The sun is shining, the birds are chirping, and it is getting hotter outside – which means pool season is here! Many Oakwood communities have a pool available to residents, and Memorial Day acts as the official kickoff to pool season. Some Oakwood communities even feature exclusive cabana space like at The Charles at Riggins Run, while others have luxurious saltwater pools, like The Ravines at Westarand The View at Polaris.
Are you ready for a long day at the pool, or maybe just a relaxing evening with your toes in the water? We gathered a list of a few of the most essential items to make your summer pool experience the best possible. Here’s to another sunny summer!
Goofy pool float. If you’ve spent any time on Instagram, you’re sure to have seen an influencer or two lounging on a pink flamingo or unicorn-shaped inner tube. A pool float is actually a key accessory to making the most of your summer pool experience because these affordable floats help you enjoy the pool water without spending hours getting wrinkled skin. On particularly hot days, you may be torn between laying out poolside and enjoying the water, so a classic pool lounge float will give you the best of both worlds. The cute pictures you can score are an added perk!
Colorful cooler and plastic drinkware. One of the biggest rules at pools is an important one – no glass allowed! Glass can shatter on the concrete pool decks, which often requires the pool to be drained, an arduous task that makes both the maintenance crew and the community residents sad. So be a good neighbor and only bring your drinks to the pool in plastic drinkware! Don’t forget to pack up a cute cooler with water bottles (reusable, of course, because we love the environment) to stay hydrated on the hottest of summer days.
Sunscreen. This one is key to taking care of yourself during pool season. Sunscreen is proven to prevent dangerous skin cancers and protect your skin from painful pools, so there’s really no reason to skip a quick application! There are tons of different forms of sunscreen, from spray-on aerosols to traditional lotions, but the American Academy of Dermatology does have a few recommendations it comes to what kind you purchase. Make sure your sunscreen is broad spectrum (meaning it covers both UVA and UVB rays), water-resistant, and at least SPF 30. You’ll need to remember to reapply regularly! Your skin will be thanking you.
Big beach towels. A big, fluffy beach towel helps to make getting out of a pool into the chilly air so much better! Plus, your apartment will be thankful that you’re not dripping your way home, trudging in with pool water on your feet. An extra-large size beach towel can double as a picnic blanket, too, for when you go to watch the Fourth of July fireworks or explore the many parks around Columbus.
A good book or podcast. Some poolside days are filled with friends and getting to know your neighbors, while others are for relaxing and catching up on a little “me time.” For those quieter pool days, make sure you prepare with a good book or podcast to keep yourself entertained. If you’ve never checked out podcasts much, try a few off this list of the best 2019 podcasts list to find out what’s most popular.
Power bank. Nothing ruins a trip to the pool like your phone dying! How are you supposed to listen to music, play your podcast, or take pictures on your flamingo float if your phone is out of power? Avoid that potential tragedy by investing in a battery power bank, which you can recharge and bring anyway in order to give your phone a little power boost. For the tech lover, there are even some ultra-sleek phone cases that have power banks built in! You’ll be happy that you won’t have to cut your trip to the pool short because of a dead phone.
Looking for the perfect apartment community that has its very own pool? Check out all of Oakwood’s Central Ohio properties, listed online here.