Sport Today

   1. A swim center in the Rockville/Bethesda area. Would someone have the
 address/Telephone # of this place? Any other information would also be
 appreciated.

                             or

   2. Is there a State of ***ia Rec center with pool in the Arlington area?
 I'd also need an address/telephone # and anything else you could provide.

    Thanks in advance.

                                  --Rich

-Jeff Roddin

pool for serious lap swimming before I make hotel

       - Washington-Lee High, Fairfax Drive : 25 yard lap pool
       very close to the Ballston Metro station

It is quite far out if what you are planning to do is sightsee
Washington.  The Arlington County HS pools (three of them) are
closer in.

In DC itself, there is LC pool outside on Haines Point (quite
safe it right next to the US Park Police HQ.  It is officially
known at East Potomac Park.  It is operated by DC Rec and Parks
whose phone number is 202-576-6436.  They also have a pool in
Georgetown and the Francis pool just west of DuPont Circle.
Check with them for pool hours.  They are varying quite a bit
this summer due to the tight District budget.

A very nice, very uncrowded pool is at Prince George's Comm Coll,
its a 50m by 25y pool.  Phone number is 301-336-6000. There are
three LC pools (indoors) in Fairfax Cty run by their park
authority.  They are Oak Marr, Lee Dist and Wakefield.  They also
have at least 4 SC pools.  The City of Alexandria has a pool.

Finally their is LC Pool run by the Md Natl Capital Park Auth
called Fairland that is south of Laurel; just off of I-95.  They
also have a bunch of smaller pools.

I'd decide where I wanted to stay to sightsee and then see what
pool is most convenient.

        (Note:  Not one of these 50m pools ever sets up for a
LC workout!!!  Hains Point does, but it is outdoors, as stated.)

: It is quite far out if what you are planning to do is sightsee
: Washington.  The Arlington County HS pools (three of them) are
: closer in.

        MAC is, however, about as convenient to Metro as
you can get.  Oak Marr (mentioned below) is fairly close to the
Vienna Metro, but still requires a drive.

: A very nice, very uncrowded pool is at Prince George's Comm Coll,
: its a 50m by 25y pool.  Phone number is 301-336-6000. There are

        Two problems with that:  I'm not sure if they're easily
open to the general public, and they aren't convenient to
anything except USAir Arena.  But it's a great facility.

: three LC pools (indoors) in Fairfax Cty run by their park
: authority.  They are Oak Marr, Lee Dist and Wakefield.  They also
: have at least 4 SC pools.  The City of Alexandria has a pool.

        Alexandria's pool is Chinquapin Rec Center.  Fairfax
County also has smaller public pools in Falls Church (Providence),
Springfield (South Run) and McLean (Spring Hill).  If the
family wants to shop at in the Tysons Corner Mega-Mall area,
Spring Hill is very close to that.

: Finally their is LC Pool run by the Md Natl Capital Park Auth
: called Fairland that is south of Laurel; just off of I-95.  They
: also have a bunch of smaller pools.

        Much as I admire the building, Fairland is the _worst_
choice for training.  (No reflection on the person posting
this information!)  Clocks are badly placed, water temperature
is way too high, and the price has gone up.  And unless you're
going to Baltimore, it's inconvenient to anything.

: I'd decide where I wanted to stay to sightsee and then see what
: pool is most convenient.

        If it 'twere me, I'd stay in Fairfax, utilize Oak Marr,
and take Metro into the city.  Also convenient to Manassas
Battlefield Park and I-66 out to the Shenandoah.  Watch out for
the flash flooding if you go west this week, though.

        Maybe we ought to have a FAQ on DC swimming, written
by someone named Jeff, obviously.

===============================================
|  James G. Acker                             |

===============================================
All comments are the personal opinion of the writer
and do not constitute policy and/or opinion of government
or corporate entities.

You should try to find the book Swimmer's Guide in a bookstore.  There is
plenty of place to swim.  Or if you don't find it in a store, you might
call Swimming world at 310 607 9956.  They have this book for sell. The price
is $16.95 plus shipping and handling.
                                             Bruno...