memberships

Outdoor swimming pools in and around Washington, DC

April 22, 2021

Looks like this summer will welcome swimmers to outdoor pools in some capacity. We are seeing more pools opening their doors for this summer which has us looking forward to cooling off, meeting friends and practicing our strokes at our favorite pool. There are several great pools in the area you can become a member of if you want a go-to place to splash around and become a regular swimmer at. Many of these pools offer multiple pools and some have swim lessons and even swim teams during a regular season! If you aren’t looking for a paid membership at a pool, DC DPR has a pool for you, free of cost if you are a DC resident. However, they have not announced yet if they will re-open {they were closed last year}.

Omni Shoreham Hotel Pool (NW DC)
Reopening with COVID-19 compliant procedures on April 15th until October 31st, open daily from 6am-10pm. Reservations are required for each guest attending the pool on Friday, Saturday and Sunday plus holidays and high demands days. Reservations are only available for registered hotel guests and pool members. One reservation per day, per hotel guest room or pool membership.

Beauvoir Pool (NW DC)
Beauvoir is pleased to extend pool memberships for summer 2021 to Beauvoir families, neighbors and friends. The Beauvoir pool is located on the grounds of the Washington National Cathedral behind Beauvoir. The pool is open from Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day Weekend.

Cleveland Park Club (NW DC)
Cleveland Park, North Cleveland Park and Woodley Park residents are welcome to join the pool. The Cleveland Park Club’s pool offers open swim, swim instruction, and camp swim. In addition to the heated main pool, the Club has an in-ground kiddie pool, with continually filtered water. Voting members enjoy full access to the Club’s pool. Social + Activity members pay the discounted member rates for swim instruction and camp, but otherwise, do not have access to the pool.

JBAB Base Pool (SW DC)
Located next to the Bolling Club, the JBAB outdoor swimming pool offers lap swim, open swim and swimming lessons for ages 4 and older. Active duty service members and Air Force club members receive free pool access during the entire swimming season. Seasonal pool passes are available on site for frequent swimmers.

Montgomery County Recreation (Montgomery Co, MD)
Beginning May 1, 2021 pool passes will be available for purchase online. Non-county residents may purchase a pass to use our facilities.

Tilden Woods Pool (Rockville, MD)
For more than 50 years, Tilden Woods Pool has established itself as the summertime heart of the community. The pool comes alive with activities for the entire family, both day and night. Swim in a heated pool, enjoy cookouts, raft nights, or relax in the sun or shade. Don’t forget the spirited Tilden Woods swim team.

Merrimack Pool (Bethesda, MD)
The current plan is to open on May 15 and close on September 26. The swim and dive teams will return this season with scheduled practices. They expect to start the season with a reservation system and to limit pool entry to those who have reserved a particular time slot. They have a kiddie and intermediate pool in addition to the large pool.

Mohican Swimming Pool (Bethesda, MD)
Full memberships are available to those applicants residing in the area encompassed by the Capital Crescent Trail, the Potomac River, Goldsboro Road, and River Road, or in the Town of Glen Echo. Individuals living outside of this zone may apply for late summer only memberships.They have an expansive 8-lane, 25 meter competition pool and a large diving well with two 1-meter boards. In addition, there is a large kiddie pool and a large transition pool which is perfect for kids just learning to swim.

Old Farm (N Bethesda, MD)
The pool offers a host of summer activities that include swim and dive teams, family fun nights, potluck dinners, major holiday picnics, and more. Recreation area includes a basketball court, shuffleboard court, toddler play area with sandbox, and sand volleyball court. They offer a fenced-in baby pool and a roped-off, shallow section of the main pool for infants and new swimmers. Included in membership is the opportunity to play paddle tennis.

Robin Hood Swim Club (Silver Spring, MD)
Robin Hood Swim Club is a family-focused, member-owned neighborhood pool, located in a secluded setting off Randolph Road, close to New Hampshire Avenue. From the beautiful, newly renovated pool to volleyball, basketball and tennis courts, Robin Hood offers something for everyone. The renowned swim and dive teams welcome young swimmers and divers of all levels, and grownups get their game on in Robin Hood’s in-house volleyball league. With a social calendar packed full of activities for adults and kids alike, Robin Hood is the place to be for a summer-long vacation!

Potomac Woods (Rockville, MD)
There are no geographical boundaries for membership. They currently have full (bonded) and summer (temporary) memberships available. Facilities include a 25-meter heated pool with a diving well, water slide and beach-entry shallow end with many water features including fountains. There is a separate children’s wading pool.

