Recommend your pool (DC)

[Anonymous]

We are looking to join a pool for this summer. Kids will be 3/12 and 9 months, so we're looking for something that has a good set up for little kids (perhaps even swim lessons for the 3 year old) and that we could grow into as they get older. We are located in Mount Pleasant so would like something within a reasonable drive -- NW or into NE are fine. The ideal setting would be a welcoming community with family friendly activities, and maybe even a playground and snack bar. And of course, we'd like to not have to pay an arm and leg (is <$1000 feasible?). I have no idea if this exists or if it is realistic to join for this year!

Thanks so much in advance.

[Anonymous]

Bump.

[Anonymous]

The Wilson pool is free to DC residents. Its an indoor pool with a zero depth entry kid's pool. Its in NW DC http://app.dpr.dc.gov/dprmap/details.asp?cid=3

There's also the Francis pool (also a free public pool to DC residents, but outdoors) but we haven't been there yet.

If you're looking for private instead of public - I'm sure others can give some suggestions.

[Anonymous]

To my knowledge there are absolutely ZERO swim clubs in DC. I've looked. Just go to the Wilson Pool since it's free and then go have lunch nearby. Problem solved.

[Anonymous]

there is a hotel in SW you can join. Capitol Skyline pool. It is great during the week, but too singlesy on weekends.

There are also Cheverly and PG Pool close in in MD - but both have waitlists.

[Anonymous]

ALL public pools are free to DC residents! You can try them all out and pick the one you like best. Wilson is nice but is inside. For summer, we like the Upshur Pool (close to Mt Pleasant), the Frances Pool at 25th and N St NW, and the one on Hains Point (although it doesn't have much shade). There are others too, I just haven't tried them out.

[Anonymous]

Join us at Upshur Pool! It has NONE of the amenities you want (lessons, snack bar, etc) but there are plenty of kids to play with, and the baby pool is nice.

[Anonymous]

There simply aren't outdoor family swim clubs like you are describing in DC. Of course there are a couple of indoor pools run by DCPS that are great - both Wilson and Takoma Park have great options for kids and probably others - but that isn't what you are looking for. There are a few outdoor public pools run by DCPS, but they aren't geared to small children b/c they are just a single rectangular, deep pool -- there is one in Vota Park in GT and one in Haynes Point, and I'm sure there are others. There is a private swim club like you describe in Cleveland Park but you have to live within its very limited neighborhood boundary to join and it doesn't include Mount Plesant. There is a pool on the grounds of the Cathedral that allows summer memberships (I don't know if belongs to National Cathedral School or St. Albans) but again, that is paying to use the pool for swimming, its not a swim club. Also, you can pay to use the pool at the health club at the Marriott in Woodly Park but it isn't geared to kids/families or a club like experience either. So, all that said, most people who are interested in a swim club that live in NW DC belong to clubs in suburban MD. Two popular ones are Palisades and Carderock, and again I'm sure there are a number of others. They are both great and just what you are looking for except for being in a convenient locations. Also, at least the fromer, has a years long waiting list, so if you are intersted you should get on the list now. In the meantime, try the Bethesda Municipal Pool. It is closer then either of the private clubs I just mentioned on Little Falls Parkway and it has three pools of graduated depth and is very much geared towards families and kids. They have a snack bar. You can pay by the day even as a non-MD resident. It does get very crowded at certain times but still a good time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There are a few outdoor public pools run by DCPS, but they aren't geared to small children b/c they are just a single rectangular, deep pool -- there is one in Vota Park in GT and one in Haynes Point, and I'm sure there are others.

This is not accurate. There are not "a few" outdoor public pools in DC--there are 19: http://app.dpr.dc.gov/dprmap/index.asp?group=5&query=AND{%277%27.EX.%27Outdoor%20Pool%27}

And some are not geared towards small children, but some are. The Upshur pool has a separate shallow kiddie pool and no "deep end" in the regular pool. Francis has a deep pool, a mid-depth pool, and a shallow kiddie pool.

