Beaches, pools and swimming in general (Everett: triathlon, train, pool)

[mkarch]

I'm not a big fan of swimming in the cold lakes here (Ex lifeguard/instructor) so I've taken my chances in the warmer ones. Never had an issue with swimmers itch even in greenlake, but you're best off taking a full soap shower afterwards. Any lake with water fowl has the issue.

Matthews beach park does have a swimming area, but it's not that warm - same with Magnuson. Madison/Madrona are better from what I remember. Supposedly North Beach is warm enough to swim at during the summer due to the long, shallow bay but I haven't had a chance to try it yet.

[BellevueNative]

Lake Washington water temp is fine after you've been in it a few minutes. It's just the first seconds you dive in that are cold! Then it becomes refreshing.

Yes, some people do join country clubs here. Some communities are even built around them. Some examples: Medina (Overlake GCC), Broadmoor (in Madison Park), Harbour Point (in Mukilteo), Mill Creek, Inglewood (in Kenmore), Snoqualmie.

[fnh]

I've been looking at swimming possibilities too since I will be in Seattle over the summer by myself with two kids who, being from TX, are big swimmers. I am especially curious to hear about Madrona Beach since we are not too far from there.

But I'm surprised no one has yet mentioned Colman Pool! Online it looks great, and it's in West Seattle, right? A place that angelenogirl would like to be. A heated saltwater pool with views, plus a giant tube slide. Is it as nice as it looks?

[Ira500]

Originally Posted by fnh

I've been looking at swimming possibilities too since I will be in Seattle over the summer by myself with two kids who, being from TX, are big swimmers. I am especially curious to hear about Madrona Beach since we are not too far from there.

But I'm surprised no one has yet mentioned Colman Pool! Online it looks great, and it's in West Seattle, right? A place that angelenogirl would like to be. A heated saltwater pool with views, plus a giant tube slide. Is it as nice as it looks?

Colman Pool is awesome, but it gets very crowded. But yes, it is as nice as it looks. It's right in beautiful Lincoln Park.

[angelenogirl]

mkarch: Do people take a soap shower immediately after getting out, in the public showers? Or do you mean you should take one as soon as you get home?

BellevueNative: Thanks for the info. Like I said, I'm not really the type, but in my search for swimming I saw some in-city CCs. I'd never really seen one smack dab in the middle of a city, so I just wondered if that's a good option for swimming.

fnh & Ira: I will definitely be checking out Colman pool! The pictures look nice. Ira, is it less crowded during weekdays during the summer, or is it always crazy?

[mkarch]

Originally Posted by Ira500

Colman Pool is awesome, but it gets very crowded. But yes, it is as nice as it looks. It's right in beautiful Lincoln Park.

It's a beautiful pool and it's one of the 'faster' ones in the area thanks to the added buoyancy of the salt water. I think I've blocked it from memory after too many mornings as a teenager spent trekking down the bluff at 7am to freezing cold locker rooms before hitting the pool when it's 50 degrees outside. Since it's on the west side of the bluff, it's really REALLY cold there in the early mornings through most of the summer.

As for greenlake, yes, I'd wait until I got home to shower. It may have been luck that I never had a problem.

[Ira500]

Originally Posted by angelenogirl

mkarch: Do people take a soap shower immediately after getting out, in the public showers? Or do you mean you should take one as soon as you get home?

BellevueNative: Thanks for the info. Like I said, I'm not really the type, but in my search for swimming I saw some in-city CCs. I'd never really seen one smack dab in the middle of a city, so I just wondered if that's a good option for swimming.

fnh & Ira: I will definitely be checking out Colman pool! The pictures look nice. Ira, is it less crowded during weekdays during the summer, or is it always crazy?

Yeas, it's less crowded weekdays in the summer. But still crowded. I think the Mounger Pool in Magnolia is also salt water.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by mkarch

I'm not a big fan of swimming in the cold lakes here (Ex lifeguard/instructor) so I've taken my chances in the warmer ones. Never had an issue with swimmers itch even in greenlake, but you're best off taking a full soap shower afterwards. Any lake with water fowl has the issue.

Matthews beach park does have a swimming area, but it's not that warm - same with Magnuson. Madison/Madrona are better from what I remember. Supposedly North Beach is warm enough to swim at during the summer due to the long, shallow bay but I haven't had a chance to try it yet.

Honey, if you want cold water, try swimming in Puget Sound! Matthews Beach, etc. ARE the warm alternative, lol! Besides, the purpose of swimming in hot weather is to cool you off, right? You want the water to be cool, refreshing, invigorating.

[Ira500]

Originally Posted by Ruth4Truth

Honey, if you want cold water, try swimming in Puget Sound! Matthews Beach, etc. ARE the warm alternative, lol! Besides, the purpose of swimming in hot weather is to cool you off, right? You want the water to be cool, refreshing, invigorating.

I've gone swimming in Puget Sound. In my much younger days. Now, I think you'd have to be insane or have a very expensive wet suit to do it. I've never been colder in my life, and i wasn't even in that long.

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by Ira500

I've gone swimming in Puget Sound. In my much younger days. Now, I think you'd have to be insane or have a very expensive wet suit to do it. I've never been colder in my life, and i wasn't even in that long.

Puget sound definitely is an acquired taste. Women don't need a wetsuit for it though; we have a built-in subcutaneous insulation layer.

OP, showering off when you get home from a swim is fine re: swimmer's itch avoidance.