Venetian Pool, Coral Gables

The Venetian Pool in Coral Gables is a unique, historical paradise! Built in 1923 from a coral quarry, the pool is surrounded by Venetian-style buildings with archways, pink curlicue ironwork, and columns, and even has a Venetian bridge and striped posts protruding from the water. The water is a gorgeous emerald green, fed by a natural spring from an underground aquifer. In the spring and summer, it is drained and filled daily with fresh water! Your skin feels so good when you get out- not salty or smelling of chlorine! There is a roaring waterfall and you can sit in the cave behind it revelling in the spray. Caves out of coral provide a shady spot to swim around and fill kids with awe and imagination- these are closed if there are few swimmers since a lifeguard must stay inside them. We adored the caves! A banyan tree and palm trees galore add to the beauty of this romantic spot. Couples kiss and embrace in and around the pool.

When you enter you can see historical photos of the pool in the fountain room. There is a change room and restroom- these were sprayed clean and left to sit with wet surfaces everywhere so it's kind of hard to navigate these (diaper-changer open with gallons of water on it)- get changed before you arrive. The water is spring water so it is cold and refreshing. If you come first thing in the morning, the water feels too cold. But the rest of the day it feels an absolutely perfect temperature, especially on a hot day such as in August.
This truly is a unique and lovely experience worth having! My whole family, both young and teen kids, LOVED it! There is nothing like the happiness of swimming in a beautiful place.
Children under 3 are not allowed to enter the facility. There is a snack bar with ice cream sandwiches, burgers, fries and such.
Afterward head over to the Miracle Mile in downtown Coral Gables for a yummy quiche and salad at Chocolate Fashion Cafe, a fast waiter-service cafe with crowded indoor tables.
It's wonderful to walk the residential streets of Coral Gables, admiring the trees.
Drive the gorgeous drive under archways of old trees to Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden for a walk amongst a jungle of streams and shiny-leaved plants that looks like Hawaii!
Other magical springs where you can swim in Florida are  Ichetucknee Springs State Park near Gainesville and Blue Spring State Park near DeLand (just north of Orlando).

Directions

Venetian Pool is located at 2701 De Soto Boulevard, Coral Gables FL 33134, call (305) 460-5306.
Open 11-5:30 on peak season days, and 10-4:30 during colder seasons. Book tickets ahead of time on their website in case they are full. 
Parking is severely limited. Come an hour before they open, to find a spot in their lot, or park in the town and walk to the pool. 
Entry May-Oct is $21 for adults and teens 13 years and up, and $16 for children. Kids under three are not allowed to enter the facility. Entry Nov and Feb-Apr is less. 
Residents of Coral Gables have steeply discounted rates. There are also seasonal passes for residents and non-residents.
Chocolate Fashion Cafe, 248 Andalucia Ave, Coral Gables FL 33134, open daily 7am-6pm.

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