Let the kids swim while you have a spa day, on the cheap
Need a relaxing spa getaway for an afternoon, where kids have plenty to do, but still taking it easy on your pocket book? Look no further than the Nanaimo Aquatic Centre. Ok, maybe “spa-like” would be a better term or “sort of spa-ish” – the point is, a few hours swimming with the kids can be a real bonus for parents, if you know how to make proper use of the facilities.
Take the winding river, for example. After a couple of rounds with the kids, you can always watch them having fun while you sit in the little circular area in the centre of the rapids. If you find the right spot, there are some of the most powerful water jets in the building – for that deep back massage.
Of course the hot tub and the sauna are obvious candidates for some relaxation, but that’s where everyone goes. Have you thought about the kids play area with the boat and small slides? There are a couple of water pipes there that drop the H20 a good three or four feet, resulting in some decent pummeling – just the thing for tired shoulders at the end of the week.
If you’re really needing some heavy-duty body work, I would recommend the outer wall of the shallow wading pool – the one when you first come in from the dressing rooms. As you enter the open wave pool, sit down along that wall, facing toward the water slides and the deep end of the wave pool. When the waves start, you’ll find that one spot is where the waves build to their greatest force. I’ve had several semi-chiropractic experiences there.
