Geyser Falls with a Toddler: Cooper’s First Splash Pad Adventure

A toddler, a splash pad, and a whole lot of sunscreen

We kicked off Cooper’s very first trip to Geyser Falls with a pit stop to claim a shady spot under an umbrella in the sand. While I slathered us up with sunscreen and got my bearings, Coop wasted no time getting to work with his sand toys like a beachside construction boss.

Our first water adventure was the newer splash pad—added sometime in the past two years—and it was an immediate hit. I’d give it a solid 9/10, but Cooper? He’d probably say 11/10 if he had a toy truck to push around. He loved waddling from feature to feature, semi-sprinting in that signature toddler hustle, exploring all the little fountains, sprayers, and splashy surprises.

Honestly, he could’ve stayed there all day, but his aunt and uncle (ages 10 and 7) were ready to move on to the lazy river. So his grandmother came to the rescue with his float—well, more like his Coast Guard-approved infant life vest, because I didn’t think he’d go for the tube kind. Verdict? Not impressed. The vest did keep him afloat (a win), but mostly on his back like a baby sea otter, which is not his vibe. One loop around the lazy river was enough before he made it clear he was done.

Next stop: the Creaky Leaky so the big kids could hit the slides while Coop watched, wide-eyed and completely starstruck by the chaos of splashing kids and the massive bucket that dumps water every few minutes. Picture this: a 15-month-old toddling forward with excitement and then skittering back, grinning like a possum every time the water came crashing down. Slightly terrified, completely delighted.

We grabbed lunch after that—fried chicken bites, curly fries, and what I can only describe as lemonade’s disappointing cousin. But let me tell you: the honey mustard was chef’s kiss. Coop gave the dipping sauce and fries an enthusiastic 11/10. He quite literally licked his fingers. The boy loves a good sauce. (Not crunchy of me, I know—but we wore clean sunscreen only on his face and ears so he could soak in some vitamin D. That counts for something, right?)

Of course, the big kids wanted ice cream, and I caved. I went with chocolate Dippin’ Dots—mostly because they were out of banana split, which honestly still stings. But summer memories are worth a little melted regret.

Back at the beach, Coop played hard in the sand, chugged water like a champ, and munched on a Skout peanut butter and jelly bar. Then came our brave moment of the day: letting him wade in the water without a float. Only in the shallow, and with all hands on deck. He loved it. We had to carry him away kicking, grinning, and dramatically shouting, “No no no no no!” He eventually surrendered—exhaustion wins every time.

We changed him in the parking lot, and he was out cold before we even hit the main road. Zero sunburn for Coop, a little color for me (even with two rounds of SPF 30—sigh), and only one mishap: a minor poop, fully contained by the swim diaper. #ThankJesus. His aunt, bless her, declared it was time for flushable wipes. Noted.

All in all, it was a smashing success. I could technically have managed it solo, but I’m so glad we had my mom, brother, and sister along. They made everything smoother, more fun, and full of sweet memories I’m so thankful we made.