Any theme park aficionado knows that there are some rides you must avoid if you don't want to get wet. However, water parks guarantee you will get wet, and if you prefer not to, you're in the wrong place this summer.

For traditional theme park fun, Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park features Bigfoot Rapids, Perilous Plunge and Timber Mountain Lodge, where you're so assured you'll get wet that a station outside the rides allows you to step inside and dry your clothes as you stand there!

Other theme parks have water, too. You'll find a water ride at Disneyland's California Adventure Park. Expect to get wet, and sometimes quite so, on your unpredictable journey along the Grizzly River. If you'd prefer to stay as dry as possible, souvenir rain ponchos are available for sale at the adjacent Rushin' River Outfitters shop.

The length of the entire state includes theme parks with rides to get you wet. But there are summer theme parks specificallly for getting wet. Here's our list!

Among our favorites in Southern California are these. Links provide ticket information, hours and prices.

* Six Flags Hurricane Harbor in Valencia
* Raging Waters in San Dimas
* Knott's Soak City in cities - Buena Park , Palm Springs and Chula Vista
* Wild Rivers in Irvine (last season, park closes after 2011)
* Legoland Water Park (for the youngest crowd)

In Northern California & the Bay Area the great water parks this season include:

* Raging Waters - Sacramento or San Jose
* Waterworld California in Concord (this link is just a general page we wrote about the park summarizing rides)
* Wild Water Adventure in Clovis
* Crocodile Dundee's Boomerang Bay in Santa Clara (at Great America)

You'll find smaller water parks and municipal water parks in Redding, Roseville, Fresno and Pleasanton, and they offer affordable fun and great ways to cool down during the summer months.