A.V. Symington Aquatic Center

One of the things that makes me glad I moved back to Leesburg after I started my family is that the town has so much more to offer now than it did when I was growing up here. Expansion obviously has its drawbacks, but as a mom, I love having a variety of activities that I can do with my son on a weekly basis.

Last summer, the A.V. Symington Aquatic Center shot to the top of our list of things to do. A water park isn't something I'd ever thought I'd see in Leesburg, but here it is - and it's amazing.

A.V. Symington is set up in such a way that kids of all ages (and adults) can find age-appropriate, fun activities. Plus, the way everything is sectioned off by age means that toddlers don't have to be worried about being mowed over by big kids, and big kids don't have to worry about slow babies getting in their way.

For toddlers, A.V. Symington has a "beach" that allows them to walk into the pool at their own pace and to the depth with which they're comfortable. Once they get to the middle where the water's about a foot deep, there are buckets that fill and dump water on them, if that's what they like.

However, if they find that terrifying, it's easy to avoid. They can go play on the dolphin that squirts water from its spout, or slide down a toddler-sized water slide that ends in shallow water that's easy to sit up in.

For bigger kids, there are bigger slides that empty out into the deep end of the pool. There, it's only people who are old enough to swim on their own, so the line moves pretty quickly. Kids of all ages can also enjoy the lazy river, a relaxing journey on a tube that can be taken with your child, or alone if you can grab a few minutes of peace.

A.V. Symington also has great birthday packages, as I found out last summer when I attended a toddler's birthday party there. For $225 during the week or $250 on a weekend, you get admission for up to 24 people, a cake, underwater camera, unlimited swimming, and a two-hour rental of a poolside cabana. If your child has a summer birthday, you can't go wrong having it at A.V. Symington.

If you have a larger function, you can even rent out the entire facility for a group of up to 500 people. How about that for your next family reunion or company picnic?

A.V. Symington is open seven days a week through Labor Day weekend. They stay open until 8, so you can even stop by after school/work for a discounted rate of $4 for residents and $6 for non-Leesburg residents after 5 pm. Plus, kids 2 and under are always free. Normal weekend adult admission is $7 for residents, but you can buy a 10-entry pass for just $50.

While I'll still be spending a lot of time at my neighborhood pool this summer, A.V. Symington is still going to be my recreation destination of choice.