Summer, summer, summertime. Time to sit back and unwind.

Yeah that's right, I'm breaking out DJ Jazzy Jeff and The Fresh Prince lyrics. (Normally, I would assume if you don't recognize these lyrics you're from an older generation than mine. However, if you don't know them and you're reading a blog, I'm more likely to assume I'm the one from the older generation - and that scares me.)

What better way to sit back and unwind on a hot summer day in St. Louis than to hang out at the pool. My wife and I are city residents and thought our pool-going options were pretty slim. If you're like us and don't live in a community that runs their own public pool (unless, for us, you count the YMCA run Carondelet Rec Plex), you may also feel left out. But I've done a little research recently and was pleasantly surprised to find that a majority of the pools run by various St. Louis area municipalities are available to non-residents.

Although you'll almost always pay more than your tax-paying resident counterparts, in several cases you don't even need to be an accompanying "guest" of someone else. Some aquatic centers are only available with a season pass, whereas others offer daily passes.

Next time you want a break from the heat, check out these St. Louis area pools (click the link to find detailed information on fees, locations and schedules):

Daily and Season passes available without accompanying "resident/member":
Crestwood Aquatic Center
Sunset Hills Aquatic Center (New in 2010)
North Pointe Family Aquatic Center (Ballwin)
The HEIGHTS (Richmond Heights; Indoor pool and water park)
St. Louis County Parks Aquatic Facilities (Kennedy Pool, North County Pool, St. Vincent Water Park)
Aquaport (Maryland Heights)

Season pass available without accompanying "resident/member":
Carondelet Rec Complex (New in 2010)
Shaw Park Aquatic Center (Clayton)

Daily admission as a "guest":
Carondelet Rec Complex (New in 2010)
Shaw Park Aquatic Center (Clayton)
Recreation Station Aquatic Center (Kirkwood)
Webster Groves Aquatic Center

Posted by Mike Cromie on Beyond Realty - St. Louis Real Estate Blog.