• John Jay Pool (77th St. & Cherokee Place, 212-794-6566). Very family friendly and one of two pools in Manhattan that allows diving. The center also houses a snack bar and a small playground with benches.
• Lasker (110th Street & Lenox AvenueSetting, 212-534-7639). Located on the northern edge of Central Park. The teenage crowd can get rowdier as the day wears on, so get there early.

Favorite NYC Beaches:

• Jacob Riis Park - located in the Rockaways and famous for its Art Deco bathhouse.
• Brighton Beach - offers great food and lots of activities.
• Coney Island Beach - home to the famous Boardwalk and other New York favorites like Nathan's hot dog stand.
• South Beach and Midland Beach - both offer free concerts and fireworks on the boardwalk.
• Robert Moses Beach - great for swimming and surfing.
• Orchard Beach - surrounded by food stands, playgrounds, and picnic areas.

Private Pools Offering One-Day Passes:

• Stuyvesant High School Community Center (345 Chambers St., 212-312-4800)
• Asphalt Green (555 E. 90th St., 212-369-8890)
• Manhattan Plaza Health Club (482 West 43rd St., 212-563-7001)
• New York Marriott Hotel at the World Financial Center (85 West St., 212-385-4900)
• New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge (333 Adams Street, 718-246-7000)
• Millennium UN Plaza Hotel (44th St between 1st and 2nd Aves, 212-758-1234)
• YMCA's around the city - One-day pool passes vary per branch, but are usually around $15.
• New York Sports Clubs - Various locations throughout the city charge $25 for a one-day pool pass, but not all locations not all locations have pools.