I'm not sure why, but $6 for anything seems like a bargain. Especially for admission, to almost anywhere. Montgomery County Department of Recreation operates three (soon to be four) indoor swimming pools year-round, and Montgomery County residents can go for the day for a mere $6.00 ($4 for minors, $4.50 for senior citzens). An individual Annual Pool Pass costs $330, and a family pass costs $465. The pass is good from September to August, and they pro-rate $10/month (i.e. don't join in June).
The Montgomery Aquatic Center is a beautiful facility, conveniently located near White Flint Mall, in case you find yourself in dire need of a new swimsuit.
They're open Monday-Friday 6am-9pm, Saturday 8am-7pm, and Sunday from 10am-6pm. There are spacious locker rooms (bring a lock) with open showers and saunas, and there's an exercise/weight room, a large co-ed hot tub (is it called that at an Aquatic Center?), two hydrotherapy pools, and apparently, outside, they have a jogging trail and racquetball courts.
The natatorium itself huge and has tons of natural light. Here's a cool iPix virtual tour of the main pool (check out the water slide!)—8 lanes divided into two 25-meter swim areas. They have a pretty complicated schedule, but there are lap lanes open most of the time. The schedule says to "circle" swim from right to left, but thankfully everyone sharing lanes just stayed on their own sides. I went at 2:00 on a Monday and the place was buzzing, but not filled to capacity. There was a private diving lesson, what looked like a swim team practice, some hydro-cize, and plenty of lap swimmers (but always an open lane or two). I went without goggles, which I won't do again.
The leisure pool is tons of fun for kids. You need one adult per child, and you can use floaties, but no vests. It's a little crowded but the kids don't seem to mind and it's a great way to expend some energy in the winter. Swimming is always good for appetites and sleep.
The Recreation Department also operates 7 outdoor pools from Memorial Day to Labor Day, including one in Bethesda and two in Silver Spring.
Montgomery Aquatic Center, 5900 Executive Boulevard, N. Bethesda, 301.468.4211
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