Water, water everywhere: Check out water amusements

Let's face it: If you live near the beach, there are going to be those days when Mother Nature says, "I don't think so!" to any notions of getting in the surf. The Gulf of Mexico, is, after all, a wondrous body subject to the forces of nature. When warning flags go, they must be heeded. But don't despair. There are other ways to get some H2O - and some of them are downright breathtaking. Waterville USA, for instance, offers all sorts of wet and wild adventures. There's a children's area for the wee ones, a lazy river for floating, a wave pool and several water slides. The Flowrider offers surfers and body-boarders the chance to catch a never-ending wave. And with slides/flumes with names like "Black Widow" and "Triple Dog Dare," it's a sure bet you can go there to get your thrill on.