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October 12th, 2008
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Child's Play

Pools to stay cool

July 9th, 2008 issue

Where to swim


Divoká Šárka
Access via Evropská street, Prague 6
Bus 119 or trams 20 and 26 to Divoká Šárka
Podolí
Podolska 74, Prague 4-Podolí
Tel: 241 433 952
Web: www.podoli.cz
Buses 118, 124, trams 3, 16, 17 and 21 to Dvorce
Hostivař Reservoir
K Jezeru, Prague 10
Tel: 272 655 546
Metro C line to Háje, bus 232 to K Jezeru
Aquapalace Praha
Průhonice-Čestlice
Tel: 271 104 111
Web:
www.aquapalace.cz
Highway D1 east to exit D6, buses 324, 325, 328, 363 and 385 from the Opatov metro station to Čestlice

If swimming off the coast of Croatia or Greece is out of the question this summer, don’t worry. There are plenty of places children can cool off in Prague. Here are some favorites.
Behind the McDonald’s at the Divoká Šárka tram stop, a path drops into the park that leads to several swimming options. Following the path to the right leads to the Džbán reservoir, which is currently being drained and cleaned. You can also hike to the top of the cliff, resting on its rocky edges to enjoy an expansive view. Or turn left on the McDonald’s path and you will find yourself suddenly deep in nature, following the Šárka stream opposite a rocky limestone hillside. Children will want to climb it but they should be careful, as the rocks can be slippery.
The path leads to a quiet valley with a sports center, Koupaliště Divoká Šárka. The small swimming complex charges 60 Kč (for adults) and 20 Kč (for children) entrance fees. It is ideal for families with children of all ages, offering several pools of varying depths. The water is cold, but if you swim during the hotter hours of the day, it’s not a problem. In fact, it’s a great place to spend the day swimming and just being lazy with the family. The facilities include a small cabin for changing, showers and bathrooms. There is a terrace restaurant beside the pools.
Though far from modern, the swimming pools are clean. The real point of swimming here is the soothing natural ambience the park offers. You could take children for a hike in the morning before you settle here for a swim, a nap and some table sports in the late afternoon.
If your children would like a more adventurous swimming experience, the Hostivař Reservoir in Prague 10 is a good alternative. The entrance fee is 40 Kč for adults and 20 Kč for children. The setting is a forest, which will give the kids an opportunity to get up-close with dragonflies and ladybugs. Younger children will enjoy wading in the lake and making castles on its sandy banks, while older ones will probably enjoy pedaling the catamarans that can be rented for 200 Kč an hour. There is also a long, winding waterslide that offers some thrills for 8–12 year olds (for 5 Kč), even if they do land in shallow water.
Near Vyšehrad, in Prague 4, is perhaps the most popular swimming spot in the city, the Podolí swimming complex. It offers both indoor and outdoor pools. Here, you can enjoy the best and most modern facilities for 95 Kč an hour from 6 a.m. to 9:45 p.m. There are many facilities for children, including a paddling pool. Podolí can be crowded on weekends — even the 400-square-meter children’s pool, believe it or not. So if you can, it’s best to visit the complex on weekdays.
And by now you have surely noticed the advertising for the new Aquapark in Průhonice–Čestlice. Supposedly the largest facility of its kind in Central Europe, it offers six toboggans, three slides, a wave pool, 450 meters of artificial rivers and an 8-meter-deep diving pool. There are also sauna and spa facilities for adults, and paddling and wading pools for very young children. The price is rather steep —120 Kč per hour on weekdays, and 160 Kč on weekends. So bring your credit card.
Cecilia Sanchez Beltran can be reached at features@praguepost.com


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