On those hot Sunshine State days – when your seat belt buckle doubles as a branding iron, trees are whistling for dogs and the best parking place is determined by shade instead of distance – I have an idea for some cool family-fun in the Orlando area that you may not have heard about.

Just splash on over to the Orlando Watersports Complex. There, you can:

·    Wakeboard
·    Wakeskate
·    Waterski
·    Kneeboard

The OWC features two lakes with cable systems, plus a lake for boating. One lake is for novices. You can be a first-timer and still have an experience as fine as a Florida morning. You may wipe out a few times and  your arms may be singing the blues the next day, but the wipeouts don’t hurt (much) and the learning curve is steep.

The second lake is called the “slider park.” It features awe-inspiring obstacles called “sliders and kickers.” You can awe as the advanced wakeboarders perform stunts while you eat lunch – or join them, if you’re a hotshot.

If you didn’t pack your wakeboard, no worries! You can rent everything you need. OWC offers instruction and camps, plus they host great events.