I chose the Y for one reason and one reason only... it is the closest gym to my house and therefore requires the least amount of motivation/effort to drag myself there. The membership price is a little high for someone who really only uses the gym facilities and an occasional fitness class. However, I suppose I am paying for all the other equipment and services that I don't use. The membership price is done on a sliding scale. I am a graduate student and POOR so the membership price is fine for me. However, I don't think it's worth what they want to charge you if you make any kind of money.
They have an outdoor pool and "water park" area during the summer, an outdoor track, an indoor pool, a gymnasium, an indoor track, a fitness class studio/room, and a gym with machines and weights. The fitness machines are nice and they do a very good job of taking care of any issues that arise pretty quickly. I am often in the gym and see a maintenance/contractor coming in to fix a machine that has an issue.
The fitness instructors that run the classes are nice - though sometimes I question their training/knowledge/expertise. Although most in the classes are doing it mostly for recreation.
The facility itself is sufficient but it is not new or modern. I have heard some of the other branches of the YMCA are much nicer. This branch has everything that I need, however some of the areas like the locker rooms could use a face-lift.