Last month, we took a visit to Tropic Falls at OWA in Foley, Alabama. OWA Parks & Resort is jam-packed with activities for all ages including a kid-friendly outdoor theme park, tropical-themed indoor water park (new for 2022!), shopping, specialty restaurants, gaming arcade, theater with live shows, and so much more.
This trip was graciously sponsored by OWA (pronounced "Oh-wah", which means "big water" in Muscogee). As part of the promotion, I received a tour of the property, family passes to Tropic Falls, meals and an overnight stay at the on-site hotel. They went above and beyond to give us a complete OWA experience so that I can share every detail with you.
When I tell people about my trip, I usually hear, "Where is OWA?" and "Wow! I've never heard of that". After our two-day experience, OWA became an instant hit for my family and we can't wait to go back again. My review is based on my family's experience and honest opinion during our stay. I hope my experience helps you plan a trip to OWA with your family.
Theme Park Attractions
OWA is a great place to play for the whole family! In two days, we explored Tropic Falls at OWA which consists of a outdoor water park, indoor theme park, and an outdoor wave pool (currently under construction). Our day passes gave unlimited access to both sections so we went back and forth throughout the trip.
When you first enter the park, you'll find an assortment of 29 amusement park rides, so there's something for everyone. Toddlers will enjoy Tea Time or Zip Zap Race, while bigger kids will want to explore Mystic Mansion or Alabama Wham'a. And right in the middle of the park, real thrill seekers can enjoy the park's central roller coaster -- Rollin' Thunder. During your fast and furious ride, you'll go straight up, plunge down, twist, corkscrew, loop, and back again. Considering the size of this theme park, we were very impressed with this coaster.
I also appreciate all of the attention to detail for families. Throughout the park, we found covered areas with fans and water misters, food and drink stations, and an amazing concept called the Cooler Room. It's basically an air conditioned room with picnic benches and TVs, perfect when you need to take a break and get refreshed.
Water Park Attractions
My family loves to swim and spend the day at the pool, but sometimes rain gets in the way of our summer plans. Fortunately, Tropic Falls at OWA features a beautiful tropical-themed water park completely INDOORS, climate-controlled, and covered by a retractable glass ceiling. This innovative feature lets warm rays of sunlight inside and keeps the rain out, all year long.
Tropic Falls features six wild water slides, five smaller water slides, tropical play area with oversized dump bucket, a cool lazy river, colorful chairs, food and drink, arcade and gift shop. There's plenty to see and do -- simply swim, slide, or relax all day long. And since we have a baby and older kids, I appreciate an indoor option the whole family can enjoy at the same time.
Downtown OWA
Just outside of Tropic Falls, we also explored the shops, dining, entertainment and photo ops all around Downtown OWA. You can come and shop in Downtown OWA with or without tickets to the theme park side, and it's all easily accessible with free parking.
Entertainment
Downtown OWA is a great place to explore if you like art, music, or entertainment. On the first night, we got to check out the theater featuring rotating acts. I was blown away by "Legends in Concert" and getting to see amazing celebrity tribute artists live on stage. These very talented musical acts look, sound, and act exactly like your favorite singers -- Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Bruno Mars, Michael Jackson, and Cyndi Lauper performing in a Vegas-style musical concert. A must-see experience!
Dine
Usually, food is one of the highlights of any vacation and Downtown OWA offers plenty of choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner. You can enjoy 13 different options for specialty dining such as Paula Deen's Family Kitchen, El Diablo Taqueria, or Sushi Co.
Our memorable culinary moments include the Kona BBQ Bacon Cheeseburger at Grub (inside Tropic Falls), pulled pork tacos and shrimp and grits at Lucy's Retired Surfers Bar and Grill, and table-side nachos at Groovy Goat.
And for dessert, I highly recommend a few scoops of delicious ice cream from Hershey's Ice Cream (seriously, I found my new favorite ice cream flavor there) or a bag of candy from Sweet Tooth at OWA.
Stay
On the other end of Downtown OWA, we stayed at Towneplace Suites by Marriott, a very comfortable hotel for overnight stays. The accommodations included an indoor pool, BBQ area, kitchenette in our hotel room, and oversized shower. By staying on-site, we were able to park and walk along downtown OWA, over to Tropic Falls, and explore everything at our leisure without having to worry about parking. That was a huge benefit and made for a very relaxed vacation experience for my family.
Our New Tradition
Overall, we LOVED our time at OWA Park & Resorts and Tropic Falls this year, and we will definitely come back again and again. I keep hearing, "Mom, can we go back to OWA?"
Overall, my kids enjoyed the variety of rides and activities, my husband was thrilled with the variety and selection of dining experiences, and I loved the relaxing atmosphere and brightly colored decor. If you're looking for an all-in-one family vacation in the southeast, I highly recommend OWA in Foley, Alabama. Skip the beach, and come check out this family-friendly theme park with something for everyone!
OWA Parks & Resorts - 1501 S. OWA Blvd. Foley, AL 36535
Start planning your vacation here: VisitOWA.com
For more information: info@visitowa.com
