From a lush desert oasis to a cool escape for the kids.
By Suzanne Oliver
Fontainebleau, Miami Beach
A fruity drink in one hand, a bottle of sunscreen in the other — that’s the ultimate form of relaxation. Nothing beats the heat or zaps stress like a refreshing swim in the pool. Dip your toes in some of the country’s most luxurious, most entertaining pools. Some properties tout slick waterslides for the kids while others incorporate tranquil waterfalls or thrilling shark tanks. Pools are always a great excuse for a party with friends. Girlfriends can lounge in plush cabanas while larger groups can rent out a private space. Either way, toast the good life.
Clarendon Hotel in Phoenix
The Clarendon is a hip boutique hotel in the Arizona capital’s Midtown Museum District with a rooftop deck as well as a courtyard pool called The Oasis. “It’s as if we’ve transported the sounds of Oak Creek Canyon in Sedona to the heart of Phoenix,” the website reads. Phoenix Magazine even named The Oasis one of the “Valley’s Coolest Hotel Pools.” The heated pool is packed with extras such as underwater speakers, fountains, and an Italian tile mural with gold and platinum accents. At night, nearly 1,000 little stars illuminate the bottom of the pool. There’s also a giant, glass water wall soaring two stories tall, and a 50-person Jacuzzi with scalp-and-shoulder massaging jets. Even those not staying at the hotel can take a dip and then recline on the candy-striped cabanas for $10. Towels and sunscreen are included.
CoCo Key Water Resort in Orlando
Built specifically with groups in mind, this new waterpark is an affordable option compared to some of the pricey theme parks nearby. Tickets for groups of 50 or more are $9.95 during the week and $19.95 on the weekend. “We know that affordability remains the driving factor for most leaders when it comes to planning, so we’ve purposely built this CoCo Key resort as an alternative that not only addresses value, but also delivers a comprehensive resort experience that’s ultra convenient and efficient for groups,” said Frank Fry, general manager of the CoCo Key Hotel and Water Resort-Orlando. The attraction, which opened this past April next to its family-friendly hotel, includes four pools, eight waterslides and an arcade, all in a tropical setting of palm trees and thatched roofs. There’s even a special pool for teens. For groups, CoCo Key offers discounts on breakout rooms and a separate lounge for the tour leader.
Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel in Anaheim
This lavish lodge embodies American Craftsman architecture in details from the lobby to the lounge chairs. Just so happens this rugged elegance is inside Disney’s California Adventure theme park and steps away from Downtown Disney. A Ferris wheel and a roller coaster tower behind the property’s three pools. The Fountain Pool is a peaceful respite with its ornamental turtle, while the Mariposa Pool beckons with four private cabanas and a hot tub. Kids love the Redwood Pool and its waterslide that winds around a replica redwood.
Fontainebleau in Miami Beach
Dripping in glamour, this 1950s resort is no stranger to Hollywood. Hit movies such as “Scarface” and “Goldfinger” featured Miami’s lavish lifestyle alongside Fontainebleau’s oceanfront pool. Rumor has it the hotel was so exclusive and luxurious that it actually charged tourists for a peek at the property along Millionaire’s Row. The Miami Beach landmark, which underwent a billion dollar expansion/renovation in 2008, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. In addition to the main pool, which designer Morris Lapidus molded into his signature bow-tie design, there are nine other pools; one decked out with a swim-up bar. Children will enjoy the slide, water canons and wading pools, while adults clamor for the private cabanas stocked with mini fridges, flat-screen TVs and butler service. The cabanas are especially popular with groups.
