Turn a summer hater into a summer lover! As an expat Canadian, I'm slowly disintegrating in southern heat and humidity. Since it's only going to get worse, would love your best recommendations of activities, items, etc to learn to love this atomic heat.

Question

Jenni · Answer

try out your city’s indoor pools!: I hate the heat, sweating, and most exercising, so I’ve been trying to find a way to keep my movement up this summer in a way that doesn’t make me miserable. I’ve started going to water exercise classes through my city’s parks and recreation department, and it’s been a great way to stay cool and still get out and moving! They also have lap swim and recreational swim times, if a class isn’t your thing.

Hannah Noah · Answer

Fireflies: A positive part of NC summers!

Sam · Answer

Portable Neck Fan: An essential for hot, humid Atlanta summers.

Kate a · Answer

ice cream: get outside in the morning or evening. Find a pool or body of water to visit. ice cream.

Rachel · Answer

Barton Springs: Recommendation for battling Texan/southern heat: embrace local cold springs, pools, lakes, and rivers. Barton Springs is one of my very favorites. There’s a lot to explore and while it will be hot, there will be lots of fun to be had near water. Conversely: curate a big stack of books or shows that you’ve been meaning to get to and enjoy them in the air conditioning. 😉

E Noll · Answer

Kafka's Kool Tie: I love a cool neck wrap in the summer here. Oh and I avoid the hottest parts of the day because I’m still a wimp after 20+ years in Atlanta!

JV · Answer

Take As Many Trips To Maple View Farm As You Like!: As a UNC alum who attended from out of state, I can attest to Southern humidity being more brutal than the summers I was used to in NYC. Possibly an obvious rec, but take many, many trips to Maple View Farm for homemade ice cream. Find a shaded spot to sit on the hill, or just chill with your scoops on the porch.

Molly · Answer

cold shower: I find that taking cool showers in the evening (either right when I get home from daytime activities/work or right before bed - or both!) help me mentally separate from the heat of the day - especially when the overnight lows don’t differ from the daytime temps 🥵

And linen.  Light breezy linen.

Mary · Answer

Ways to Beat the Heat: Welcome to the South! I’ve lived here my whole life and still fantasize everyone about spending the summer in Maine. That said, there are ways to manage!

Try to do outdoor activities like running, walking, mowing grass, etc before 8 or 9 AM when it’s cooler.

Save the afternoons for water activities so you can easily cool off.

Lightweight, loose fitting clothes will help you stay cool.

I also always keep a sunshade in my car windshield when I leave it parked in the summer. It helps so much not to get into such a hot car!