For many families, the saddest time of the year is the fall. And it is not just because of the start of school and the end of long leisurely warm days outside.
A lot of it has to do with the closing of the community pools. Gone are the carefree hours in the sun, splashing in the pool with friends, inventing games that have no purpose other than to keep you in the pool for as long as possible.
But the summer fun by the pool doesn’t have to be contained to the summer. In fact, many communities have one or more places where you can swim on the shortest and coldest days of the year. Here are some ideas.
Join the YMCA
With 2,400 locations across the United States, according to YMCA International, the non-profit YMCA is a great place for families to plan a wide range of activities. Many locations offer family or individual fitness, indoor basketball, and time for hobbies and other interests. But the big draw is the pool.
Be sure to check the schedule of your local YMCA pool before going. The pool is a valuable resource, and you will find that many groups and individuals are looking to use it throughout the week. There will be time for lap swimming, swim practice for local teams, and even synchronized swim team practice. But nestled in there will be periods of free swim time, so you can get your family out of the house and into the water all winter long.
Head to an indoor water park
A simple Google search of “indoor water park near me” is bound to yield some interesting results. Did you know that Ohio has more than a dozen of these attractions?
With a little research and planning, you and the family can choose to spend a day, a long weekend, or even a week at an indoor water park that is not too far from home. And these parks offer essentially unlimited time in the water, and all in a climate controlled room. It’s not the beach, but it might just be the next best thing.
With this many options, there is no need to be too sad when the days start getting shorter. You and your family can still get some quality time together at a pool near you.
Photo by Jill Burrow: https://www.pexels.com/photo/swimming-pool-with-water-and-blue-bottom-6858611/