Michele Heisler, 61, is an avid swimmer, placing in 45 minutes thrice every week in an area 25-yard-long pool. However swimming whereas touring will be difficult. “Most lodge swimming pools are too tiny or too crowded,” she mentioned.
Then, whereas planning a visit to Chicago, Ms. Heisler, from Ann Arbor, Mich., got here throughout a photograph of the lodge pool of her desires. Within the Intercontinental Hotel, the 25-yard-long pool, inbuilt 1929, is without doubt one of the oldest in Chicago and is surrounded by Greek-inspired marble ornament. “You are feeling such as you’re swimming in an historic Greek temple. It’s a magical expertise,” mentioned Ms. Heisler, who has stayed on the Intercontinental 4 instances within the final 10 years due to the pool.
Even at a resort, swimming laps typically means having to barter odd, and sometimes brief, lengths whereas preserving an eye fixed out for cannonballing kids in water that may really feel like a sizzling tub. Discovering a lodge pool that’s giant sufficient for lap swimming in an enormous metropolis is much more daunting. However they exist. Listed here are six lodge swimming pools which might be no less than 25 yards lengthy and supply ample house for lap swimming, in addition to first-class atmosphere; some are open to guests who should not spending the evening. Most are open all day, however early morning hours will present the most effective lap swim expertise, lodge representatives say.
InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile
The setting: The south tower of the InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile lodge was initially a non-public athletic membership, full with this indoor pool, which was host to the well-known Olympic swimmer and actor Johnny Weissmuller, who broke data on the 1924 and 1928 Olympics.
The pool, on the lodge’s 14th flooring, is “an architectural marvel full with spectator seating and turrets” embellished with Spanish Majolica tiles, mentioned Christopher Cawley, the lodge’s basic supervisor. It has 4 swimming lanes. Lounge chairs encompass the pool, and a newly renovated, multilevel health heart is close by.
