Palm Coast Day Trip: Splash Pad at James F. Holland Memorial Park
Just a little over an hour from Orlando, I discovered one of the coolest FREE parks in all of Central Florida (at least I like to think so). This park not only houses 26 acres of fun zones for kids and families, but it amps it up NEXT LEVEL with a zipline, two splash pads, themed climbing structures, and more. If I didn’t know better, I’d think I was at SeaWorld or a fancy resort pool.
Your kids are going to lose their little minds at this park, so buckle up, grab the car snacks, and hit the road for a fun day trip to Palm Coast for James F. Holland Memorial Park’s splash pad and play areas.
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Learn about how to visit this park and all the cool tips you need for a great day out below.
The Splash Pad
Coming in at a whopping 11,000 square feet, the two splash pads expand across the park and connect with a fun water tunnel.
Each splash pad is themed for the local area flora and fauna, and of course, the sealife. With right whales, dolphins, sand dollars and shady palms, older kids can get soaked through in the fun and interactive ‘older kids’ pad. Watch out for the water cannons!
At the younger pad for kids up to five years old, find adorable turtles, lily pads, and frogs in a safe wetland themed habitat.
FIND MORE: Splash Pads in Orlando and Orange County
What Else To Expect
The park also has a ZIPLINE. This kind of blew me away, as children got to hoist themselves up on a little seat and zip across the playground as fast as they could. Parents would push for maximum speed, and the joy from the little ones was intoxicating to watch. What a fun park addition!
There are also playground areas for everyone, from climbing to slides, all in an adorable sugar mill theme. There’s even a little sand pit diggers for the construction-minded kiddos, and a choo-choo train for the little conductors at heart.
For the grown ups, find trails, tennis courts, bocce ball area, basketball, sand volleyball, pickleball area, and a dog park.
If You Go
There are bathrooms aplenty for changing right by the splash pad and playground area, and multiple shaded areas for parents to sit and relax.
I noticed quite a few birthday parties happening on a Saturday, with rented out pavilions bellying up right next to the best kids areas in the park.
Parking is not a big deal, but it does get crowded!
If you are unsure about the weather for the splash pad, be sure to check online in advance at their website here, where they regularly update the splash pad closure status.
Note that the splash pad is closed for maintenance on Tuesday mornings until 11 am each week. And the splash pads are closed December 1 – February 28 each year, but there is still a lot to love with multiple playground areas!
FIND MORE: Beaches with Playgrounds Port Orange & Daytona
Also In The Area
The aforementioned sugar mill theme is directly related to the nearby Bulow Plantation Sugar Mill, which is a fun stop for families to get out in nature and learn a little history. A short forest walk leads visitors to the very interesting ruins of the old sugar mill, where you can learn more about the plantation and the processing of sugar cane.
You may also want to take a short drive over to European Village on a Sunday, where they offer a fun farmers’ market from 11 am to 3:30 pm. Get the typical boiled peanuts or kettle corn, bop around booths selling ceramics and crafts, and enjoy a bit of time at the market before having lunch on the coast.
Flagler Beach and Fort Matanzas Park are both very close to the James F. Holland Memorial Park, with unique options for more fun. In Flagler, find a seafood meal or spend time on the sand, and at Fort Matanzas grab the ferry boat over to the fort itself. Tours run on a first-come, first-served timetable, so go early to avoid a wait. Kids will love the boat ride, sea views and even cannons on the top deck.
If you want to keep things low-key, my first instinct leaving the park was, “do you think there’s a Steak and Shake somewhere?” And sure enough, not two minutes away, there was. Burgers, fun hats for the kids and milkshakes are a perfect treat to wrap up a fun summer day trip without going all in on a coast day. There’s also a Cracker Barrel just by the highway as well, which is always a hit with the family – especially the old general store and the table peg games.
The Old Florida Museum is another option on the map, not far from the splash pad, but that will take some careful planning as they are only open certain days midweek, and typically for prearranged tours. Nevertheless, this old settlement museum is a cool blast from the past for kids to envision life of the European settlers on til the early 1900’s.
Whatever your adventure includes, the splash pad at James F. Memorial Park is sure to be a hit with your family. Enjoy a nice day out and do something just a little bit different.