I also see on the DC website that there are a few "children's pools" that are just 1-3 feet deep, including one in Adams Morgan. I haven't been to these so can't vouch for them: http://app.dpr.dc.gov/dprmap/index.asp?group=5&query=AND{%277%27.EX.%27Children%20Pool%27}

[Anonymous]

I'm in MD where our pool is restricted by geography (neighborhood) but I believe that there are a lot of hotels that offer summer memberships - the Hilton north of Dupont for example. We stayed at the Bethesda Doubletree during the derecho last year and they also offer summer pool deals. If there's a hotel in your general vicinity it might be worth giving them a call. That's in addition to the DC public options of course.

[Anonymous]

Our kids are 4 and 6.
We used to live in Adams Morgan and enjoyed walking down to the outdoor pool and gym at the Hilton Towers on Connecticut (entrance was on 19th.) They closed to renovate when they thought they were going to build a new tower, and the brand new pool and baby pool have opened now and they are really nice! Not as many trees as the old setup. You have to get a family gym membership, they may have summer pool contracts.
In Cleveland Park there is a private pool club, they do NOT allow members from outside their strict neighborhood home owner boundary, so you can't hang out as a family, but they do offer group and private swim lessons that are open to outsiders.
When we moved to Petworth we discovered the Upshur Pool on Arkansas was very nice - and the "Friends of 16th Street Parks" charity organization had arranged to purchase many of the nice Hilton pool lounges when that pool got renovated! Yay team. They have an enormous baby pool. Only problem is no food allowed, you have to "sneak eat" even snacks on the pool deck. You can go way over to the playground and use the benches but it gets HOT.
We go to the Wilson pool often in the off season, we especially like the zero entry area. The Francis pool is down in the West End, it has a zero entry section too looks nice (Google map it) but I've heard it lacks shade and can get crowded.
The DCJCC offers group and private swim lessons at their indoor pool but they book up quickly.

[Anonymous]

Also meant to add the Washington Plaza Hotel has an outdoor pool you can get a membership for but I have heard it is a bit of a gay hot spot in summer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are a few outdoor public pools run by DCPS, but they aren't geared to small children b/c they are just a single rectangular, deep pool -- there is one in Vota Park in GT and one in Haynes Point, and I'm sure there are others.

This is not accurate. There are not "a few" outdoor public pools in DC--there are 19: http://app.dpr.dc.gov/dprmap/index.asp?group=5&query=AND{%277%27.EX.%27Outdoor%20Pool%27}

And some are not geared towards small children, but some are. The Upshur pool has a separate shallow kiddie pool and no "deep end" in the regular pool. Francis has a deep pool, a mid-depth pool, and a shallow kiddie pool.

I also see on the DC website that there are a few "children's pools" that are just 1-3 feet deep, including one in Adams Morgan. I haven't been to these so can't vouch for them: http://app.dpr.dc.gov/dprmap/index.asp?group=5&query=AND{%277%27.EX.%27Children%20Pool%27}

Pretty sure the Happy Hollow is closed. There is a large indoor pool at Marie Reed but never heard any raves about it.

[Anonymous]

OP with kids that age you might also like to visit some of DC's spray parks, located at DC playground rec centers - less worry about drowning when you are watching the toddler and baby alone. There is a small one at Turtle Park (45th and Van Ness) also Petworth Park at 8th & Upshur NW and my favorite right now is Chevy Chase Spray Park at 5500 41st Street, NW. There is also one at Lafayette Park that we have not checked out yet.
We plan to check out the chain of water parks out in Fairfax this summer (Volcano Island etc.) Looking forward to lots of fun waterslide action.
I had looked into a family pool membership in MoCo or Va but couldn't find any that were open to DC residents or did not have a years-long waitlist. Would love more info if folks can share.
Another option is buy a boat, then keep it at a marina that has a pool (like Shipwright Harbour out near Deale) best of both worlds!

[Anonymous]

Some of the private schools do summer pool memberships. Beauvoir does and has an outdoor pool. So does St Albans (I think; I know they do winter memberships) but it is indoor. We joined Beauvoir for a few summers until I figured out we weren't going so each trip was costing us about $400. A few years ago I think it was $850 for the summer for a family, but it's been awhile so I may be misremembering. It does have a snack bar and a kiddie pool, but it is not fancy. The hours may also be limited to mostly mornings evenings and weekends because of summer camp. The few times we did go we enjoyed it because we knew a lot of the families from our neighborhood or the kids' preschool classes.