Getting Wet

Okay, I’ve once again become carried away with the post when there’s a frightening pile of laundry to be folded.  Have I mentioned that we’re taking another long car trip that begins day after tomorrow?  So you’d think that I’d take it easy and just work ahead on the weekend post, right?  I mean, that’s what would be sensible.  Instead, here’s a post on getting wet.

We spent the afternoon at the pool, and I barely managed to drag the girls home.  We love the pool & we’re finally at the age where I think it’s going to be pretty easy.  Two big girls were coaching J in swimming, and they were so effective that my friend joked that I should be paying them.  Love that!

Meanwhile there were ample examples of the perils of pools:  harried moms balancing the shrieking-afraid-of-the-water-kid against the Mommy-come-in-and-hold-me-I-love-it kid, parents juggling the not-potty-trained-baby-pool-toddler with the way-too-big-and-dignified-for-the-baby-pool kid, the moms of tiny kids suffering the invasion of big, scary, splashy kids on toddler turf, the obnoxious kid lying on a chaise yelling for mom to bring a snack, the obnoxious mom yelling from a chaise for her kid to behave without offering any consequences when the kid ignores her, and, for me, endlessly watching exciting  “tricks” such as J hopping all the way across the pool (“Mommy?  Are you still watching?”) and M stepping off the diving board again and again.

But hey!  It’s sunshine!  It’s exercise!  It’s good, wholesome fun that leaves everyone exhausted and ready for an early bedtime!  We haven’t quite gotten into our summertime groove yet, but I am eager to give it a try.

Here’s a big list of all sorts of ways to get wet.  The few places that haven’t opened yet are opening this weekend.  Yay, summer!

Pools:

• Albany Pools are listed here.  One mom recommended Westland Hill [alas; closed this season–thanks to commenters for the update, and check them out for more suggestions] which is a zero entry pool (for non-connoisseurs of pools, this means you walk in gradually, like a beach–good for the teensy kids).
• Schenectady Pools are listed here.  We’ve been to Central Park, which is very large  zero entry pool that’s often cold & crowded but conveniently close to the playground, and Front Street, which has a separate kiddy pool–I like it better, but it’s a bit of a walk over to the playground.
• In Troy, Prospect Park has a pool.
• Victoria Pool and Peerless Pool, both in Saratoga, are very popular with moms.  Our moms’ group does an annual Peerless Pool trip.  Believe it or not, I’ve never made it to either of them.  Chalk this up to me being a cheap mom who hates to drive.  Follow the link for hours & fees.

Beaches:

• There’s a beach at Collins Park in Scotia.  It’s free for residents, but non-residents can use it for a nominal fee (I forget how much it was, but it isn’t much).
• Sand Lake has a town beach.
• Thompson’s Lake State Park (west of Albany)
• Cherry Plain State Park (east of Albany)
• Grafton Lakes State Park (northeast of Albany)
• Little Troy Park (Charlton)
• Moreau Lake State Park (north of Albany)–you might remember that I went here recently.
• Beaches at Lake George:  at least one mom found the Million Dollar Beach worth the trip and appreciated the snack hut and changing rooms.

Streams or creeks for wading:

• In Rexford, you can pull over north of Rte. 146 just east of Hetcheltown Road, by the railroad, and there are trails that will lead you to Alplaus Creek.
• The gardens at Union College have a creek.  Overlooking the gardens, the large building is a student center, and you can go in to buy food or drinks or use the bathrooms.
• Plotter Kill in Rotterdam has waterfalls and places for wading.
• Kids’ Creekside Village Playground (FANS) in Ballston Spa has a short walking path up to a creek that’s nice for wading.
• Christman Sanctuary in Duanesburg has a creek and waterfalls.
• Peebles Island in Waterford has a waterfall.
• Thacher Park has waterfalls along the trail.
• In Saratoga State Park, the Geyser Creek runs right through and past the playground.
• Normanskill is in the town of Bethlehem.

Splash Fountains:

• There are splash fountains at the Beekman Street Playground and at the East Side Recreational Field in Saratoga.  These links are profiles by Malta Mama.
• Prospect Park in Troy has a splash fountain.
• Peerless Pool is also splashy.
• The City of Albany has a lovely chart of playgrounds that have pools or wading pools/splash fountains, and here’s a list of pools and splash spots.   Moms have told me that the spray parks at Lincoln Park, Sheridan & Dove, Westland Hills and Rosemont are great.

Water Parks:

• One mom said that she gets season passes to Great Escape in Lake George through 6 Flags New England with a credit card discount.  There’s plenty for younger kids in the water park, plus fountains in various other play areas.
• Water Slide World is in Lake George, too.
• Zoom Flume is in East Durham if you’d rather go south.

Many of these are places that I have never visited, so I’d love reviews and/or additions to the list.