Where To Cool Off In DC
Lifestyle
To us, summer in DC means lots of things — from longer days to hotly-anticipated day trips and local adventures with friends. Of course, summer in The District is also commonly associated with one defining trait: its sweltering temperatures and swamp-like humidity.
Having trouble finding a place to cool off and beat the heat? Here, we’ve rounded up the best spots to take a dip in DC this month (until the sun sets on summer, that is).
Public Pools: As long as you’re willing to brave a bunch of kids and the smell of chlorine, DC’s public pools are a great option, especially since they’re free for residents. If you’re looking for sparkling new amenities, Hearst Pool (3701 37th St., NW), the very first public outdoor pool in Ward 3, just opened last month. Rosedale Pool (1701 Gales St., NE) has a kiddie pool, a slide, and lap lanes. Banneker Pool (2500 Georgia Ave., NW) is giant and boasts a diving board—just make sure you show up early if you want to grab a lounge chair.
Outside of the city, Rockville Swim and Fitness Center (355 Martins Ln., Rockville) offers an outdoor pool with a slide, in-water basketball, and a kiddie pool with fountains. Old Town Pool (1609 Cameron St., Alexandria) features eight 25-yard lap lanes, a diving well, and a picnic area.
Public Spray and Splash Parks: To cool off quickly, public spray and splash parks might just be the way to go. Georgetown Waterfront Park (3303 Water St., NW) features a fountain that basically acts as a giant lawn sprinkler. You can also run through the fountains at Petworth Recreation Center’s splash park (801 Taylor St., NW) and at Brookland’s Turkey Thicket (1100 Michigan Avenue, NE), where the splash pad includes a lighthouse, musical instruments, and other fun equipment for kids.
If you care to venture into the suburbs, Virginia Highlands Park (1600 S. Hayes St., Arlington) boasts dumping buckets and other fun water features, including a 360-degree sprayer. Hamilton Splash Park (3901 Hamilton St., Hyattsville) in Hyattsville has an aqua climbing wall, and the SplashPark at South Germantown Recreational Park (18056 Central Park Cir., Germantown) has a jet water maze and a cave with a waterfall.
➤ Looking for more things to do in DC this summer? Check out these resources below:
Hotel Pools: If you’re seeking a more luxurious experience — or iconic rooftop views — hotel pools are your best bet. Many remain closed to non-hotel residents, but there are still some open to the public.
For instance: The rooftop pool at The Embassy Row Hotel (2015 Massachusetts Ave., NW) offers day passes ($100 to $150) and spectacular views of the DC skyline, and those under 18 are allowed as long as they’re accompanied by an adult. The 21+ rooftop pool at Hotel Zena (1155 14th St., NW) in Logan Circle starts at $50 a day. Deck 11 at Capitol Hill’s Yotel (415 New Jersey Ave., NW) offers a bar alongside its rooftop pool, and day passes also start at $50 on weekdays, but jump to $100 on weekends.
Swimming Holes: Looking to take a dip in a natural setting? Reaching the swimming holes at Overall Run in Virginia’s Shenandoah National Park might be a bit of a hike, but if you’re willing to follow the Overall Run/Beacher Ridge trail to the swimming hole, it’s worth it —and you’ll be treated to a view of Overall Run Falls, the 93-foot waterfall in the park. The Whiteoak Canyon trail, also in Shenandoah National Park, has six waterfalls across nine miles.
In Maryland, there’s the swimming hole at Cunningham Falls State Park (14039 Catoctin Hollow Rd., Thurmont), which features a 78-foot waterfall, plus a gorgeous swimming hole reachable by a half-mile hike. The swimming hole at Kilgore Falls in Rocks State Park (1026 Falling Branch Rd., Pylesville), meanwhile, was used as a filming location for the Disney movie Tuck Everlasting. An easier-to-access and more kid-friendly option titled the Beaver Dam Swimming Club (10820 Beaver Dam Rd., Cockeysville), located just north of Baltimore, even has a freshwater-filled quarry and rope swing to enjoy.
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