Community Corner
Where to Cool Off in Palo Alto This Summer
When the heat is on, find a place to cool off.
Written by Kathleen Reilly and adapted by Claudia Cruz.
Whoa! It's hot outside!
Cooling off in the summer has become more sophisticated since the Mad Men era of the 1960s. Back then, suburban parents simply set up a sprinkler in the backyard, whipped up some lemonade and invited their children’s friends over for some shivering shenanigans. Meanwhile, urban locals beat the heat by playing in the spray of cool water from neighborhood fire hydrants.
Whoa! It's hot outside!
Cooling off in the summer has become more sophisticated since the Mad Men era of the 1960s. Back then, suburban parents simply set up a sprinkler in the backyard, whipped up some lemonade and invited their children’s friends over for some shivering shenanigans. Meanwhile, urban locals beat the heat by playing in the spray of cool water from neighborhood fire hydrants.
Thankfully, there are more creative 21st century options.
At home, it’s easy to cool off with an air conditioner or a circulating fan. But what if you want to stay cool and get out of the house?
Well, here are a few options:Play. It might just be time to join the community pool. Get wet by taking a trip to the local pool or a nearby beach. Better yet, find a waterpark or an amusement park with water rides.
- Go swimming at Rinconada Park the city's municipal pool. There you can swim laps or just splash around.
- Take your kid and yourself to J. Pierce Mitchell Park and walk (or sit) in the water "spray" feature.
- Nothing cools you down faster than gelato. If you won't melt waiting in line, stop by Gelato Classico on University Avenue.
- For the ice cream and milk shakes there's always Baskin Robbins, Cold Stone Creamery and Peninsula Creamery Dairy Store & Grill.
- If frozen yogurt is your thing, build your own at Culture Frozen Yogurt on California Avenue or stop by the very trendy Fraiche on Hamilton Avenue downtown.
- Trying to be healthier? Jamba Juice should provide some of your daily fruit intake.
- Catch up on your foreign and indie films at Aquarius Theatre and CineArts at Palo Alto Square. Watch some of your favorite classic movies at The Stanford Theater.
- Trying to be frugral? Check out the DVD collection at any of the City of Palo Alto Public Libraries or if you have access, the Stanford Libraries.
Of course, don’t forget to stay hydrated. And if there's no time to get out, you can always take a nice cold shower.
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Remember, if the car is too hot for you, it's also too hot for pets! Please don't leave them in the car unattended.
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