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Loren Eiseley said, “If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water.” Summer is here and the water is calling. For the most effective cool off or just to keep the kids occupied, swimming is a fun and affordable way to beat the heat. Indoors or out, splash around at one of these awesome local swimming spots.

Indoor Swimming

South Sound YMCA Briggs Community location offers swim lessons for all ages, including private lessons. Members can enjoy the pool during open swim hours. For an enjoyable and rewarding challenge, sign up for the swim team or synchronized swimming. Get fit in the water with the extensive water fitness classes.

Not a member? Those who experience disability can swim for $5 on Sundays 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Guests can join a member for a free day pass up to three times per year. A family day pass is $25. The South Sound YMCA offers a Personal Pricing Plan for a discount off of standard membership dues. The discount is determined based on household income and the number of dependents.

Discover Aquatics Swim School
Discover Aquatics Swim School wants families to spend valuable quality time together. Open swims are $7 per person for non-enrolled families and $5 per person for enrolled families. Photo courtesy: Discover Aquatics Swim School

Discover Aquatics has a warm 88-degree saline pool that is open year-round. Family open swims are Fridays from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Discover Aquatics also hosts a monthly Parents Night Out, for kids ages 5 to 12. Kids enjoy movies, pizza, and fun while parents have a chance to go out while the lifeguards watch the kids. Cost is $25 and $20 for each additional sibling. Be sure to call 360-867-9283 to reserve a spot.

Outdoor Swimming

With almost 1,000 feet of shoreline, Kenneydell County Park on Black Lake is the perfect spot to cool down in the developed swimming area. Make a splash off the dock for jumping, or small swimmers can wade out from the pebbly beach.

The City of Lacey’s 10-acre Long Lake Park offers a great 285-foot beach. Swim in the developed area safely with lifeguards on duty Wednesdays to Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. until September 1. There are no lifeguards on duty Mondays and Tuesdays.

Lake Swimming
Be safe while swimming. Always swim with a buddy and never leave young children unattended near water. Young children or inexperienced swimmers should wear U.S. Coast Guard-approved life jackets around water. Photo credit: Krysta Carper

For more water adventures at Long Lake Park, rent paddleboards or kayaks from Northwest Paddle Surfers. Open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. weather permitting, rates start at $25 per hour. Get a 20% discount for active or retired military personnel.

With over 840 acres, Millersylvania State Park boasts 3,300 feet of shore on Deep Lake. With two swimming beaches, there is plenty of room to spread out. Rent kayaks, paddleboards, and pedal boats to explore the lake more. A Discover Pass is required for vehicle access for day use at $10 or purchase an annual pass for $30. Or for a free day when no pass is required, celebrate the National Park Service’s 103rd birthday on August 25 or National Public Lands Day on September 28.

Columbus Park at Black Lake is another great outdoor swimming destination. For something different, they have a water trampoline in thier roped-off swim area. Check their website for the fees and hours for the current year.

For a unique swimming environment, don’t miss Tenino Quarry Pool. The historic sandstone quarry has a lifeguard on duty at all times. Small children enjoy a shallow wading pool, and more experienced swimmers will love the two diving boards. Relax in nature with a wonderful waterfall pouring over the towering stone walls until September 1. This one-of-a-kind pool is open Tuesdays through Sundays, from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Cost is $3 per person living inside the Tenino School District or $5 for those living outside the area. Buy more and save with day pass punch cards. Pay for 9 swims and get one free at $27 within Tenino School District or $45 for all others.

Other Swimming Options

Great Wolf Lodge
For savings at Great Wolf Lodge check for promo codes. They also offer a Howling Heroes discount of up to 30% to active, retired, and veteran military, fire, emergency medical service personnel, 911 dispatchers, police and correctional officers. Photo credit: Krysta Carper

Great Wolf Lodge, although not thrifty, now offers day passes. Enjoy the water park all day without the cost of renting a room. Prices vary depending on the day but kids under two are free. If a staycation is what you are looking for, check out their early saver deals. Reserve at least 60 days in advance and save up to 50%.

For the littles, spray parks offer a safe way to cool down in the summer. Open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. until September, Heritage Park Fountain is just over one acre of splashing good fun.

The East Bay Public Plaza features a wading stream and a demonstration wetland fed by reclaimed water. Learn through play with the educational discovery markers, interactive stream features, interpretive panels, and art. Complete with a waterfall the project is designed to mimic a natural stream and is open for the season until October.

Woodruff Park will soon be the location to a new 1,590-square-foot sprayground. The first of its kind in the area, this fun addition to the area’s parks will open this summer.

Pull out the swimsuit and shorts and find the magic of the water for some summer fun. There’s nothing like a refreshing dip when the weather is hot. From young to old, there are so many options for some watery fun.

Thrifty Thurston highlights inexpensive family fun in Thurston County. The weekly series focuses on family-friendly activities throughout our community. If you have a suggestion for a post, send us a note at submit@thurstontalk.com. For more events and to learn what’s happening in Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater and the surrounding area, visit our complete events calendar.

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