Nothing brings back summer childhood memories of melted ice cream cones and belly flops quite like the smell of chlorine. Poolside is the destination for area residents who can’t bear the heat and humidity of Washington’s summer. City and county recreation departments list neighborhood pools, but unexpected spots to cool off also can be found at area hotels. Read below for where you can take a dip.

The Hilton Washington on Embassy Row (2015 Massachusetts Ave., NW; 202-265-1600) is half a block away from the Dupont Circle Metro station. The Hilton offers day passes for $10 to its rooftop pool. The pool is open from 9 am until 8 pm and has ample seating and a skyline view of the city.

Marriott Wardman Park (2660 Woodley Rd., NW; 202-328-2000) near Woodley Park offers a $10 day pass for all-day poolside comfort. The pool is open from 6 am to 10 pm.

Courtyard Marriott (1900 Connecticut Ave., NW; 202-332-9300) has a long outdoor pool—ideal for swimming laps—surrounded by lounge chairs. A day pass is $15. The pool is open from 11 am to 8 pm weekdays, 10 to 9 on weekends.

The Marriott Key Bridge Hotel in Arlington (1401 Lee Highway, Arlington, VA; 703-524-6400) has an indoor and an outdoor pool. It’s $10 per person to use either pool; passes can be purchased at the front desk. Pool hours are 6 am to 11 pm.

Remember last year’s almost-too-popular Omni Shoreham (2500 Calvert St., NW, at Connecticut Ave.; 202-234-0700) Dine and Dip deal?  This year, they will be opening their pool throughout July and August and are planning on selling a limited number of tickets in advance, but they don’t have any concrete info yet. We’ll let you know when they do.  

Maryland’s Montgomery County public pools are worth checking out. Many of the indoor pools are equipped with water slides, bridges, and toddler pools. Some outdoor pools offer special features—the Martin Luther King Jr. Pool in Silver Spring, for example, has a circulating Lazy River for inner-tubing and a shallow lagoon. For more information about Montgomery County pools visit here.

Pools in the District of Columbia are free for residents (bring your drivers’ license) and are open from June 16 until September 1. The Department of Parks and Recreation divides the pools into three categories: indoor, outdoor, and walk-to-learn outdoor pools—essentially neighborhood children’s pools.

For more information on District pool hours and fees, visit here.

Other public pools in the Washington Metro area:

Prince George’s County, MD pools.

Fairfax County, VA pools.Arlington, VA pools.

Alexandria, VA pools.

Related:
Free DC: Music, Movies, Art, Trivia, and More That Doesn’t Cost a Penny
Ten Great Golf Holes in Washington
Cheap Outdoor Fun in Washington
Our Favorite Margaritas in the Washington Area

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