Now that its towards the end of July, and the beginning of August its starting to get really hot, and it may only get hotter. For a lot of people from outside of the DC area, it may get a bit too hot. For those from DC its probably still too hot, but at least we've dealt with 102 degree days, with 99% humidity before. If there's one thing that I've learned from my summers in DC there are in fact plenty of ways to get cool, without having to pump up your AC.

One of the cheapest things you can do is head into one of the many free museums. The Smithsonian are all free, have air conditioning, and there's always the horrifying chance you might learn something. Another great thing to do is head to the movies, which for some reason are always freezing. Shows at the theater in Georgetown are $6 in the morning. I saw Mama Mia this weekend which was a cheap way to spend two hours, and it was surprisingly good. Finally the Kennedy Center has some free shows, and is a great place to check out.

If you're in the mood you can always also go down to the waterfront area of Georgetown, and sit by the water and pray for a breeze. I've spent hours down there reading, drinking ice tea and people watching. If you're more adventurous you can rent a paddle boat, or kayak and go out on the water. If you're able to, and can afford to rent a car you can also try and go to Six-Flags and hit up the water park. The good news is that before long it will be October (for those of you who aren't from DC yes October) and the heat will be gone.