Super nice staff. Clean facility. Upbeat vibe throughout gym. Three pickleball courts and lots of open play time. Ladies locker rooms spacious. Sauna nice and indoor and outdoor pools big. Just about anything you could want in a gym, lots of machines and a variety of classes. Love this place. read more

A.E. Finley YMCA - Clean well lighted courts - Gyms Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

4 stars feels right. I've been to 3 YMCAs in my life thus far and this one has what you need! Older Adult Programming classes (THRIVE), Summer Camps, Water Aerobics, Group Fitness and more. Couple unique features: - Bottom floor walking track that goes around the gym - Flavia Station (free coffee/tea) Problem areas: - Incline bench needs to be replaced (it's angled oddly and one of the worst I've used) - The pulley machine near the punching bag has some issues with the pulley catching - No decline bench here This YMCA feels fairly old but I'm a fan of how every YMCA is uniquely built. There's ample parking but peak times will have you walking. read more

I've been coming to this gym since I started training for an Ironman. It has everything you could need in that regard. I use the pool, the weights, the stationary bike, and the treadmills. I haven't tried the classes yet but they appear to be well attended. I believe this is the largest Y in the Triangle. It also has a huge outdoor pool, which I will give a try when it warms up. Big fan of this spot. Love the sauna too and that they're located in each locker room, which adds to the relaxation and comfort. Currently I pay $60 per month and I believe it is well worth the price. Especially because I can go to any Y in the Triangle. read more

This location offers a wonderful basketball program for ambitious athletes. Mr. Darrian Saddler is a elite role model and dedicated professional. The children adore him and will aspire to be just as wonderful an individual as he is. He is always punctual and professional. He shows up for the children each week. His communication is concise and consistent. My daughter looks forward to coming weekly. This was our first year playing for the girls winter league and attending basketball drills under Darrian's leadership as Sports Director. I highly recommend this location for your little athlete. read more

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My old cassettes used to have Inlay Cards, and look what happened to them. I guess they should've had A E Finley Cards instead. I'm glad I Finlay was able to hit up this excellent gym to the north of Raleigh. It's one of the very best I've ever used, hands down. In fact I'll put my hands up to celebrate how good it is. This YMCA is one of the best I've ever used because it just has everything that I want, and is comfortable and not too crazy busy, and even though the bikes weren't great, I got what I needed - and there are outlets right next to them, and they have a nice view out into the leafy suburbs of North Carolina. So everything works really well at this YMCA. Definitely a fan. And the locker rooms are kind of luxurious even though the shower pressure isn't great. They provide towels and plenty of people that go here are pretty friendly. Five star experience - kind of like the one next to NC State in Raleigh, and while that one is more busy, this one is spacious and less busy, which kinda makes me like it more. Now I've Finley finished this review, on to the next one. read more

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This appears to be a typical NC YMCA, with all the amenities and kept pretty clean. It does not have posted amenities at the facility. But I know that pickleball starts around 8am and ends around 1115am.....Monday's and Thursday. Paddles, nets, balls are all provided on the three (3) indoor courts....enjoy. read more

Women's locker rooms do now have steam room and dry sauna. Great changing areas, great showers with areas to change right in the shower. Facilities are overall very nice with excellent and attentive staff. My husband and I used to belong to Lifetime but we like the overall vibe of the Y much better. People are actually nice here, random strangers say hello to you. Machines are modern for the most part are updated. Lots of places to charge your devices, including on the machines, Sam, with wireless charging. read more

It's a great facility. Drawbacks The hours need expanding. The women do not have a sauna, steam room or hot tub. The mens room has a sauna and steam room. And a major renovation just completed a couple of years ago. Unclear why the women lost their steam room and sauna. It was decided that both men and women would lose the hot tub due to space constraints. No place for kids to play. The courts are for adults and adolescents, the day care is for little kids, kids under 12 cannot use the ground floor fitness area. The pool insists adult supervision. The only place is the lobby where they can sit and watch TV and ear smacks. Overall, pleased. read more

Very friendly and helpful staff. Clean and nice size center. I like the waiting area in the lobby. The app is very user friendly. I'm glad we were able to join again and we most definitely will be back of course! read more

Great YMCA facility! They have a indoor "track" loop around the weight machines downstairs. For the locker room, you exchange your keys for a lock to use. They have a great line up of exercise classes, even during the holidays so I appreciate that since this is the Y closest to my parents home, so I typically visit during holidays. read more

I loved going there for Leaders Club, it was so much fun and Leaders Club is my favorite club in the world. I miss being in Leaders Club and I also used to volunteer at the nursery here with the age group 1-5 year olds. I also did one week of Finley Day Camp and I helped my Finley friends paint the art room for Finley Day Camp. I have never actually worked at the YMCA before but I would recommend working at the YMCA and I really want to work at the A.E. Finley YMCA. read more

Huge indoor pool, but family swim was PACKED on a Saturday afternoon. The locker rooms are fine, felt clean enough, although floors could certainly use a vacuum, changing room stalls are cramped and no place to hang your clothes while changing. The pool was pretty chilly, and despite the area being lined with benches, it was so packed we couldn't find a place to drop our towels. Seemed like more scheduled activities than the venue could handle. read more

Clean and great facility. Staff is very friendly. Many classes offered at this facility.

