The bad news is that we exchanged spring for a month of living in Seattle. The “good” news is that it’s now hot out. Plus, this summer is bringing us an onslaught of transportation challenges with a side of more-humid-than-usual. What the hell are we gonna do about that? Well, we’ve got a few suggestions that ought to help you keep your cool. Also, do yourself a favor and slather on some sunscreen. Sound off in the comments if you’ve got some novel ideas we didn’t mention.

The Upshur D.C. public swimming pool in Petworth. (Photo by Mr. T in D.C.)

GO SWIMMING: This one’s pretty obvious. Get your ass in the water. But where, you ask. Good question. D.C. has 19 public pools, plus there’s the fancy-shmancy private pools. If you don’t live in an apartment complex that has access to one, try befriending someone who does (for their sterling personality, of course, and not just to use them for their pool). Us kind folks at DCist have already compiled a list of our favorite public and private spots for your swimming and lounging enjoyment.

Courtesy of the National Building Museum

EXPLORE AN ICEBERG: The Building Museum always does it up in the summer. In 2015, we got The Beach: a 10,000 square all-white beach scene complete with a ball pit ocean and umbrella-ed beach chairs in the Great Hall. (The balls have since made their way to Dupont Underground.) Now get ready for a “glacial ice field” with icebergs. “ICEBERGS symbolizes an extreme counterpoint to the sweltering heat of the Washington, D.C. summer,” Chase Rynd, executive director of the National Building Museum, said in a statement. Couldn’t have said it better myself.

The Georgetown Waterfront Park Fountain. (Photo by henry_throop)

FOUNTAIN: Okay, so maybe you don’t want to go swimming and you couldn’t snag a ticket to ICEBERGS, but you still want to be near water. (Picky, aren’t we?) May I suggest visiting your local fountain, accessible at a park near you? Some of them, like the Tivoli Fountain in Columbia Heights and the new-ish one at CityCenterDC, even encourage splish-splashing from tots looking to cool down. We have a list of ones that are more than just easy on the eyes.

Photo by dullshick.

VISIT THE LIBRARY: Of course you can snag a book at your local D.C. Public Library branch, but the system has been focusing on less traditional offerings to go along with the blasting A/C. There’s a Memory Lab at the MLK flagship that helps people digitize their old-school VHS and floppies. (This is part of their Digital Commons, which also includes a 3D printer.) Plus, I recently went to a friend speed dating event, and you know there’s nothing cooler than a few new pals.

Photo courtesy Spa World

TREAT YO’SELF: All of the sweat collecting on your brow can really do a number on your skin, just as sitting in a posture meant to avoid that “thrrrrrrrp” sound when your sticky thighs separate from plastic seating (oh, just me?) can give you some serious knots. So in the immortal words of Donna and Tom from Parks and Recreation:

via GIPHY

Nothing will help you chill out quite like a cucumber mask and some chilled water with fruit. We’ve got not one, but two lists compiling the best spas in the area, whether you’re looking for one in-and-out treatment or an entire day of relaxation.

Photo by Eric Sidle

ICE CREAM: I will never understand why this region (and any region, for that matter) is so obsessed with frozen yogurt, a clear bastardization of the rich, creamy summer treat that we all scream for. (The idea that toppings are unlimited, when you’re actually paying by weight, is a total crock, but I’ll save that hot take for another day.) Thankfully, not all of you are total nutters, so our area still has some traditional ice cream shops and places to score a scoop.

Photo by Rebecca Schley.

CATCH A FLICK: You’re not going to find a cooler place in the afternoon than a darkened theater, where the air conditioning might even require you to bring some extra layers. We’ve got our favorite cinemas, but really, all of them have the requisite temperature. Check out our weekly Popcorn & Candy guide to some of the more under-the-radar flicks around town. And summer also means outdoor film screenings, so check out this compilation of the area’s offerings to figure out where to park your blanket.

The Bluebell Trail along Bull Run. (Photo by John Leszczynski)

SWEAT IT OUT: What if, instead of fighting the heat, you just embraced it? Sure, you might end up with a few pit stains and you’d need to hydrate frequently, but the area has a ton of beautiful locales and trails, some within city limits and others a short drive away, like Shenandoah. Enjoy the great outdoors!

Photo courtesy of Farmers Fishers Bakers Facebook page.

DRINK: Who am I kidding, this is the only one you’re actually going to take me up on. Get an ice-filled glass and add some alcohol. Presto! Want a roof deck? We’ve got two sets of options. What if you wanted to drink outside, but had a fear of heights? These open-air bar lists might serve you better. If you care about the location less than the level of iciness, we’ve compiled our favorite frozen drinks (not all of which are alcoholic, before you start casting aspersions). Take a long, cool sip and remember that just a few weeks ago, you were complaining about the lack of heat.