This is a sponsored post from a partnership with Wild River Country. I was paid for this post, but all opinions are my own.

So, I’ve always been a seeker of adventure. I love making new memories and I love being with people when they experience something for the first time. But I don’t exactly like first time experiences myself. If I’m going on a new trip or headed to a place for the first time, I will do LOTS of research before I go so that I have good knowledge of what to anticipate when I get there.

As a mom, I feel like this is only going to heighten and get worse in the coming years. I want to be prepared and protect my little man, so I’m anticipating a lot more research in my future.

Little Man and I recently had an opportunity to spend the afternoon with some friends at Wild River Country. Wild River Country is Arkansas’s Largest water park and located in North Little Rock.

I thought it would be fun to throw out a few things we learned that might be helpful and debunk a few myths you may have in your mind before you make your own visit to Wild River Country.

1. This is a water park for families with older children only. – No way José! Little Man and I had the best time in the Tad Pool. There was a great shade spot for us to get under and it was shallow enough I could sit down and have him sit on my knees. There were other families in there and we were able to have our own space, but talk and make friends if we want to. This area is great up to 4 or 5 even with the dump buckets and a duck the kids can climb on. The pool was zero entry and the deeper water came up to my calf and there was a lifeguard on duty in this area.
   
2. Strollers are allowed in the park. – You may have to walk a little further, but the park is set up to accommodate wheelchairs and therefore, has a great route for strollers too. Once we got parked and set up in “our spot” we were able to just walk around, but it was nice to be able to take our stroller in get where we needed to go.
   
3. You are only allowed to bring in 1 water bottle, but you can bring items you need for baby bottles. – Basically, don’t try to be sneaky. They want to accommodate families. Be honest with the water bottles you have in your bag to make baby bottles out of. They also allow you to bring in baby food in non-glass jars.
   
4. How safe can it really be with that many children in one place? – Y’all, I was so impressed with the lifeguards’ attention while I was there. You watch their faces and they are constantly scanning the water. I remember other places I went growing up or even the public pools and I would think how in the world can they sit up there and not get distracted or get tired of watching for kids. There was lots of intention in the way these lifeguards were scanning the water. They also retest their skills throughout the summer and stay on top of it all. Above everything else that impressed me that day, I was most taken by the alert and attentiveness of the staff. I even saw them react quickly when a kid was having swimming issues and they were on it. The kid was fine, but they didn’t skim on their attention to the situation.
   
5. This place is only full of water slides and I’m not a water slide person. – Whoa, there is all kinds of stuff. The Lazy River, the Wave Pool, the Tad Pool and splash pad, and then an activity center for smaller kids called the Swimmin’ Hole that had some obstacle course activities. And then, they have 12 slides of varying degrees that go from just rolling down or shooting you out to one that spins you upside down and even the Cyclone that is set up for families to ride together.
   
6. It’s all just out in the sun. Yes, if you want to be a sun goddess you can do that, but there is a ton of coverage. The chairs are first come first served, but lots of canopies line the Wave Pool area and there are shady spots under trees in the main slide concourse. And, if you are looking for a really great experience, you can reserve a cabana for an all-day private space experience. These are great and can open up if you reserve multiple or a screen separates them for privacy between families. Plus they have private lockers and food experiences. (And, if you are looking for something to do with a group, they have multiple Pavilions that can be booked for school, church, work or community events)
   
7. A day in the park is really going to set me back those Benjamins – Really y’all, the prices are good. You can get hot dog, burgers, and chicken strip meals, or pizza. Then they have funnel cakes and a TON of options of Highland ice cream treats. Refill cups are a great buy for the day. Just remember you cannot bring in coolers or outside food and drinks. One water bottle per person is permitted. If you have medical needs for items, just make sure and bring documentation with you for bag check. The staff is great and easy to work with.
   
8. Can I really relax and enjoy myself and not worry about something happening to my stuff? You bet! It’s called the locker system. They have 2 size lockers and what is really cool is they run off a wristband system, so you don’t have to worry about losing keys. Which if you are planning to drop off your children for the day is awesome; their stuff is safe and the way to get back to their stuff is safe.
   
9. Do I need to bring my own tube or can we rent one? And, how do I know what size tube we need? Well, there is good news… tubes are provided in the park, and they are FREE. Yep, you will need different tubes for the different areas you are riding slides or playing in the pools and they are provided for you throughout the park. If you have littles that you need to bring a special tube for, you can do that. Just have it with you when you check in and you will be glad you have it so you can easily play with your little ones and let your big ones tackle the tubes for themselves. Another thing to note is that life jackets are available throughout the park as well, so one less thing to lug in from the parking lot.

A few other good things to know:

• Babies need to have water diapers.
• The gift store is great. Any little thing you might have left behind you can find…or if you need to replace broken shoes, to lather up with sun screen or if it’s time for a new swim suit or cover up, they’ve got you covered.
• This team is committed to safety and they watch kids to make sure they are being fair and kind. No running around the park and horseplay is not allowed.
• Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are busy days so if you are anxious about your visit, maybe attempt it on a different day of the week when its less crowded.

There is plenty of fun to go around and the Wild River Country staff is committed to making sure your experience is top notch. Make sure you stop and talk to someone if you are having an issue. Heck, we were there when the park closed for the day and they still had smiles on after a full day. I’d say that’s pretty impressive on its own!

It is overwhelming to try new things and for me to try them with a new baby. But, I want to get out and create new memories with my Little Man and teach him a spirit to do the same. Maybe our first time at Wild River Country will help you see how easy it is to get out, meet your friends, and not be afraid to try things with your kids at any age. And, if I learned nothing else… pick up the phone and just ask a few questions before you go instead of wondering and worrying your whole way there. It is not always easiest to ask for forgiveness, but once I called and asked a few questions, I was even more excited about our day out together.