This location can be busy at times like 3 to 6 times from when the high school kids come in and take over the workout area. Sometimes it is hard to get you to work out with waiting on equipment. Some treadmills have signs in them for days and at busy times you need all of them working without waiting. The dressing could use some more care as I see towels left over from the noon rush crowd. The Wet Sauna has been broken more than I can count now it has a timing issue, was told that was set because someone complained it was too hot. The shower are could use some new curtains and washed down. read more

We signed up our little girl for swim lessons beginning this month and she is just ecstatic about them. The staff couldn't be more friendly. My bride & I took a tour of the facility to ponder a possible membership, partly for my own rehab, but also partly to just see if we can get in shape. The $93/month family membership fee seems a bit steep right now, so that's still up in the air. read more

I have been coming to this Y for 32 years and I love it as much today as I did my first time there. The instructors are wonderful and if you have a question about their exercise class they are more than willing to answer/explain it. I never feel uncomfortable modifying if I feel like an exercise is too much for me at the age of 72. The instructors understand that and are quick to give you modifications for the exercise they are doing. I find that friendliness is abundant at the Finley Y and I made friends easily. read more

How have I not reviewed this place yet?? This is my home away from home. I had a membership for about a year, mainly for a summer place to swim, but rarely went. Maybe once a month. I discovered the Swim Fit class on Monday nights and started going regularly... started talking to people... but then I was pregnant and didn't go for months. After I had my baby, I knew I needed to get into shape. Not just *back* in shape, because it had been so long that it was a matter of just doing something... anything! Well, I signed up for a 5k and one of my Swim Fit buddies recommended I try Ramblin Rose, the Y's sprint triathlon that was just two months away. I was skeptical but she convinced me to do the Y's 6 week training program to prepare me for the big day. So, I did it. It was seriously life-changing. I completed both couch to 5k and Ramblin' Rose. I met some wonderful, supportive people. Y members and staff. I lost weight (at this point, 85lbs, and still going strong!) and have never been as in shape as I now am. I'm pretty much there every day, taking classes, working out with friends. I take my kids there for activities like their 4th of July festival, summer pool swimming (the whole reason I signed up in the first place!), and swim lessons in the indoor pool year round. The childcare is also fantastic and was the reason that I was able to get started in the first place. They watched my son starting at 6 weeks old. I was a nervous wreck, but the ladies, especially Kai Pai (sp?) and Rebecca were so caring and reassuring. They kept me updated on how he did each time, and made sure that I had nothing to worry about during my workouts. It definitely gave me a safe peace of mind. Onto the workouts: some of my favorites are Zumba with Melanie, Jen, Holly, and Meg, Cycle with Ashley (she teaches a butt kicking Zumba class too!), PiYo with Jen and Meg, Total Body Strength with Dayle, Bootcamp and TRX with Stacy, Trek with Rosemary... I could keep going! I tried some other gyms (cough, cough, Lifetime) when I was coming back from maternity leave, and just didn't get the same feel. While the facilities were beautiful, I felt like the Y just offered such a fantastic support system. If I want a cafe, I'll go around the block and swing by Great Harvest (um, actually, that's what I constantly do). I can't recommend this place enough! read more

I visited this Y as I was searching for a new gym to join. I found a gym that is very close to where I live therefore I will not be signing up at this Y, however it is not because this facility is lacking in anyway that I saw. Overall this place has everything one could want, and for a family it would be by far the best choice for you money. They have a indoor and outdoor pool. I did not see the outdoor one while I was here, I did see the indoor one and it was huge. it looked like it was half a football field in size. Downstairs they have about 80 cardio machines of different types, their free weight area, and more exercise machines. While they don't have a ton of free weight stations (benches and squat racks), I think if you used their imagination and are flexible, you can get their workout in even when it is crowded. Some nice touches.....their wireless signal seemed strong throughout the entire building so you can listen to Pandora and check-in on Yelp regardless of where you are. I like that. Also, they have a blood pressure station like the ones you see in drug stores. In a room separate from the free weights they have a full set of kettlebell weights which I like to use as a change of pace. They also issue you keys for their lockers so you do not have to worry about bringing your own lock. Overall this is a nice, large facility that has something to offer for every member of ones family. If the other gym was not as close, I would probably become a member here, however I'm talking 1.5 miles as opposed to 10, so the choice is a no-brainer for me. read more

