San Diego has a well-deserved reputation for its nearly perfect weather, but there are a few weeks out of the year where we have to endure scorching temperatures and find ways to stay cool in San Diego. It might not be Phoenix hot, but we're so spoiled living here that when the temperature hits the 90s for two days in a row, we start complaining. So, here are some suggestions for staying cool in San Diego.
Duh. It's what we're known for. And when the temp gets hot, the hot head to the beach. Pacific, Mission, Del Mar, Coronado...doesn't matter. Just head west, fight for a parking space, bake on the sand, and then cool off in the Pacific Ocean.
Another water inducement, without the sand and salt water. Local community pools are great ways to cool off and keep an eye on the children easily. San Diego has a number of municipal pools, with the Morley Field pool in Balboa Park one of the better known ones.
The Mission Beach Plunge in Belmont Park is a huge indoor pool, and the swimming facilities at the
Salvation Army Joan Kroc Community Center in Rolando are first-rate.
San Diego has a couple of water parks to keep the family soaking wet. The biggest is Knott's Soak City in Chula Vista, with four giant slides, several rafting rides and a wave pool. The La Jolla Indian Reservation has a small water park in their campground, and the City of Vista has
the Wave Waterpark as well.
It might seem strange at first to think of ice skating in the summer, but what more obvious way to stay chilled than on a big ol' slab of ice? San Diego has a few ice rinks around town to try your legs at ice skating, including the rink at the
Westfield Univerity Town Center mall, the San Diego Ice Arena in Mira Mesa, and the ice rink at the
Salvation Army Joan Kroc Center.OK, so youhave to wait for the sun to go down before you cool off, but watching a movie outdoors under the stars is worth the wait. Besides, drive-ins are just plain cool. But don't wait too long, San Diego County only has two left: the Santee Drive-In and the South Bay Drive-in.
Then again, you don't have to wait for the sun to go down before you can watch a movie and cool off. Most people choose to hit the local multi-plex, and why not? It's dark, cool (some say freezing), it smells like popcorn, and with any luck, the movie might even be worth the $9 bucks. As for choices? Any multi-plex with stadium seating. AMC Fashion Valley, Pacific's Grossmont Mall, and Pacific's Gaslamp 15 are my personal favorites.
Let me qualify this suggestion: only an indoor mall and only if you're a teen needing a place to hang out. Only for these technical reasons do I make this suggestion. If you're an adult, your primary reason to go to the mall is to shop, which isn't exactly chillin' out. But then, to each his own, right?
