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Best places to beat the heat When the temperature rises, here’s how to chill. Our writers pick favorite getaways, spots for frozen drinks and more. For details, click the bold text in each caption.
The 2.5-acre patch of concrete and grass on the Georgetown waterfront that opened late last summer offers a view of the Potomac and a place to relax from a day of shopping — not to mention an “interactive fountain” that shoots arches of water. Sure, the sprayground was probably intended for kids, but in the middle of July, you’ll find college students, tweens and dads taking refuge under its merciful blasts. Potomac shore near Wisconsin Avenue and Water street NW. www.georgetownwaterfrontpark.org . Free.
Jacquelyn Martin
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AP
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The popular gas-station treat the slushie has gone highbrow at Estadio , where icy cocktails known as slushitos come in sophisticated flavors blending fruits and fresh herbs. The flavors rotate regularly, but whirring in the machine right now are two berry-loaded varieties: a spicy shishito-pepper-spiked cherry with tequila, and blackberry with sherry and rum. 1520 14th St. NW. 202-319-1404. www.estadio-dc.com . $9.
Lavanya Ramanathan
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The Washington Post
Attention daredevils and adrenaline junkies: Six Flags America unveiled a new ride this season. The stand-up coaster Apocalypse loops, corkscrews and dives 10 stories at speeds of up to 55 mph. The park also has the Superman: Ride of Steel (up to 74 mph), the Joker’s Jinx (60 mph) and Roar (50 mph). 13710 Central Ave., Largo. 301-249-1500. www.sixflags.com/america . Daily through Aug 19; selected weekends through October. $56.99; $36.99 children shorter than 48 inches; age 2 and younger free.
Katherine Frey
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The Washington Post
The summer’s most decadent sweet comes from those arbiters of cool — the Italians. In spring, Pitango Gelato chief executive Noah Dan unveiled an icy treat that reminded him of his summers in Italy: a toasty, eggy brioche sandwich, stuffed with creamy gelato. Since then, the Pitango locations in Chinatown and in Logan Circle have been serving the brioche con gelato on Saturdays and Sundays. To make it, the staff butters and toasts fresh brioche shipped in from a local baker, then sprinkles the warm bun with a little sugar and salt and tucks your favorite gelato flavor inside. Traditionalist? Stick with Dan’s recomendation: The simple fior di latte (cream) or nocciola (hazelnut). 413 Seventh St. NW. 202-885-9607. 1451 P St. NW. 202-332-8877. www.pitangogelato.com . $4.95.
Brian Oh
Standing in the shade of the Berlin Wall conjures the frosty atmosphere of the Cold War. Eight 12-foot-high sections of the original wall form the centerpiece of the Newseum ’s gallery dedicated to the struggle to get information in and out of a closed society. The colorfully defaced concrete panels, which make up the largest display of unaltered sections outside Germany, are on view near a three-story East German guard tower that once watched over Checkpoint Charlie. 555 Pennsylvania Ave. NW. 888-639-7386. www.newseum.org . Daily 9 a.m.-5 p.m. $21.95; $17.95 age 65 and older, students and members of the military; free for age 18 and younger through Sept. 3 with a paid adult admission.
Michael Williamson
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The Washington Post
Mixologists are looking for ways to make their craft cocktails stand out, and more businesses are focusing on the ice in your drink as well. Slow-melting ice means customers experience the “true flavor of the cocktail,” says Mark Politzer, master of ceremonies at Bourbon Steak (pictured). In February, the restaurant in the Four Seasons hotel became one of the most recent places to invest in ice, to the tune of a $3,500 ice maker and a $2,000 Japanese freezer that produce ice in different shapes and flavors. The glam speakeasy PX in Alexandria chills some of its drinks with smoke-infused cubes. Staff at theColumbia Room , a jewel box of a bar tucked inside the Passenger , carve ice by hand in the form of diamonds and balls.
Dominic Bracco II
There’s no more elementary way to combat summer heat than by surrounding yourself with ice. Local ice rinks, including Ballston’s Ketter Capitals Iceplex , offer public skating sessions perfect for taking a twirl. How cool is that?
Toni L. Sandys
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The Washington Post
Get the feeling of the great outdoors in a temperature-controlled setting at the Kogod Courtyard at the National Portrait Gallery and American Art Museum . The undulating glass roof overhead lets in plenty of light, and the benches and trees between the building’s stone walls recall a public square. And hey, you can cool off with a beer or glass of wine if you wish, thanks to the museum’s cafe. Eighth and F streets NW. 202-633-1000. www.americanart.si.edu/reynolds_center/courtyard.cfm . Daily 11:30 a.m.-7 p.m. Free.
Tim Hursley
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Smithsonian American Art Museum
Cold drinks on a bar’s rooftop deck or patio are one of the joys of summer — until you start baking in the sunshine. Thankfully, some bars have misting fans overhead to allow you to enjoy the outdoors and stay cool at the same time. When you’re flagging, that refreshing bit of water might be enough to allow you to hang out longer with your friends. Bars with misting fans include: The Argonaut , 1433 H St. NE. 202-250-3660. www.argonautdc.com. Arlington Rooftop Bar & Grill (pictured), 2424 Wilson Blvd, Arlington. 703-528-3030. www.arlingtonrooftopbarandgrill.com. Biergarten Haus , 1355 H St. NE. 202-388-4085. www.biergartenhaus.com. Whitlow’s on Wilson , 2854 Wilson Blvd., Arlington. 703-276-9693. www.whitlows. com.
