The Life Aquatic
Dive into Austin's best indoor pools to keep the winter blues at bay
In a city known for easy living on the lake and in the springs, winter gloom can hit hard. While Austin trails are lovely in any season, you may long for summer days spent poolside, or perhaps you're trying to stay in fighting shape through the holiday season. Dive into the warm waters of indoor swimming with these top recommendations.
YMCA
This community pillar has long offered indoor swimming. Membership to the YMCA gets you access to all eight Austin-area locations, their long hours (5:30 am to 10 pm most weekdays), plus their facilities and classes. Portions of the membership fee go toward supporting community programs. But perhaps the best feature is the suit spinner, which dries your suit while you get showered and ready for the rest of your day.
The Hills of Lakeway
For the swanky swimmer, give The Hills a try. Members enjoy Austin's only facility with both indoor and outdoor pools heated year-round, plus picturesque trails to run, a fitness center, and more. Located along Eanes Creek, this private facility emphasizes wellness and luxury. The indoor pool is 25 meters long with three lanes. The Hills is a club restricted to members only, so it's a good fit for those who want a retreat within the city.
Gregory Gym Aquatic Complex
Free to current students and discounted for Texas Exes, the Gregory Gym Aquatic Complex is the stuff of legend. Boasting five pools and a spa, the facility features two indoor pools in the balmy range of 81 to 87 degrees to keep you warm this winter. The lap pool has seven lanes and depths of up to 9 feet. Looking to relieve some stress? Take a dip in the leisure pool and wash your cares away.
Tom's Dive & Swim
Did you know less than 0.3 percent of people dive? Tom's Dive & Swim wants to change that. The heated indoor pool is a comfortable 90 degrees year-round. To use the pool you must take classes, be it standard swimming, scuba, or underwater photography lessons. If you're looking to join a community of deep-water swimmers, this is the place for you. Ask about winter discounts.
Big Stacy Pool
Want to know outdoor public pool Big Stacy's big secret? This spring-fed pool is naturally warm in the winter with water temperatures around 80 degrees. Entry to Big Stacy is absolutely free and there are showers and heated changing rooms onsite. If you like to swim every day, you know chlorine can be hell on your hair, but spring water means the chlorine levels are low at this cult favorite. Tell a friend, but maybe just one. Big Stacy devotees appreciate the relatively uncrowded atmosphere.