Hotel with an indoor heated pool in Lawrenceburg, IN — swim all year

The pool is indoors and heated, and it's open every day from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM. Rain, snow, or a 95-degree afternoon doesn't change a thing, which is why it gets as much use in February as it does in the middle of summer. Pool access is included with your room; there's no extra charge or reservation needed.

It's a hotel pool, not a water park, and that's the point. Kids get an hour of splashing before bed, adults get some laps or a quiet float, and everyone walks back to the room in a few minutes by elevator. Check the posted pool rules at the door, including the rules for children swimming without an adult.

Because the water is heated and the room is enclosed, it's also a practical stop for travelers who aren't on a family trip at all: a long day on I-275, a weekend at Hollywood Casino about 5 minutes away, or a sports tournament where the team needs a low-key way to loosen up between games. Teams staying on a group room block get the same 8 AM to 9 PM access as everyone else.

The pool is one piece of a family-friendly setup. Up to 2 kids 18 and under stay free using existing bedding, cribs are free on request, and a rollaway is $10 per night. A two-queen room sleeps four, and the Deluxe King Studio Suite, our largest room, sleeps four with a king bed and a sofa bed. If your group is bigger, ask for connecting rooms when you book.

Every room has a microwave and mini-fridge, so snacks and juice boxes stay cold and dinner can be as simple as reheated pizza between swims. Breakfast is hot and included each morning, running until 9:30 AM on weekdays and 10 AM on weekends, which means the morning swim can come before or after the waffles.

• Kids 18 & under: up to 2 stay free with existing bedding
• Cribs free on request; rollaway $10 per night
• Connecting rooms available on request
• Elevator to all three floors

In winter, the classic plan is a morning or afternoon at Perfect North Slopes, about 15 minutes away, followed by a warm swim before the pool closes at 9 PM. It's the best way we know to thaw out cold kids after snow tubing.

In warmer months, spend the morning at the Creation Museum about 15 minutes away in Petersburg, Kentucky, or make the longer trip to the Ark Encounter, about 45 minutes south. On a rainy day, Competition Racing Indoor Karting is about 3 minutes from the hotel, and the downtown Lawrenceburg levee walk along the Ohio River is good for stretching legs when the weather clears. Plan to be back by early evening so there's real pool time before 9 PM.

Pack flip-flops, goggles, and a cover-up for the walk through the hallway. Ask the front desk about pool towels and any swim-diaper rules for little ones when you check in. Grown-ups who want a workout of their own can use the 24-hour fitness center after the kids are asleep.

Couples looking for a warm soak without the splashing should look at the King Whirlpool Suite, which has a jetted tub right in the room. We have four of them, and they book up on weekends, so reserve ahead. Rooms are refreshed and 100% non-smoking, the front desk is open 24 hours, and parking is free for everyone in the family car.