Tacoma's summers saturated with direct sunlight can be both a blessing and a curse. While everything is better with sunshine, the heat can have you - and your kids - begging for water. Not just water to drink, but water to swim in and play in.

Maybe you're looking for a peaceful, lesser-known splash pad where a family can spend a relaxing afternoon cooling off (Skansie Brothers Park). Or maybe mom and dad want a glass of wine at a sophisticated wine bar while watching over the kids enjoying a sprayground just a few feet away (Ruston Sprayground). Perhaps an outdoor pool with a lazy river is your family's solution for sunshine (Stewart Heights Pool). Regardless, you'll find it in Tacoma and Pierce County.

Here's a (currently) comprehensive map of 16 Pierce County spray parks, spraygrounds, splash pads, outdoor pools and lazy rivers.