Great Summer Getaway: Settler's Cabin Wave Pool in Oakdale, Pennsylvania

If you live in the Pittsburgh area, you may be familiar with Settler's Cabin park and wave pool. It's one of the most popular wave pools in the area, located minutes from Pittsburgh International Airport and downtown Pittsburgh.

Settlers Cabin wave pool is open from the first Saturday in June, to Labor Day. It is open from 11:30 am to 7:30 pm, unless there is inclement weather. Adults, as well as kids ages 13-17 can swim for $4.00, kids ages 6-12 as well as senior citizen get in for $3.00, younger children under 5 years of age can get in for just $1.00. There are also group discounts available. Parking is free, and is on a first come first serve basis. For more information, visit the website at the end of this article.

You are not permitted to bring in any outside pool toys, such as rafts and floating inter tubes. However, you can rent a raft for a small fee of just $4.00. You'll also be required to give a $1.00 deposit upon rental.

Once you've entered the wave pool area, you'll see the food concession stand right by the entrance, as well as locker rooms. Then, you'll see the main pool ahead of you and a smaller diving pool on the left. You will have to walk down a long path in order to get to the wave pool. In the main pool area, you'll be able to find a spot on the green "beach" or in the grass, to put your beach towel and belongings. The space is huge, but on hot summer days when it's busy, it may be hard to find a spot on the "beach". Grass is always plentiful.

When you're ready to get into the pool, you can either enter from the front, where the water is only a few inches deep, or you can dive in on the deep end. The waves come in intervals, and there will be times when the water is calm. You'll hear a loud bell, meaning the waves are going to start. At this point, you'll see a bunch of people rushing into the pool. Beware of diving into the deep end while the waves are going, because you could get pushed up against the wall. Although the waves are not too big in the deep end, you should still be cautious. As in the ocean, the waves in the pool get higher as they move to shallower water. If you are swimming in the shallow water when the waves are coming, watch out for other people around you. The waves will knock you around, especially if you are in a raft. People in a raft need to be especially careful in the shallow area, because rafts can easily hit people and knock them over into the water. Rafts should be kept in the deeper water if possible, where there aren't as many people.

Lifeguards are always watching the people in the pool, and there are several on duty at a time. They are required to stand when the waves come on, as it's easier to get hurt in the waves and when more people are in the pool. Always listen to what the lifeguards have to say, they are there for your safety and protection.

The diving pool is fun as well, with several different diving boards to choose from. You can do the low dive or if you're brave enough, the high dive. This is even a good way to show off your diving skills to people who are watching.

As far as food and drinks go, they have a nice selection to choose from. You'll find typical summer foods, like hamburgers, hot dogs, French fries, ice cream and chocolate chip cookies. The prices are not that cheap, so if you plan on spending the entire afternoon there, bring some extra cash with you.

Overall, Settler's Cabin wave pool is a great place to go on hot summer days, or to hang out with friends. It's affordable too! Visit the pool's website for more information: http://www.alleghenycounty.us/parks/fees/pools.aspx