Things to do

Rent a pool? Find Charlotte’s best ice cream? Here are the best ways to stay cool this summer.

The temperatures in the Charlotte area have reached into the 90s lately. You’re looking for ways to enjoy the summer without getting overheated. Well, we did that for you and crafted five ways for you to stay cool in the Queen City this summer.

To stay cool this summer, drink at least two liters of water a day, eat light meals and wear loose, cool clothing. Then set out to one or more of these summertime activities in the Charlotte area:

Enjoy an afternoon swim in a private pool using the Swimply app in Charlotte.
Enjoy an afternoon swim in a private pool using the Swimply app in Charlotte. Jeff Siner jsiner@charlotteobserver.com

Plan a beach trip

Cool off with an ocean breeze this summer by going to a beach in the Carolinas.

Choose from places like the Outer Banks, Cape Hatteras National Seashore, Corolla Beach, Cherry Grove Beach or the well-known Myrtle Beach, each with a different vibe. You can splash in the water at these spots, enjoy great eateries and play in the sand. Your beach travel bag needs sunscreen, water bottles, sunhats and loose clothes.

You can get free admission to both Mint Museum locations every Wednesday evening, as well as other Charlotte museums through the Wednesday Night Live program.
You can get free admission to both Mint Museum locations every Wednesday evening, as well as other Charlotte museums through the Wednesday Night Live program. T. Ortega Gaines ogaines@charlotteobserver.com

[RELATED: Eat like a local’s out-of-town guest at your favorite South Carolina beach town]

Browse through a museum

Use Charlotte’s museums as a source of cooling off while learning more about art and culture. You can even get free admission on Wednesdays to The Mint Museum, The Bechtler Museum of Modern Art, The Harvey B. Gantt Center for African-American Arts + Culture and the Knight Theater.

Eat some ice cream

If going to the beach is not your thing this summer, how about cooling off with ice cream? Your tastebuds will thank you.

Sure, you could visit an ice cream chain, but there’s plenty of small, local businesses to support, such as Aggie’s Ice Cream & Grill, Elizabeth Creamery, Golden Cow Creamery, Seemingly Overzealous or Ice Cream - R - Us. (We’ll give an honorable mention to Krispy Kreme’s new ice cream, too.)

After you visit various ice cream spots this summer, vote for the best ice cream in the Charlotte area.

Dairy-free ice cream shop Seemingly Overzealous will open at Camp North End in late summer or early fall, but you can find it at pop-ups now.
Dairy-free ice cream shop Seemingly Overzealous will open at Camp North End in late summer or early fall, but you can find it at pop-ups now. Remy Thurston

[SUMMER FOODS: Where are the best hot dogs in Charlotte?]

Find a cool spot to read

For many readers, a favorite pastime is curling up with a book in the shade. An alternative for readers of all ages is visiting their local library. Many libraries have a summer reading challenge for readers to enter while they get lost in distant lands or connect with creative characters. For those who want to curl up with a book at coffee shops, parks and more, we have you covered.

Find a spot to read with a snack at Queen City Grounds, or another Charlotte coffee shop.
Find a spot to read with a snack at Queen City Grounds, or another Charlotte coffee shop. Alex Cason CharlotteFive

Take a dip in a pool

We know a beach is a great spot to cool off, but pools are a great way, too. You may remember our coverage from last summer: If you don’t have a personal pool or a neighborhood pool, you can rent a private pools by the hour in Charlotte via Swimply.

There are also public pools available for you and the family to visit.

Visit a public pool in Mecklenburg County for as little as $2 per person.
Visit a public pool in Mecklenburg County for as little as $2 per person. John D. Simmons jsimmons@charlotteobserver.com

This story was originally published June 28, 2022 at 6:00 AM.

Katrina Wilson
The Charlotte Observer
Katrina Wilson, formerly known as Katrina Moses, was born and raised in Summerville, South Carolina. Wilson graduated with a bachelor of arts in mass communication from Francis Marion University. Wilson has worked at the Camden Chronicle-Independent, Morning News and The Pentagram newspapers. She She loves reading and writing, and has two books on Amazon: Spilled Milk and Other Taboo Tales and Differences.
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