ForKids
Pools for an older crowd
Want to feel like a kid again without
having to share the water with the floatie set? Snag a deck chair at one of these pools more popular with adults than tykes:
East Potomac Park
972 Ohio Dr. SW. 202-727-6523. This D.C. public pool isn’t new or fancy,
but it’s located on quiet Hains Point, plus it’s 50 meters long and 13 feet deep in some places, making it popular with lap swimmers and adults. Even the worn deck chairs here go quickly, so bring your own.
Noon-6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays
through June 21; open six days a week thereafter. Free for D.C. residents; $3-$4 for nonresidents.
The Capitol Skyline Hotel
2008 PHOTO BY MARK GAIL/THE WASHINGTON POST
Julia Rodriguez, 12, of St. Mary’s County comes off the water slide at the Chesapeake Beach Water Park.
The pools are open, so jump in
by Lavanya Ramanathan
To a kid, there is no greater summer
tradition than daily trips to the pool to splash, squeal and, occasionally, swim. Think back to your own days learning to dive to the tur- quoise-blue bot-
FOR ALL AGES
tom, playing endless games of Marco Po- lo and racing friends. These days are no different, even if community pools are looking more and more like theme parks. Beginning this weekend, the age-old ritual begins again; Saturday is opening day for many pools across the region. Looking for one that will be a sure hit with the kids? Check out some of these tried-and-true favorites.
MARYLAND
Water Park at Bohrer Park
512 S. Frederick Ave. Gaithersburg. 301-258-6445.
www.gaithersburgmd.
gov/waterpark.
This park has two 250-foot slides — a fast one for daredevils and a slower one for the faint of heart. But don’t think this park is for older children; there’s a zero- depth entry and a splash pad for toddlers and infants, and it’s fairly shallow, mak- ing it perfect for the families and young children who frequent the pool. Bonus: The park includes a basic 18-hole mini- golf course, and you can save a bundle by buying admission for both.
Noon-6 p.m. Memorial Day and week- ends through June 6; open daily June 7-
2008 PHOTO BY SARAH L. VOISIN/THE WASHINGTON POST
Wendale Rollins, 15, of Washington jumps into Banneker pool. The pool is free for D.C. residents.
Aug. 29; postseason, Sept. 4-6. Residents, $4-$5.75; nonresidents, $5-$6.75. Putt- and-pool passes, $8.25-$9.25.
Chesapeake Beach Water Park
4079 Gordon Stinnett Ave., Chesapeake Beach. 410-257-1404.
www.chesapeakebeachwaterpark.com.
Yes, this Southern Maryland park costs a whopping $18 to enter if you’re not from Chesapeake Beach, but it more
than makes up for the price with ameni- ties: Expect a waterfall, slides, a lazy riv- er and inner tubes, and best of all, it’s built on the edge of the Chesapeake Bay — meaning that although the palm trees are fake, the bay breezes are real.
11 a.m.-7 p.m. weekends through June 20; open daily June 21-Aug. 22; post- season, Aug. 28-29, Sept. 4-6. . Residents of Chesapeake Beach, $9-$10; all others, $10-$18; 4-7 p.m., $7-$8; 2 and younger, free.
VIRGINIA
Volcano Island Waterpark at Algonkian Regional Park
47001 Fairway Dr., Sterling. 703-430-7683.
www.nvrpa.org/park/
downpour_at_algonkian.
The old Downpour Waterpark has
gone Polynesian for the 2010 season; it’s now tiki-themed Volcano Island, with faux palm trees, more shade and a sand play area. Another highlight: A smoking volcano towering over the crowd. It opens Saturday.
11 a.m.-7 p.m. Memorial Day weekend;
3-7 p.m. Fridays and 11 a.m.-7 p.m. week- ends June 1-21. Hours extend thereafter. $6.75-$8; younger than 2, free; after 4 p.m., $5.
Water Mine Family Swimmin’ Hole
1400 Lake Fairfax Dr., Reston. 703-471-5415.
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/
parks/rec/watermine.
Fairfax County’s water park isn’t a ru- ral “swimmin’ hole” at all. It’s a gold-
pools continued on 20
10 I St. SW. For Saturday’s camp-themed install-
ment of Brightest Young Things’ Sum-
mer Camp series, wear your cheesiest pool attire. The parties are all ages but tend to attract folks in their 20s and 30s.
Noon-8 p.m. Visit
www.brightestyoung
things.com. $15.
Chase Kickballs just launched an
Inner Tube Water Polo league that plays
every other Tuesday at the Skyline. The outdoor bar stays open and the pool is lighted during the game, so get there ear- ly, watch the match, then play in the free pickup game immediately afterward. The next match is June 8.
Match begins at 7 p.m.; open play is at 8
p.m. Inner tubes are provided.
www.chasekickballs.com. Free.
Bethesda Pool
Little Falls Parkway and Hillandale Road. 301-652-1598. This pool boasts a Z-shape, so you can
find a little corner, literally, to call your own. Bonuses include a diving well and separate junior and tot pools — not exact- ly frills, but definitely amenities aimed at keeping grown-ups happy.
Opens Saturday. Noon-6 p.m. Memori- al Day and weekends through June 13; open daily thereafter. $4-$6 for Mont- gomery County residents; nonresidents, $6.50-$7.50; after 5:30 p.m., $3.50-$7.
Upton Hill Regional Park
6060 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. 703-534-3437. This outdoor complex features one of
Northern Virginia’s ubiquitous, souped- up “water parks,” with slides and other at- tention-getting features. But the massive mini-golf course and batting cages make it a popular summer date spot.
Pool hours are 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Memorial Day and weekends through June 21; 3-7 p.m. Fridays through June 21. Hours ex- tend thereafter. $6.75-$8, free for age 1 and younger; $12 for unlimited one-day use of water park, miniature golf and batting cage. For hours for golf and batting,
www.nvrpa.org/park/upton_hill.
19
THE WASHINGTON POST • FRIDAY, MAY 28, 2010
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