Connecticut Belair Club (Silver Spring, MD)
Extra large main pool with diving well and a separate wading pool with a playground area. Tennis courts, volleyball, basketball, shuffle board, and ping pong. Radical tube slide standing 19 feet tall – while sliding over 100 feet into the water. They have a full service snack bar and many social activities throughout the season. Your kids can even Join the GATORS, a competitive, exciting & fun swim team.

Columbus Club (Arlington, VA)
The current operational plan is to open the facility for free swim, wading pool usage, picnic grounds by reservation only, and recreational equipment on the grounds. Pending any new guidance from the CDC and state, operational procedures are subject to change and will keep members informed.

Pools with waitlists:
Northwest Branch Pool (Silver Spring, MD)
Palisades Swim & Tennis Club (Cabin John, MD)
Chevy Chase Recreation Association: CCRA (Chevy Chase, MD)
Bannockburn Swim & Dive Club (Bethesda, MD)
Adelphi Pool (Hyattsville, MD)
Carderock Springs Swim & Tennis Club (Bethesda, MD)
Arlington Forest Club (Arlington, VA)
Tuckahoe Recreation Club (McLean, VA)

Living Well Health Club at Washington Hilton (NW DC)
Currently closed

Memberships and experiences for families in and around Washington, DC

November 27, 2019

Memberships:

National Building Museum (note: the Museum is closed through March 2020)
The Museum inspires curiosity about the world we design and build.

FONZ (Friends of the National Zoo)
FONZ helps the Smithsonian’s National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute save species through educational and fun experiences, the power of our members, and funding for critical work. Membership levels vary, but most come with free parking as well as carousel ride vouchers and discounts on food, camps and classes.

KID Museum
KID Museum is an innovative learning space unlike any other in the Washington, DC region. The museum provides impactful hands-on learning that incorporates STEM, art and culture with 21st century skills like creativity and critical thinking. All members receive free museum admission, discounts on workshops, camps, birthday party packages and museum store purchases as well as early access registration to campsInvitations to member-only parties and events.

Elemeno
Based on leading early childhood development science and Montessori educational models, SkillZone not only entertains the little ones but helps them develop critical skills as they play and make new friends. Memberships vary from unlimited access to just a few visits per month. All memberships include the entire (immediate) family and require only a 2-month minimum with no contracts.

Adventure Theatre
A large part of the ATMTC audience returns to see multiple shows. A Flex Pass is good for 10 tickets each to see any Adventure Theatre MTC Professional Production in the season! Benefits include savings of $50 on tickets and fees, ability to schedule your tickets before the general public and free exchanges for the entire season.

Imagination Stage
Becoming a subscriber or a flex pack member and enjoy many benefits for both. Ticket savings, discounts on camps, priority seating and early access to highly anticipated shows.

Playseum
Indoor play space with a variety of themed rooms, allowing for a creative, unique experience, with a membership your family gets the best value. Visit multiple times and save!

Politics & Prose
Support one of our local and amazing bookstores! Member Rewards every time you shop—for every 20 items of merchandise purchased, get 10% back in store credit, 20% off storewide during several member sales (not counted toward Member Rewards), early notice of upcoming ticketed events, 11 monthly events calendars and a holiday newsletter mailed to you each year, discounts on packages for ticketed events (ticket and book) and discounts on classes.

National Aquarium
Various membership options available. A family membership comes with free daily admission for one year, VIP express entry through Member Entrance, no reservations required, discounted guest tickets, discounted parking, tours and special experiences, free member-only events, 10 percent discount on all gift shop, café and photo purchases, free subscription to Watermarks, their member magazine and is tax-deductible within guidelines of U.S. law.

Maryland Science Center
The museum includes interactive exhibits, a planetarium, live shows, and many science encounters. Membership includes many benefits such as discounts, free admission to the Science Center and more!

Port Discovery Children’s Museum
A membership to Port Discovery Children’s Museum provides you with unlimited admission to a fun, engaging experience the whole family will enjoy and that will make for a day well spent each and every time you visit! Good news: your membership helps support our mission to help children to discover and explore the world around them and to lead smarter, healthier, more engaged lives.

The Lane Social Club (Opening late winter in Ivy City)
Two types of membership – family memberships and parental leave memberships. Parental leave memberships are best for those families with babies under 1 year old who are looking for a space to bond with their babies and meet other new parents. For those families with bigger kids looking to come enjoy the space together and build community, a family membership is for them. About The Lane: The two-level concept will feature one-of-a-kind play structures for children, comfortable seating areas for parents and caregivers, exciting programming for the whole family, a café and bar serving food and drinks from local makers, and private spaces for celebrations, classes, and other special events.

