Not lucky enough to live near a big, cool body of water? You can still find heat relief in your hometown. Just look up for a rooftop swimming pool at a hotel near you.
You’d be surprised how many rooftop swimming pools there are in the country. We’ve all seen those glorious photos of luxury pools around the world: Singapore, Dubai, Bangkok or Ibiza. But what about Austin or Nashville or St. Louis? Well, GO Airport Shuttle has come across quite a few locations over the years that our customers have enjoyed. Read on, and get your sunblock and swim suit ready for a little summer fun high above the city. It’ll be heavenly.
Even cities like Chicago and San Diego, with real beaches right there, offer lots of rooftop swim experiences. So, just in case you have an aversion for sand between your toes, check out these suggestions for rooftop hotel swimming pools in Chicago and San Diego. They run the gamut between small relaxing secluded dips to large 3-lane lap fests. Who knew?
Boy, do you need a break from summer in Arizona! Some Arizonans head north to the Tonto forests to cool off. But right in Tucson sits one of the most highly recommended rooftop pools in the U.S. at the Graduate Hotel. It’s close to the University and run by Hilton, and the pool looks to be very refreshing, with possibly the best aerial view in town. There’s also a 24-hour fitness center below.
Up in Phoenix, which should be cooler, but it’s not, you’ll find several options, with some not even requiring a hotel stay. There’s Skysail in West Tempe, the Kimpton Palomar, or the Omni in Scottsdale. You can get the full Phoenix pool story right here from a local to help you choose your destination.
They do everything big in Texas, so you’ll find quite a few rooftop pools in Houston. You’ll get a grand overview of options here. Some as high up as 16 floors, with plenty of lounge chairs and umbrellas. Yet, something different awaits at the Marriott: a lazy river to help your troubles just drift away in a flow of cool clear water. Ahhhh!
Part of the Autograph Collection, the Otis Hotel in central Austin offers a poolside bar and sun deck in addition to great views of the Austin skyline while you’re practicing your backstroke. As an added plus, you’ll be steps away from museums and the Urban Pease Park when you dry off. And the Otis is just one of many options.
Of course, if you’re afraid of heights, Austin offers a range a ground level public swimming, in what they lovingly refer to as great “swimming holes.” Check out the best of the pack here.
Being in the center of a Southern state, Atlanta has a long history of providing refreshing water activities for residents. The hotels are no different. Two exceptional choices would be the Nobu Hotel, and the oddly named Hotel Phoenix. The Nobu offers a salt water experience with poolside cabanas overlooking the Buckhead skyline.
Brand new, the Hotel Phoenix sits at the very heart of where the city was first founded. It’s part of a huge redevelopment in the Centennial section. What a pleasant break from the traffic hubbub of metro Atlanta. Your poolside lounge is waiting for you.
Being very very land-locked, Nashville has to offer a lot more than music, music, music during these hot summer days. You can swim, swim, swim. It seems like every hotel in town offers a rooftop swimming opportunity. Some require overnight stays, and some a daily “resort pass.” You’ll find a great source of options here. One that gets a lot of attention is the Cambria Hotel. It’s located right in the heart of Music City, so yes, you’ll be able to hear music from all the rooftop bars in town while you splash around.
This being the country’s semiquincentennial, a visit to our nation’s capital might be in order. But summers in D.C. can be beastly (notice how frequently our elected officials get out of town). For a full view of your swimming options, you can check this local source. There are quite a few pools to check out, some offer dining options right along side the pool deck. Either way, you’ll be able to check out some of the iconic Washington monuments across the skyline.
One hotel that gets mentioned a lot is Hotel Zena, a hotel built on inclusivity is their marketing position. Checking their availability for pool potential popped up a new source you might find useful, “Resort Pass,” which links you to hotels offering daily resort possibilities across the country. Check it out.
Sitting in a central state, lolling on the banks of the Mississippi, St. Louis reaches for the top in the roof side swimming category. And we saved the best for last with the Last Hotel in downtown St. Louis. A five-minute walk from the Washington Avenue Historic District and the nearby City Museum, if you ever leave the pool. But you won’t find a better place to sit back and relax and let the world’s worries wash away.
It’s easy to enjoy a refreshing pool and swim experience, even if you don’t live in a town with nearby beaches. All you have to do is look up. And look to your friends at GO Airport Shuttle for any transportation needs you might have getting to and from your destination hotel and airport. Dive in!