When word arrived about SoundWaves, the new amped-up water park attached to the Gaylord Opryland Resort, parents all over Nashville were going: How do we get in?
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You book a room, of course. And if you haven’t stayed at Gaylord Opryland Resort in a while, now’s a good time to go. The main atriums are, as always, a vivid array of greenery with water features that seem to go on for miles—it’s a good place to escape during the blazing summer heat. Add in the brand new, massive, indoor/outdoor water world of SoundWaves, which opened this spring, and the resort is now like a miniature, upscale version of Disneyworld that’s less than 20 minutes from downtown.
In short: It’s exactly where you want to take the kids for a staycation this summer.
Request a room in the newly renovated Magnolia Tower, where you can get an atrium view (great for watching the dancing fountains), as well as close access to the entrance of the water park. With wristbands securely in place, head toward the SoundWaves entrance, past the tall, ocean-muraled walls and enter through an automated door.
Grab a few towels and head out to the main deck where you’ll get your first breathtaking view. It’s a multi-level, four-acre playground accented by live greenery, trees, and tropical landscaping. Indoors and out, the space feels bright and alive with sleek white lounge chairs, multiple cafes and bars, and, naturally, a rocking playlist. Tunes are a theme throughout: All of the rides and play areas are musically named and there’s a huge HD screen showing music videos set above the undulating outdoor wave pool.
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Indoors, where it’s a constant, balmy 84 degrees, one of your first stops should be the FlowRider, a double-rider surfing machine where kids can boogie board or try their hand standing on a surfboard. Two “river” loops rim the room; one is a lazier “Down Tempo” that you can take by tube; the other is the zippier “Up Tempo,” good for a rapid swim amongst waterfalls and sprays. There’s also a pool with waterfalls, a ropes course, and a basketball hoop, and, for littler ones, a few infant- and toddler-friendly spaces can be found on the top level, complete with massive buckets spilling water down to the woops of kiddos below.
The waterslide situation at SoundWaves allows for an endless parade up staircases and down through watery shoots. Indoor options include the Rapid Remix, meant for up to 4 or 5 riders on a raft, or the Record Launch, which loops around in massive tubes complete with a sound system. Outdoors, there’s the Stage Dive, a straight shot through a steep dark tunnel, inducing screams along the way.
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Fuel up at one of the cafes (there’s also a food truck), where there’s pizza, hot dogs, ice cream, and frozen drinks—plus a full bar. Yes, kids are going to squeal about this place, but there’s plenty for adults to love, too, including a grown-up pool area complete with a hot tub, and yes, another bar. The genius of the design and concept is that it can be enjoyed at any age by anyone willing to get in the water. And, across the board, service gets high marks with everyone from lifeguards to slide attendants offering friendly help and assistance along the way.
My own kids, ages four and seven, spent their time on an endless loop of slides, pools, lazy river, more slides—and slept like logs at the end of it all. For a parent during the height of summer, it’s exactly the thing to get you through.