6 Ways To Stay Cool This Weekend

6 Ways To Stay Cool This Weekend

The solstice has arrived, and with it, that humidity and the heat. It's summer, and we've got 6 ways to cool down if it's all getting a bit much.

Ride a bike.

Instead of walking to your destination this weekend, get moving on a bike. A little extra airflow will help you stay cool, and you'll get to the beach (or Del's Lemonade stand) all the faster. Put it on the RIPTA and now you're zipping anywhere you need to get.

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Need wheels? The RI Department of Transportation has a great listing of 26 bicycle shops here. For a map of all the bike routes statewide, click here.

Go tropical.

There's a reason all those southerners (and residents of the Caribbean) dress that way. Certain fabrics - loose cotton and linens - allow the body to cool itself while the temperature rises. One of the best things you can wear on a hot day (if the dress code allows it) is the guayabera, also called the Mexican wedding shirt. This shirt actually wisks moisture from your skin and promotes air circulation. Newporters, take comfort: madras and seersucker are both great fabrics for hot days. Seersucker pieces often show up in vintage shops like Second TIme Around and Into The Wardrobe in Providence; for a good shot at some seersucker or madras, don't miss Chace N' Lulu boutique in Newport.

Go to Block Island.

It's just cooler over there. And with so much ferry service available (not to mention bikes for rent right at the dock), you'll be able to get anywhere you want to get. Hit the beach or just pull up on the Spring House Hotel porch and order a nice, tall lemonade. For a guide to services, rentals, and activities, go here.

Hit the Rink.

The fact is, there's nowhere cooler than an ice skating rink on a hot, humid day. Get some exercise and cool down in a big way at two rinks that offer public skating hours: Dennis M. Lynch Memorial Arena (25 Andrew Ferland Way, 728-7420) in Pawtucket and the Bradford R. Boss Arena at URI in Kingston (874-5480).

Get in the Shade.

No better place on a hot day than out of the sun, under the leafy cover of a big tree. Where are the best trees for evading the glare (if not in your backyard)? In Glocester, for one. Did you know the RI Tree Council assesses and names the state's largest trees? The Helen Walker Raleigh Champion Trees of Rhode Island Registry Program lists the biggest... check here for more (the current Champion is a sugar maple from Glocester).

Take the Plunge.

Experts will tell you that getting your pulse points (wrists, ankles) cold will help cool your body down on any hot day. You can soak those spots in your bathtub, or pack your suit and head to a swimming hole. From tucked away spots on the Wood RIver in Ashaway to Asheville Pond, there's a list of the best swimming holes in the state here. Pools more your speed? Wait until Monday, when you can have Daycation rights at AQUA, a fantastic pool at the Providence Marriott that's open to the public from 10am-4pm. $50 gets up to three guests pool rights, plus a $25 food and drink credit at AQUA's restaurant. Reservations are recommended, 272-5852, or go here.