When summer hits, I think of sunshine and swimming pools, but there are days when it’s either too hot or too wet to swim outside, so we head to the Edward T. Hall Aquatic Center in Prince Frederick.
I was happily surprised the first time I went and was amazed at how beautiful the facility is. It’s clean and well kept up, the lifeguards are watchful, and there’s something there for everyone.
My girls ended up using every part of the 50-meter pool, but their favorite are the diving boards at the deepest end. The most popular is the 3-meter high dive where lines of kids and adults form to practice flips and crazy jumps. There are lifeguards stationed at each part of the pool watching closely, but parents are asked to supervise younger children. Bleachers line the pool area, so you can sit and watch if you aren’t swimming.
The center of the pool is reserved for lap swimming. The mornings are quiet as children aren’t allowed in the pool until noon, but after noon my youngest enjoys swimming laps too. Swim teams and clubs use the lanes too, so call ahead if you’re concerned about crowds and the staff will tell you when the quiet times are.
The large open space at shallow end of the pool is always busy. Families with young children will enjoy the even shallower “leisure pool” with three slides, fountains, and buckets of water that pour over you. It’s so fun that bigger kids play in it too.
There’s a hot tub near the therapy pool, the warmest pool at the Aquatic Center. Physical therapists use the center of this pool for their patients, but the rest of the pool is available to adults only.
I enjoy the gym upstairs that overlooks the entire facility. Unlike the pool area that can get hot and humid, this small room of exercise equipment is air conditioned, so you can workout in comfort. There are televisions, but you’ll need to bring your own earphones.
Truly, the Edward T. Hall Aquatic Center has become one of my favorite places because it’s fun no matter what the weather and there’s something for everyone in my family to enjoy.
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