For us the Y has been a mixed bag. The counselors are friendly, tireless and endlessly patient with the kids. The back office however has customer service and policies reminiscent of TimeWarner, AT&T and the nation's mega banks. Both the swim classes and the after school programs are characterized by young, easy-going staff, although in both cases the child to staff ratio is quite high. The after school program occurs on site so the kids aren't bussed across town, they plan many fun activities for the kids and the YMCA tries to teach good moral values. My children really love their Y counselors! On the downside, the YMCA's draconian billing policy requires payment to be drafted from a personal bank account. We were reluctant to agree due to the array of problems created when this billing method is botched but agreed due to the Y's policy to treat people as one would like to be treated. The YMCA billing department staff were all apologies both times our account was erroneously billed. We received permission from the Director of the after school program to deliver payment in cash which was inconvenient for us but it proved to be the transaction the YMCA billing office could competently complete. A year later we were told that our children would be dropped from the after school program, though we had always paid on time, if we did not agree to the bank draft. Calls and emails to the Director at this point were not returned. Email conversations and yet another trip across town all produced the same line: "Sorry, there's nothing we can do." In one particular email, an administrative assistant began with "As I told you earlier..." read more

Very impressive for a YMCA. I'm from out of town just visiting, and am very impressed with what this YMCA had to offer. Very nice gym, very clean, friendly people. read more

This gym is pretty huge and has a great range of classes and activities for all to enjoy. I am usually there in the morning after the initial rush and at times the treadmill and weight area can be a bit packed but not to the point of having to wait. Everyone is friendly and my kids enjoy the daycare area. Your membership card comes on a handy dandy key ring card and you can easily self swipe. We have put our son in soccer for the 4 - 5 year olds and he is having a good time. My only complaint about soccer would be that it has taken them 6 weeks to get an American flag on the flag pole. read more

This is the best YMCA I have ever been to! The staff are all incredibly friendly and helpful. The facility is nice and is really well taken care of. We enjoyed swimming in the pool and working out in the gym... there were tons of machines and everything was clean and orderly. The locker rooms are super nice too. There were so many thoughtful touches. I love it here and hope to come back as many times as I can before I return to my home YMCA. read more

Clean. Helpful staff. Great selection of machines, some I had never seen before. Classrooms are spacious and instructors are great ( I only have one class worth of experience though). And for the times that I've been here, the crowd level hasn't been unmanageable. I really enjoy coming here on vacation, and it's so nice that the Y system works throughout NC, SC, and Virginia. read more

This place is the best two hours of my entire day! The staff is beyond friendly and welcoming. The gym is fantastic. The swimming pool is wonderful. But the child care is just another level completely. My one year old boy had major separation anxiety. The women there worked with him. So gently! So graciously. One year later he runs into the child care so excited. Also the women's locker room is wonderful. Always Clean! The steam room is fabulous! read more

Good equipment. Great setup. Lots of improvements over the last few years. Our 5yo begs us on near daily basis to go to gym so she can play in their child care center. Even manage to use the machines we want to during "busy hours" after work. And haven't encountered a machine hogger yet. Woot! read more

I love the Y! I have a crazy busy schedule, but I always try to make it to a Thursday Zumba class or a Piyo class (taught by Christine) on the weekend. The facility is clean and the instructors are awesome. My family loves the Y for all the family friendly events. read more

My family an I have been enjoying this location for many years now, they have a wonderful day care area for the little ones as well as lots of programs for the kids. I enjoy the gym and classes and now that my oldest is in middle school he can join me in the gym. Always clean and everyone pleasant and helpful. read more

It was clean and the front desk staff were very helpful. Equipment seems new but not the brand I care for. I tend to be picky and I prefer Precor brand elliptical and treadmills. Not much variety in the cardio equipment, many of the same types of machines. Mood there was very mellow. I didn't explore anything outside of the wellness area. All in all it's adequate for what I needed to accomplish. read more

I work out here and give to We Build People. The only bad thing I can say is that I feel like we just did an expensive renovation and they are in the middle of yet another expensive renovation. They are not cheap and I feel it is a huge inconvenience. read more

I love that they now have a 1:00 p.m. Saturday yoga class. I went for the first time today and it was a great hour. Really enjoyed it. Now that I'm reporting it I suppose the class will get crowded, but it was perfectly full today. I wish this location had a running track but it is only walking or there would be crashes like 440 at rush hour. read more

