Stay Cool on a Desert Vacation
Don’t let the summer heat get you down during a family desert vacation, such as Palm Springs. Here are some tips to help you keep cool when the temperature rises.
- Find a Mister: Find a desert vacation hotel or restaurant that has water misters. The light spray will feel refreshing on a hot day. Resorts such as the Hyatt Palm Springsand La Quinta Resort & Spa have lots of misters by the pool area. You can also bring a personal mister with you.
- Wear Protective Clothing:These days, you can purchase clothing with sunscreen in the material. It’s an easy way to prevent harmful rays from damaging your skin. Companies such as REI and Columbia Sportswear have shorts, shirts, pants and dresses with the added protection.
- Seek Shade: Staying out of the direct sun during a desert vacation is a great way to prevent yourself from overheating. Find a tree, wear a hat, or bring an umbrella (or pretty parasol).
- Use a Fan: Sit near a fan to beat the heat. You can even carry a personal-sized, battery-operated fan in your pool bag, or a decorated Chinese paper fan.
- Apply Sunscreen: Don’t forget to slather on the sunscreen on your desert vacation to keep skin cancer and sunburn at bay. Make sure the one that you select has UVA and UVB protection and an SPF of at least 30. Zinka, colored zinc oxide, is a fun way for kids to protect their skin.
- Take a Dip: While on a desert vacation submerge yourself in a cool pool, zip down some waterslides, or splash in a water zone to stay cool. Resorts such as The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain offer kid-friendly “splash zones.”
- Stay Indoors: Sometimes the quickest way to cool down is to find someplace with air conditioning. Go to the movies, check out an indoor rock climbing gym or a trampoline center, visit a museum, or go to the library for a summer read.
- Remember to Hydrate: Drink plenty of water in order to stay hydrated while on your desert vacation. Jazz it up with a slice of lemon, orange or cucumber. Make a summer spritzer with sparkling water and Stevia flavored drops (chocolate or vanilla).
- Eat Cool Treats: Beat the sun with some cool ice cream, popsicles, shave ice or yummy Italian ice.
- Don’t Forget Fido: Dogs can get heat exhaustion too, so make sure to give your dog plenty of water and keep him in the shade or air conditioning while on a desert vacation.