10 Ways to Stay Cool This Summer
BY KENDRA GEMMA
When the summer heat becomes too much or you want to avoid getting drenched in a downpour, an indoor activity can come to the rescue. Need inspiration? Try these cool ideas for couples, families, and friends to escape the weather and enjoy each other’s company.
Just the Two of You
Your next hot date doesn’t have to be taken literally. You two can stay comfortable without resorting to a movie and dinner outing.
Discover Sarasota Tours’ air-conditioned trolley transports you through the streets of Sarasota as it entertains and educates. Launching in July, the Sing-Along Trolley tour will depart at 7:30 p.m. on Fridays. Take turns serenading each other or team up on your favorite duet. Discover Sarasota Tours offers a variety of tours seasonally and all year round, so you can sample several throughout the summer.
If you love to cut a rug or you’ve always wanted to learn, put on your dancing shoes and join a class. Arthur Murray Dance Centers’ Lakewood Ranch Studio teaches ballroom dance lessons for couples. Choose from 30 different styles – from Viennese waltz to East Coast swing. Bradenton Dance Center has group classes Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays, and private lessons by appointment.
Plunge into the local art scene. ArtCenter Manatee’s pet-themed Dog (& Cat) Dayz of Summer Open Juried Show runs from July 1-August 8, with an opening reception July 3 from 5:00-7:00pm. Downtown Bradenton’s Island Gallery and Studios showcases the works of nearly 30 artists. Browse their pieces (and maybe buy one) before dining at a nearby restaurant.
Family Fun
Sure, you could spend the summer with the kids at the beach or in the pool, but sometimes, an indoor activity makes a welcome respite from the sun and heat.
For an educational day that just feels like fun, step inside the Bishop Museum of Science and Nature. The full-dome planetarium lets you view the constellations and planets, and you can watch the resident sea cows in the museum’s Parker Manatee Rehabilitation Habitat. Plus, there are natural history and Florida heritage exhibits.
See a family-friendly show at the Manatee Performing Arts Center. Three Friday night performances – on June 13, June 27, and July 18 – feature kids’ camp actors. Choose from “Disney’s 101 Dalmatians,” “Disney’s the Aristocats,” or “Mary Poppins Jr.,” or attend all three.
Help your kids release their pent-up energy at sporty indoor places, like Astro Skate Family Fun Center and Kids Empire, where they can climb, overcome obstacles, slide, and more.
Does your family enjoy a good challenge? Exercise your competitive spirit and maybe win bragging rights at Bowlero Bradenton. The facility has 64 bowling lanes, a billiards area, and an arcade.
The More the Merrier
Gather your friends to indulge in a day of indoor pampering and new hobbies.
Refresh your wardrobes at The Market Boutique, a locally owned shop that carries the latest fashions while offering old-fashioned customer service. Discover unique treasures at The Cat’s Meow, Blessed & Distressed Vintage, and the Blue Flamingo. All three are chockfull of vintage goodies, so plan to spend a few hours hunting or just browsing.
Or give yourself a well-deserved break from the hustle and bustle with a body or facial treatment. Blue Door Spa has two locations – one in Lakewood Ranch and one in Ellenton – where you can bond with your girlfriends by getting matching mani/pedis or you can each do your own thing. Make it a head-to-toe spa day to thoroughly relax. Six-hour spa packages include haircare, a facial, a massage, and nail treatments.
If you and your friends are creative types, unwind by getting a little messy and expressive with a craft project. Canvas & Clay Store in Palmetto lets you take a paintbrush to your choice of pottery, canvas, or wood pallet to make a home décor piece that’s customized to you. Walk in for a spontaneous artsy afternoon or schedule a party for you and your pals. Fancy Leaf Plant Co. in Parrish also offers pottery painting in partnership with Arts a Blaze.
Don’t let the Florida heat keep you cooped up at home this summer. Get out – and stay in – with the help of these activities that will educate, entertain, and inspire you.