My Brother belongs here and takes us over as guests. I enjoy working out in the fully equipped gym. Then he takes me over to the basketball court where we get circles around us by teenagers and young adults. This is a very nice facility and has just about any sports and fitness activity you want for your family. read more

Good place to exercise and network in North Raleigh. More of a family crowd here as opposed to the Alexander YMCA on Hillsborough St. read more

A.E. Finley YMCA - Court 1 after 5-7 am adult pickup basketball. Monday, Wednesday, Friday. - Gyms Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

I've never belonged to a better gym! Perfect mix of community here! The staff is phenomenal, really friendly, very helpful! The instructors for the classes are literally the best. The gym layout is really nice and spread out and kept very clean. Excellent location! Parking at 5 pm is a bit hectic but you get to de-stress once you get in there! I'll be a member for life! read more

We were members for about two months. The workout equipment was nothing special, and the pools were dirty. The staff is rude. My son should've attended Summer Day Camp for a week, but ended up attending three days because each day he'd come in tears. According to him, the counselors were rude, he was getting bullied, and the campers had to eat lunch and snacks surrounded by bees (which he is allergic to). We're lucky he didn't get stung! We got rid of our membership, thank God! read more

We love the Y and certainly the A.E. Finley Y stands out as our home away from home for fitness, YOTA swimming, volunteer work, Camp Grace and many other worthy, community focused causes. read more

I speak as a person that hates the gym. I really found a home at the Y. The staff is helpful, friendly, and they actually know you. There's always someone in the weight room to spot or to get tips on how to use the equipment properly. I love the women's locker room: it's huge and well maintained. This particular Y is a little small, it can get pretty full in the after work hours, and I typically do not like working out around a ton of people. Usually, I just cut it short when I begin to feel claustrophobic. The Y has quite a few classes, my favorite are the muscle and cardio core classes taught by Jennifer. The cycling classes are pretty grueling as well. Most of the classes however, cater to a crowd that are just starting to work out and need something milder. Me? I like sweating and breathing hard, so I need to do both to feel like I've actually worked out. So I recommend any cycling or weight lifting classes. read more

My wife and I take group fitness classes here 3-4 times per week and have been doing so for the past 2 years. The sense of community here is amazing. Everyone is very friendly and the instructors go out of their way to get to know you and make you feel like a part of the family. They provide a great variety of group fitness classes for all levels of ability and they're very responsive to customer feedback. They're almost finished with the new renovations and the facility is looking great. You can't renovate without creating a little inconvenience, but the staff did a great job of managing their resources during the renovations and minimizing the inconvenience to members. They also provided members with free access to any of the Triangle area YMCAs during the renovation to make up for the temporary inconvenience. I highly recommend and do not see myself going anywhere else as long as I'm in the area. read more

I have been a member at the AE Finley location for many years. I love the pool and the aerobics instructors are great. Since the Finley has become a day care facility for young children my rating has gone down. I have no problems with it stepping up to provide day care for chiildren in need. What I have a problem with is when another group has to suffer the consequences in order to benefit another group. When I am in an aquatic class, streams of small childreninto the pool area. I work out in deep water and cannot hear a word of aerobic instructor's directions. In fact, the screaming and noise is at such a level that is often hurts one's ears. There also seems to be a lot of confusion regarding the gym schedule. I know it is difficult to monitor everyone going through the gym, but I found that during the pick up sports what often happens when a family or a few teens are playing one older teen will show up and call 10 of his friends to head for the gym for a game. My 13 yr old and a friend who playing on the one end of the court were yelled at to get off the court during such occurrence. Where is the Y spirit of respect for the individual? Courts should be monitored periodically. And first come first served basis should apply during free court time unless a group is scheduled with the staff for an individual game in advance. read more

My husband and I have been coming to the Y for 20 years. Our kids haven grown up at the Y, having attended summer camps and participated in the sports programs. When they were older (but not quite old enough to work out in the fitness room), they would come with us anyway and do homework, read a book, etc. We always felt like it was a safe place and they now are in high school and both work out regularly. The facility is clean, the staff are friendly and I especially love the new locker rooms created during the last renovation. They have thought of everything, from body wash in the showers to blow dryers in the changing area. We like the family atmosphere, the open floor plan, the fitness equipment and classes. We've also been super happy with the improvements - more windows, more machines, complimentary coffee, and gathering areas. My only complaints are (1) the price for family is a bit high for our area (although if you truly use all the services, a family of 4 gets a good value), (2) the music is outdated, mostly oldies, (3) they don't open until 11 on Sundays (most faiths in our area offer Saturday services, so this is a bit obsolete), and (4) I love Pilates but over the years, the classes have dwindled to the point that there is nothing I can attend... Way too many choices in classes... I wish they would stick to more of the basics. read more

good place - clean and well run, has a nice variety of sports and classes to offer.