slides: 10 Ways to Stay Cool This Summer

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? Check out Daycation rates at AQUA, a fantastic pool at the Providence Marriott that's open to the public from 10am-4pm.  Reservations are recommended, 272-5852, or go here.

Photo: Mood Board Photography

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.

Photo: DACphoto

Go Paddleboarding

It began as a celebrity trend, but it's here to stay, and one of the easiest ways to get out and on the water, under your own power. Stand Up Paddle (SUP) boards are fun and easy to ride, which makes them great for everyone. And once you've mastered it on flat water, you can go wild and start surfing the waves. Get your lessons and rent the gear and Island Surf & Sport, right in the center of the action in Middletown.

Island Surf & Sport, 86 Aquidneck Ave, Middletown, 841-5160.

Escape 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.

Go Ice Skating

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 Dennis M. Lynch Memorial Arena (25 Andrew Ferland Way, 728-7420) in Pawtucket, which is open for public skating year-round.

Sport Seersucker

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. And for new seersucker, don't miss the selection at Alpha Male columnist Rob Babigian's shop, WHARF.

Bike Instead of Walk

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.

Need wheels? The RI Department of Transportation has a great listing of 24 bicycle shops here. For a map of all the bike routes statewide, click here.

Go to the Movies

The best air conditioning going is in Rhode Island's movie theaters, and there are always matinees worth catching up on. Or evening films when your house just won't cool down.

The state's best deal going continues to be the East Providence Cinemas (formerly the Patriot cinemas) in Rumford, where every ticket is $1.99, and Tuesdays and Thursdays are only a buck.

Bonus plan: Check out the Rhode Island Film Festival August 7-12 for hundreds of films running during the day and evening.

Go School Shopping

It's a triple-win: you'll spend hours in ultra-cool air conditioning, you'll get a jump on all that shopping before the panic of first day of school, and you can take advantage of August sales that are cropping up all over the state.

Top pick: Providence Place Mall has all kinds of school-related sales going on this month. Don't miss Old Navy's uniform sale through August 15, J.Crew's college teacher and student sale, and Delia's Back to School promotions.

Photo: Old Navy

Eat Cold Stuff

Patronize your favorite ice cream store, or try somewhere new. For some top spots, check here. New in town: Teas & Javas is serving up excellent gelato in Wayland Square, and Whole Foods' sorbetto counter (Cranston location) is healthy, delicious, and inexpensive. And don't miss Rhode Island's PVD Pudding Pops (track her down via Twitter, here).