Don’t want to commit to a family membership quite yet? Try Pearachute, which allows you to drop in to classes, events, vouchers and more to try out new places. Plan out your child’s week on the app, and sign them up for a new activity each day, or more than one a day! It’s flexible and easy to experience classes without a 6-8 week commitment like most classes.

Experiences:

Bistro Petite cooking classes

Sign your Bambino and self (or nanny/grandparent) up for an outdoor session with Tinkergarten.

Tidal Basin pedal boating and swan boat tickets or head to one of these boathouses for some Spring & Summer kayaking: Ballpark Boathouse, Fletcher’s Boathouse, Mariner Sailing School, The Wharf

Purchase Washington Nationals tickets for the upcoming season as well as our other home teams: DC United, Washington Wizards, Washington Capitals, Washington Mystics and Washington Redskins

Painting classes with your Bambino

SUP Paddleboard on the Potomac

Climb to new heights together (and even purchase a membership if you love it)

Join a running club

Volunteer as a family

Hit some balls together at Top Golf and reserve a bay

Grab tickets to see a show together

iFLY indoor skydiving for ages 3 and up

Learn to fish

Ice skate around Washington, DC

Head to a holiday show, ballet or concert

Take your Bambinos and experience holiday tea together

Winter classes make for a great gift

Related:
Subscription Boxes for Bambinos

16 pools worth the cost of membership in and around Washington, DC

April 24, 2019

An updated version of this post can be found here

Summer is right around the corner! There are several great pools in the area you can become a member of if you want a go-to place to splash around and become a regular swimmer at, offering you a sense of community as the number of members are typically capped at a low number. Many of these pools offer multiple pools and some have swim lessons and even swim teams! If you aren’t looking for a paid membership at a pool, DC DPR has a pool for you, free of cost if you are a DC resident. Here’s an old post of recommended swim lessons collected from readers.

This post is sponsored by Adelphi Pool; a family-friendly, affordable pool right around the corner.

Join the family-friendly Adelphi Pool in Hyattsville and spend your summer lounging by the Olympic-sized pool or keep cool as you watch your little ones play in the 30′ x 30′ fenced-in wading pool! With long hours and fun events like karaoke, raft night and s’mores night, everyone will be happy and cool at the Adelphi Pool this summer!

Surrounded by trees and open spaces, the Adelphi Pool also has plenty of places to sit and relax or enjoy a picnic lunch — choose shade or sun! On the hill overlooking the pool is a shaded picnic area where families can enjoy food from home or cookout on one of the pool’s grills.

This private pool offers free swimming lessons at the beginning of the season for your little ones, a swim team for the older kids, as well as yoga classes. The pool also offers volleyball, ping pong, badminton, and horseshoes.

Beauvoir Pool (NW DC)
*Family and individual memberships sold out for 2019, early bird and evening memberships available.

Tilden Woods Pool (Rockville, MD)
*The pool comes alive with activities for the entire family, both day and night. Swim in a heated pool, enjoy cookouts, raft nights, or relax in the sun or shade. They also have a top-ranked swim team.

Omni Shoreham Hotel Pool (NW DC)
*Pool memberships for purchase in addition to joining the health club.

Cleveland Park Club (NW DC)
*Cleveland Park, North Cleveland Park and Woodley Park residents.

Living Well Health Club at Washington Hilton (NW DC)
*Health club and pool memberships.

JBAB Base Pool (SW DC)
*Active duty service members and Air Force club members receive free pool access during the entire swimming season. Swim passes available for purchase.

Palisades Swim & Tennis Club (Cabin John, MD)
*Current waitlist time is approximately 8 to 10 years for new applicants applying.

Northwest Branch Pool (Silver Spring, MD)
*Current waitlist time is approximately 2 years for new applicants applying.

Palisades Swim & Tennis Club (Cabin John, MD)
*Current waitlist time is approximately 8 to 10 years for new applicants applying.

Chevy Chase Recreation Association: CCRA (Chevy Chase, MD)
*Memberships may be offered only to those residing within a specific geographic area of Chevy Chase, Maryland. Permanent memberships are unrestricted, but have a waiting list of about 5-7 years while partial summer membership has a waitlist of 1-3 months.

Connecticut Belair Club (Silver Spring, MD)
*Membership is not limited in any way by geography.

Tuckahoe Recreation Club (McLean, VA)
*Open year round that offers its members a healthy family environment with many outstanding facilities and activities for everyone in the family to enjoy.

Columbus Club (Arlington, VA)
*Open to non-council members as well.

Overlee Community Association (Arlington, VA)
*Limited to families living in Arlington, Falls Church, and McLean.

Arlington Forest Club (Arlington, VA)
*Has a waitlist of over 500 families.