site at www.NorthAlabama.org.