What to Pack for a Day at the Water Park (Complete Checklist)

A perfect day at the water park can unravel fast if you forgot sunscreen, packed the wrong footwear, or showed up without a dry bag for your phone. This checklist covers everything you actually need for a day at Velocity Island Park, plus what to skip, what the park provides, and a few tips for families with younger kids.

The Essential Packing List

• Swimsuit or board shorts. Wear it under your clothes so you can get in the water right away. Changing rooms are available on-site if you prefer to arrive in street clothes. For the aqua park, fitted suits hold up better than loose styles when you hit the obstacles.
• Sunscreen, SPF 30 or higher. Apply it before you leave the house, not in the parking lot. UV exposure adds up fast when you are on the water, and most people do not realize how quickly they burn in the reflective glare off a lake. Reapply every two hours, especially after getting in the water. Reef-safe formulas are preferred.
• Two towels. One for midday when you want to warm up, one for the end of the day when you are heading to the car or sitting down for dinner at Costa Fuego. A single wet towel is not much help by 4pm.
• Water shoes or sandals with grip. The decks and pathways get slippery. Standard flip flops work fine for walking to and from the car but are not ideal for moving around on wet surfaces near the aqua park. Any water shoe or sandal with a rubber sole and heel strap is a better choice.
• Change of clothes. Particularly useful if you are staying for dinner. Costa Fuego has indoor seating, and a dry outfit makes the transition from water to restaurant much more comfortable.
• Waterproof bag or dry bag. Your phone, keys, and wallet need somewhere to go. A $15 dry bag from any outdoor retailer is one of the best purchases you can make for a water park day. Lockers are available near check-in for longer-term storage.
• Reusable water bottle. Summer days in Woodland, CA reach well into the 90s. Staying hydrated is not optional. A refillable bottle keeps you drinking more consistently than buying bottled water throughout the day.
• Cash or card. Parking is free, but you will want payment available for food, rentals, a locker, and anything from the pro shop. Cards are accepted everywhere on the property.

What to Bring if You Have Kids

A few items are not on the standard adult list but make a real difference when you are bringing younger children.

• Swim diapers for toddlers. Regular diapers are not permitted in the water. Reusable swim diapers hold up well through a full day and are easy to rinse and reuse.
• Life jacket for non-swimmers. The park has life jackets available for loan, but bringing your own means a guaranteed fit. A well-fitted jacket gives kids more confidence in the water and gives parents more peace of mind.
• Goggles. The aqua park involves a lot of splashing, and kids who wear goggles are much more willing to put their faces in the water. A basic pair is inexpensive and easy to toss in the bag.
• Rash guard. A rash guard provides sun protection across the shoulders and back (the areas most exposed on the aqua park obstacles), and reduces friction on the slides and climbing sections. Highly recommended for kids spending extended time on the inflatables.
• Water bottles. Staying hydrated matters on a hot day at the park. Sealed water bottles are fine to bring. For food and other drinks, Costa Fuego on-site handles everything.

Gear for Wakeboarding Specifically

If your group includes anyone planning to hit the cable wake park, there are a few additional items worth knowing about.

• Helmet and life jacket are required. Both are available for rental at the pro shop on-site. If you have your own wake-specific helmet, bring it for the best fit.
• Rash guard or wetsuit for early season. The lake water is cold in May and the first half of June. A rash guard helps at minimum. A 2mm shorty wetsuit is worth bringing if you are sensitive to cold water or if your group has beginners who will be falling repeatedly while learning.
• Board shorts that stay put. Baggy shorts catch water when you fall and can actually make crashes more jarring. Fitted board shorts or compression shorts under a looser pair are the move for wakeboarding.

What to Leave at Home

• Glass containers. These are prohibited throughout the park. Transfer drinks to plastic or use cans.
• Alcohol. Outside alcohol is not permitted at the park. Drinks are available through Costa Fuego's full bar.
• Inflatable floaties for the aqua park. The aqua park is a structured obstacle course with built-in features. Personal inflatables are not compatible with the course design and are not permitted on the structure. Leave the pool noodles home.
• Hard-soled shoes on the aqua park deck. Bare feet or water shoes only when you are near the inflatables. Hard soles on the wet decks are a safety issue.

Food and Drink at the Park

Costa Fuego, the on-site restaurant, is open daily during park season, typically noon to 5pm. The menu includes wood-fired pizza, sushi, and a full bar. It sits right on the lake, so the view alone makes it worth stopping in. You do not need to leave the property to find a good meal.

Outside food and drinks are not permitted. If you are hungry or thirsty, Costa Fuego is right there on the property. Water is fine to bring.

Lockers are available near check-in if you want to stow valuables or your dry bag for the full day without carrying it around.