Hotel pools ain't what they used to be. Today's upscale hotels are likely to include swimming pools that make you think you've woken up inside a water park. One of the most exciting trends in the hotel industry is the lazy river pool that allows guests to relax atop a floatation device as they drift along (lazily) with the current. Hotels with lazy river attractions can be found across the country so come prepared for the opportunity to kick back and soak in the sun.
Less than 15 miles from Disney World is the Omni at ChampionsGate. The lazy river ride around the complex takes you on an 850-foot journey that lets you get a look at the other major attraction of this resort: the golf course designed by Greg Norman. The villas at the Omni provide a fully equipped kitchen as well as a washer and dryer.Take a day or two off from Orlando's theme parks and the lazy river ride at the hotel to brush up on your game at the on-site David Leadbetter Golf Academy.
Omni at Champions Gate
1500 Masters Blvd.
ChampionsGate, FL 33896
407-390-6664
omnihotels.com
San Antonio, Texas is the site of the Hill Country Golf Club that features a water park that spans four acres. One of the highlights of the resort's water park is the 905-foot long Rambling River. This lazy river ride can be either a great way to relax after playing on the 27 holes of golf that the course offers or it can be a wake-up call to get you ready to head over to San Antonio's riverwalk. This hotel's 500 rooms include refrigerators and the Hyatt Stereo system that lets you hook up your iPod to a docking station.
Hyatt Regency Hill Country Resort
9800 Hyatt Resort Dr.
San Antonio, TX 78251
(210) 647-1234
hillcountry.hyatt.com
You would probably expect Las Vegas to have at least once hotel with a lazy river attraction and you will not be disappointed. Mandalay Bay hotel offers 11 acres of water-based fun that includes not just a lazy river, but a wave pool and whirlpool tubs big enough for the family plus friends and some strangers to boot. Mandalay Bay also includes extra goodies like an enormous fitness center loaded with state-of-the-art equipment and a spa where you can pamper yourself with a massage.
Mandalay Bay
3950 Las Vegas Blvd. S.
Las Vegas, NV 89119
(877) 632-7000
mandalaybay.com
Scottsdale, Ariz., offers the chance to stay at resort rated 4-Diamond by AAA. The highlights of the hotel's water park include a 110-foot long waterslide as well as a lazy river that takes nearly 1,000 feet to complete a circuit. Other nifty perks that you can enjoy at the Westin Kierland Resort and Spa include private balconies that overlook the golf course and gas fireplaces. Take a ride on a Segway to get around rather than a traditional golf cart and enjoy the warmth of a heated pool open 24 hours a day.
Westin Kierland Resort and Spa
6902 East Greenway Parkway
Scottsdale, AZ 85254
(480) 624-1000
kierlandresort.com
