Miami's cool pools

Southern Living, Jun 2003 by Murphy, Morgan

Hot? Take a dip in the sparkling water of these chic hotel pools.

Full of stunningly beautiful people and places, Miami lures with its bright sunshine and shimmering ocean. Yet within this continental Caribbean city, few spots hold the glamour, history, and appeal found at the many pools that sparkle behind Miami's grandest hotels.

To See and Be Seen

When The National Hotel wanted to put a pool in its South Beach backyard, few could have imagined how perfect it would come out. An infinity pool, its shallow recesses are shadowed by lush palm trees as it stretches a canal-like 205 feet. Built in 1939, the hotel itself stands as an Art Deco masterpiece. The pool retains the building's original jazz-age character and attracts, quite naturally, a sophisticated set ranging from Harrison Ford to Ricky Martin. Dip tip: Rent a room in the recently renovated Cabana Wing, which will give great views of celebs by the pool.

For the Water Bug In Your Family

Squeeze into your gold lame muumuu, and get thyself to the grotto at Fontainebleau Hilton Resort on Miami Beach. Once the city's hippest lodging, the Fontainebleau served legends John F. Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe and can be spotted in movies such as Goldfinger and The Specialist. Sadly, numerous "renovations" have left the rooms and lobby somewhat muddled and tired looking, but the pool is tops if you have young ones to entertain. The tropical gardens behind the hotel house the Lagoon Pool, which is often serenaded by a calypso band and the screaming children at Cookie's World. In a bizarre twist of Hilton logic, Cookie is a 100-foot-long octopus that covers a children's wading pool and 260-foot spiral water slide. Dip tip: Renting a poolside cabana for $50 a day is far cheaper than renting a room at the Fontainebleau. Both allow full access to the fabulous pool facilities.

Sheer Beauty

For quiet romance and excellent service, slip out to The Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne, and ease into the hotel's infinity pool. Unlike many of the hotels in the area, this pool has a commanding view of the beach and ocean. It's the perfect place to lounge in privacy and beautiful seclusion. Dip tip: Wait until sunset, and head to the gazebo near the adult pool. It may be one of the most romantic spots in Florida.