1 - Water fun Lakesides and beachfronts just have a way of attracting cabins.
If your cabin is near a lake or the ocean, take advantage.
Your lake or beach probably has a Web site.
A quick Internet search can help you find postings for activities, classes, equipment rental, boat cruises and of course the local rules and regulations.
New to boating? Never fear.
Info pages abound on the web for beginning and aspiring boaters.
Or check out the United States Power Squadrons, a national nonprofit committed to safe boating education.
Don't worry: if yours is not a waterfront cabin, there is still water fun to be had.
Wander on down to the local swimming hole, or gather friends and family for some good old-fashioned water games-water balloon fights, water gun duels, a spirited sprint through the sprinkler.
Even if you don't have kids in your family to validate this kind of water silliness, what's to stop you from getting in touch with your own inner child? 2 - Cold Snacks and Drinks When you come in out of the heat, nothing tastes better than a cold treat.
You can make summer cooler by stocking the fridge with your favorite cold snacks and drinks.
Frozen grapes and berries make a perfect summer snack-cold and tasty and ready in an instant.
And, perhaps more obviously, ice cream and frozen yogurt make a delicious cold treat.
Or try out this simple recipe from Southern Living for homemade orange soda:
Serve over ice in individual glasses and garnish with an orange slice.
3 - Explore the Indoors The whole point of a cabin is to enjoy the great outdoors.
But sometimes the indoors can be pretty great too, and since the Center for Disease Control cites air conditioning as the greatest preventative to heat-related illness, it makes sense to spend a couple of the hottest afternoon hours inside.
With the kids on vacation, pass some time with a few board games or a movie, or plan an indoor activity.
This blogger has provided five summer science experiments for kids; with a little planning, you can nurture the little Einstein in your family.
It's generally easier to alter the temperature inside than outside (unless, of course, you're a comic book supervillain).
Besides AC, you can use curtains and blinds to block the rays of the sun during the day, and open your windows at night to let the cool air in.
Don't leave the TV on needlessly - it puts out a little heat and can encourage your thermostat to crank out more air conditioning than necessary - and hold off on using the oven and dryer until after sunset.
You can also keep yourself feeling cooler by running ceiling fans and by minimizing clothes and bedclothes.
Be Safe There's a serious side to all this, of course.
Heat stroke is a life-threatening emergency, and while children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to heat stroke and heat exhaustion, without using proper caution, anyone can fall prey to the heat.
So be careful to avoid a heat emergency this summer by following a few guidelines:
If your cabin is near a lake or the ocean, take advantage.
Your lake or beach probably has a Web site.
A quick Internet search can help you find postings for activities, classes, equipment rental, boat cruises and of course the local rules and regulations.
New to boating? Never fear.
Info pages abound on the web for beginning and aspiring boaters.
Or check out the United States Power Squadrons, a national nonprofit committed to safe boating education.
Don't worry: if yours is not a waterfront cabin, there is still water fun to be had.
Wander on down to the local swimming hole, or gather friends and family for some good old-fashioned water games-water balloon fights, water gun duels, a spirited sprint through the sprinkler.
Even if you don't have kids in your family to validate this kind of water silliness, what's to stop you from getting in touch with your own inner child? 2 - Cold Snacks and Drinks When you come in out of the heat, nothing tastes better than a cold treat.
You can make summer cooler by stocking the fridge with your favorite cold snacks and drinks.
Frozen grapes and berries make a perfect summer snack-cold and tasty and ready in an instant.
And, perhaps more obviously, ice cream and frozen yogurt make a delicious cold treat.
Or try out this simple recipe from Southern Living for homemade orange soda:
- 1 12-oz.
can frozen, pulp-free orange juice concentrate, thawed and undiluted - 2 2-liter bottles of lemon-lime soda, chilled
- 1 to 2 oranges, thinly sliced
Serve over ice in individual glasses and garnish with an orange slice.
3 - Explore the Indoors The whole point of a cabin is to enjoy the great outdoors.
But sometimes the indoors can be pretty great too, and since the Center for Disease Control cites air conditioning as the greatest preventative to heat-related illness, it makes sense to spend a couple of the hottest afternoon hours inside.
With the kids on vacation, pass some time with a few board games or a movie, or plan an indoor activity.
This blogger has provided five summer science experiments for kids; with a little planning, you can nurture the little Einstein in your family.
It's generally easier to alter the temperature inside than outside (unless, of course, you're a comic book supervillain).
Besides AC, you can use curtains and blinds to block the rays of the sun during the day, and open your windows at night to let the cool air in.
Don't leave the TV on needlessly - it puts out a little heat and can encourage your thermostat to crank out more air conditioning than necessary - and hold off on using the oven and dryer until after sunset.
You can also keep yourself feeling cooler by running ceiling fans and by minimizing clothes and bedclothes.
Be Safe There's a serious side to all this, of course.
Heat stroke is a life-threatening emergency, and while children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to heat stroke and heat exhaustion, without using proper caution, anyone can fall prey to the heat.
So be careful to avoid a heat emergency this summer by following a few guidelines:
- Drink plenty of cool water and other fluids-but go easy on the sugar and avoid caffeine and alcohol.
- Wear loose fitting, lightweight clothes in light colors and natural fibers.
- Stay in the coolest place available and keep activity to a minimum during the hottest part of the day.
If you do insist on engaging in sports and other outdoor activities during the day, be sure to drink plenty of water or a sports drink to replace your fluids and minerals. - Be vigilant with sunscreen.
A sunburn will harm your body's ability to keep your temperature stable.
Besides, it's hard to enjoy the outdoors if it hurts to move.
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