Glenwood Hot Springs in Colorado’s Glenwood Springs
In 1888, the world’s largest hot springs pool sprang to life in the Rocky Mountains. The proprietors first quarried nearby sandstone to construct the walls of the swimming pool. Then they harnessed the 3.5 million gallons of hot mineral water that naturally bubbles out of the adjacent Yampah spring at a temperature of 122 degrees. To cool the pool down a bit, they added fresh water. Together, the heat and minerals soothe sore muscles and joints while moisturizing the skin. Glenwood Hot Springs claims that swimmers can start to feel a difference in just minutes. Used to be only the wealthy could entertain such pampering, but today it’s a universal treat, mixing therapy and recreation. The big pool, stretching more than two city blocks, is kept at a comfortable 90 to 93 degrees year-round. Guests can practice their dives and swim laps in the deep end. The smaller therapy pool raises the mercury to a toasty 104 degrees. Two four-story waterslides, a kiddie pool and a mini-golf course round out the fun. Access to the pool is complimentary for guests of the attached lodge. Those not renting a room can buy a ticket good for the whole day. Group rates for parties of 20 or more range from $8.25 to $17.25, depending on age, season and day of the week.
Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas
Las Vegas is known for its fabulous pools, so to stand out in a flashy crowd, a hotel/casino must incorporate the unexpected — and a shark tank will definitely draw attention. The Tank at the Golden Nugget is a $30 million complex boasting a three-story waterslide, waterfalls and a 200,000-gallon aquarium. The only thing separating swimmers from 16 sharks is a 4-inch, clear acrylic wall, but thankfully, as the property notes, “you’re in more danger at the roulette wheel.” Five species of sharks, stingrays and various fish, more than 300 animals in all, call the casino home. Best of all, the tubular slide actually plunges through the shark tank. Gaming tables, private cabanas, a fire pit and the H20 Bar surround the heated, fin-free pool. Adults are welcome to access The Hideout, a two-story infinity pool, via the third flood of The Tank.
Great Wolf Lodge in Charlotte
Overnight guests at this North Carolina lodge are invited to its indoor waterpark, where the temperature is always a comfortable 84 degrees. The exclusivity prevents crowds and long lines, so guests can get the most out of the rides and slides. First, there’s Fort Mackenzie, a four-story treehouse sporting suspension bridges, cargo nets and soaker buckets. When the warning bell rings, swimmers know the big bucket on top is about to dump 1,000 gallons of water on the kids below. Then, there’s Beaver Trail Lake, a wave pool with three-foot-tall swells. Grab a mat and race your family and friends down Mountain Edge Raceway, four side-by-side slides with sharp turns and dark tunnels. Then swirl down the Howlin’ Tornado funnel and catch a game of water basketball. Group rates are available for those booking 10 rooms or more.
Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort and Spa in San Antonio
Inspired by a century-old ranch, this 300-acre resort lauds its natural landscape of live oaks and a Texas tradition of warm hospitality. Here, guests can soak in the Southwest by way of a beautifully landscaped water playground. Rocks, trees and shrubs surround swimmers, providing privacy and lush scenery. There’s an adults-only pool, shaped like the Longhorn state, separated from an all-ages pool by a cascading waterfall. Visitors enjoy smashing games of water volleyball and basketball before dozing in the sun. The resort’s Windflower spa also has a private lap pool outside. The 950-foot Ramblin’ River is sure to float everyone’s boat. Drift along with the gentle current, then pop out of the inner tube for some sand time on the resort’s manmade beach.
IP Casino Resort Spa in Biloxi
Built atop the resort’s parking garage, this Olympic-size pool offers beautiful views of Mississippi’s Back Bay. Private, plush cabanas provide a shady hideaway, while chaise lounges placed in the pool’s shallow water beckon sunbathers. At one end of the deck, a giant screen, measuring almost 8-by-14 feet rises up against a backdrop of the bay. Lounging poolside, catch a movie or sports game, then grab a sandwich and frosty beverage from the adjacent Quench, a full-service restaurant.
Smugglers’ Notch Resort in Vermont
For more than 50 years, families have splashed the summer away at “America’s family resort.” Smugglers’ Notch consists of five communities of condos perched on a mountainside and a long list of amenities. Guests have eight heated pools, four waterslides, 2 hot tubs and numerous water playgrounds to choose from. Waterfalls, water cannons and floating “lily pads” add to the fun. Most of the pools are exclusive to guests, but the Mountainside area is open to a limited number of day guests; passes for adults are $44 and children are $34.
