Sensitive to Heat? Come to Carlsbad, CA

I am reminded again that now is the perfect time for Heat Sensitive Travelers to visit Coastal California. The Marine Layer is in force, which keeps the area nice and cool. If you want sun and heat, just drive inland a few miles and bask in the sunny glow. I, however, will be happy enough to stay put right here in my adopted hometown of Carlsbad, CA.

In June and usually July, the quality of the forecasted high temperature for days here in Carlsbad is truly outstanding… less than a 1.5 degree temperature change from nighttime “low” to daytime “high” temperatures. August is warmer, about eight degrees difference, but it's still considerably better weather than one gets in, say Arizona or Nevada, or interior Southern California for that matter.

Can't get to Carlsbad? Here are some stay-cool tips:

Slow down and avoid strenuous activity which will stimulate your body and raise its core temperature. If you must go jogging, do it during the coolest part of the day, which is usually before 7 a.m.

If you have a basement, use it during the hottest hours of the day when the sun is highest. Basements are usually 10-15 degrees cooler than the upstairs part of the house.

Avoid alcohol because it dehydrates the body. You are better off with mineral water or low-sugar fizzy drinks.

Avoid drinks with caffeine such as coffee and colas. These increase the metabolic heat in the body.

Keep a fan nearby during hot weather. It doesn’t cool down the temperature, but it does make you feel cooler.

Keep the house curtains drawn, blinds closed when you are out and about. Keeps the house from heating up like a greenhouse.

Wear all-cotton clothes that allow your skin to breathe. Heat is trapped by synthetic fibers, but cotton absorbs perspiration and its subsequent evaporation causes you to feel cooler. Light colors also reflect the sun’s radiation, heat so if you wear a hat, make sure it is light-colored.

Run your wrists under a cold tap for five seconds each every couple of hours. Why? A major vein passes through this area, helping to cool the blood.

Eat spicy food. Curries and chillies can stimulate heat receptors in the mouth, enhance circulation and cause sweating, which cools the body down.

If all fails, sit back, close your eyes and picture snow. Research has shown that the body reacts to these daydreams, reducing its overall temperature. Here’s a picture of the snow at my friend Doug’s house in Vinton, IA: