#public-pools

#public-pools

Die Sauna is free after 6pm, she said cheerfully in a mix of German and English, adding that all I needed was a towel. From that day on, sweating in the steaming sauna became my nightly ritual. I couldn't quite join the occasional conversations that bubbled up around me my German was very basic and my confidence level was hitting rock bottom. So mostly I sat quietly, listening, nodding, absorbing the rhythm of strangers unwinding at the end of their day.

There are said to be 160 pools in Iceland. With a population of just over 400,000, this means one for every 2,500 people. Just as well, as swimming is so ingrained in the national psyche. This is a fairly recent phenomenon: in 1940 swimming lessons became mandatory for schoolchildren in response to drownings that were the result of previous poor competency.

The summer may be waning but temperatures will be rising around the Bay Area for Labor Day weekend. Instead of road-tripping to the beach, stay cool and splash it out at one of the Bay Area's impressive aquatic complexes. From Morgan Hill to El Cerrito, you'll find both Olympic-sized lap pools and zero-depth wading areas with everything kids and adults could ask for slides, geysers, and cabanas. Yes, you can leave the sand toys at home.

The Freibad experience is not just limited to swimming; it also includes lounging on lawns, enjoying snacks, and allowing families to bond during the summer months.