Astrid Riecken
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For The Washington Post
Temperatures never climb above the mid-50s at Skyline Caverns , the cavern system close to Washington. Even in July, you’ll need a light jacket while exploring the sprawling rooms that contain stalactites, stalagmites and a 39-foot waterfall. 10344 Stonewall Jackson Hwy., Front Royal. 540-635-4545. www.skylinecaverns.com . Daily through Labor Day 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. $18; $14 ages 7-13; 6 and younger free.
Skyline Caverns
On the first Tuesday of every month, select AMC theaters in Maryland and Virginia invite parents of infants to the Bring Your Baby Matinee . At these early-afternoon screenings, strollers, crying babies, talking, and getting up and down during the film are the norm. So get out of the house and bring your friends to the blissful air-conditioning. The featured film for June was “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” (pictured). Coming up is “The Amazing Spider-Man” (Aug. 4) and “The Odd Life of Timothy Green” (Sept. 4). Participating local AMC theaters are Hoffman Center in Alexandria, Potomac Mills in Woodbridge, Tysons Corner in McLean and Rio in Gaithersburg. www.amctheatres.com/programs/bring-your-baby .
Melissa Moseley/LionsGate
Running outside seems like a pretty unsavory way to stay in shape once the heat-and-humidity combo turns the air soupy. But that doesn’t mean you have to give up on your calorie-burning quota. On Wednesday nights at Washington Sports Club’s Columbia Heights location, the swimming pool turns into a Latin dance party during Aqua Zumba . It’s the perfect way to get a little exercise -- without overheating. 3100 14th St. NW. 202-986-2281. www.mysportsclubs.com/regions/wsc.htm . $30 for 30-day trial membership; $30 for drop-in classes.
Juana Arias
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For The Washington Post
Cavernous museum interiors are always a great escape from the crowds and heat of the Mall, but the American History Museum ‘s ongoing hydro-themed exhibit "On the Water: Stories from Maritime America " is especially refreshing. The show includes items related to shipwrecks, pirates, whaling and even the musical "Show Boat." It also includes this painted mural, "The Currents," consisting of 10 aluminum panels depicting the swirling trajectory of the Atlantic Ocean. 14th Street and Constitution Avenue. 202-633-1000. www.americanhistory.si.edu . Daily 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Free.
Painting by Raymond John Wendell
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American History Museum
Swimming in the Potomac is verboten, so splash in a real-life swimming hole. Consider Frederick County’s Cunningham Falls your go-to destination this summer. In addition to its man-made lake meant for swimming, the cool, shady park has a 78-foot waterfall that you can scramble up to, much to the delight of children. (Park officials urge climbers to use caution on the slippery rocks.) To make a day of it, get there before noon, and check out the park’s renovated Manor picnic area with grills. 14039 Catoctin Hollow Rd., Thurmont. 301-271-7574. www.dnr.maryland.gov . Lake open for swimming, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. through Labor Day. Park hours: 8 a.m.-sunset through October. $3-$5 Monday-Friday; $5-$7 Saturday-Sunday.
Chris Gardner
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AP
Created in his sunny Southern California studio a few miles south of Santa Monica, Richard Diebenkorn’s so-called Ocean Park paintings are the artistic equivalent of madras shorts: light, color-saturated and breezy. The Corcoran Gallery of Art exhibition “Richard Diebenkorn: The Ocean Park Series ” features 80 works from the famous body of abstract pictures, including “Ocean Park #43.” 500 17th St. NW. 202-639-1700. www.corcoran.org . Wednesday, Friday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Thursday until 9 p.m. $10; $8 seniors and students; 12 and younger free.
Courtesy The Richard Diebenkorn Foundation
Thomas Sweet is a classic Washington ice cream shop. The menu flavors, written on a blackboard hazy from so much erasing and updating, go from classic to sophisticated — cafe au lait, hazelnut, sweet cream, butter almond. It’s just one of the Going Out Guide’s recommendations for best ice cream . 3214 P St. NW. 202-337-0616. www.thomassweet.com. Sunday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-10:30 p.m.; Friday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-midnight.
Sarah L. Voisin
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The Washington Post
There are few more lulling spots to graze in than the Garden Cafe , an airy dining area in the belly of the National Gallery of Art, where a gentle fountain provides the sole background music and trellised walls offer the illusion of dining alfresco. The marble table tops are cool to the touch; a statue of Bacchus toasts the lively midday crowd from an alcove perch. Through Aug. 12, the gallery hosts an exhibit of the work of the celebrated Catalan modern artist Joan Miro. To complement the show, “Ladder of Escape,” the cafe is serving food designed by chef Jose Andres of ThinkFoodGroup, the restaurant collection that includes Jaleo, the popular Spanish tapas destination. While the cafe offers a handful of entrees on its menu, the Catalan-inspired buffet, displayed on a center table, is where you want to focus. The spread looks like a picnic sans grass -- and it feels like one, sans the summertime heat. Fourth Street and Constitution Avenue NW. 202-289-3360. www.nga.gov/ginfo/cafes.shtm#garden . Catalan menu continues through mid-September. Cafe hours, Monday–Saturday, 11:30 a.m.–3 p.m.; Sunday, noon–4 p.m.
Mark Gail
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The Washington Post
Downtown lunchtime chain Cafe Phillips does something special with iced coffee: The ice cubes are made by freezing not water but coffee, a brilliantly simple adaptation ensuring that even on the warmest of summer days, your drink stays cold without being watered down.
Fritz Hahn
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The Washington Post
Visit Going Out Guide for more ideas on how to make this your coolest summer ever.
The Washington Post
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