The lure of the ocean is strong, especially when the summer months bring us these elevated temperatures. Eighty degrees and the smell of salt air is a great alternative to the relentless rays of the Arizona sun, so you may want to head to the coast for time to escape the heat.
Which coast are we talking here?
For the ease of travel, let’s pick the Pacific Ocean. The water is closer and the cool breezes of places like San Diego or Del Mar are calling. Maybe you really want to shift the climate: head to northern California where the water crashes against cliffs and you may need to bring a raincoat.
Driving up Highway 1, the Pacific Coast Highway, can revive those summer spirits that wilted in the Arizona sun.
If you’re looking for a cooler, more traditional summer, fly east to New England.
Summer is blueberry-picking time in Maine, and a cozy coastal cabin or a 40-foot yawl should accommodate you and your tribe. Go for the lobster and the lush green, the rocky beaches and the sometimes-cold evenings. Head south to Nantucket and rub elbows with the rich and famous. Live your bicoastal dream of wearing deck shoes and Ralph Lauren.
You can go south, too, down to Florida, which has both east and west coasts.
Speaking of wardrobe
Think layers when you head to either coast where night temperatures can dip and weather fluctuates. Shoes, hats, outerwear all shift when you’re leaving the heat to head for the coast. Depending on where you’re going, you’ll want to anticipate whether you’ll need rain gear or heavier sweaters and jackets for the evening chill. Shoes can be a challenge when heading to the shore: safety first, as decks and boats can be slippery.
Keep in touch
You may be spending time on the coast, but depending on your length of stay, you’ll want to cover all your bases back at home. If you have plants or pets that need care, line that up ahead of time. Create or find a tracking tool to keep yourself organized. Bills still need to be paid, and this might be a good time to put them on auto pay. You may want to give your neighbor a head’s up that you’ll be gone and when you’ll be back.
Those coastal breezes will make all your work worthwhile. Whether you choose the east or west coast or just want to find yourself a body of water to cool off in, make sure you have your sunscreen. Just because the sun isn’t as intense as it is in the desert doesn’t mean it can’t do some damage.
Dig your toes in the sand, take a deep breath of that ocean air and savor the classic cool of coastal living.
