One Day Itinerary: How To Stay Cool On A Summer Day In North Park

San Diego is known for its mild weather. Oh, the weather is so nice, they say. Oh, San Diego, I hear the weather is perfect, they say. But what about those days in late August where it hits 85 by 10 a.m. and out in the desert it is 120 and people are literally spontaneously combusting and you don’t have air conditioning in your house because your landlord never fixed it or because the whole energy sector of Southern California went down because people were cranking their AC all day and night for 72 hours straight.

Well, we are here for you. Here’s a day to get out of the house and beat the heat in North Park.

Morning: Hide Out In A Coffee Shop

Find a coffee shop to hunker down in for the morning. Our favorite coffee shops in North Park are Muri, Holsem, Communal and Lazy Eye Coffee, but any place will do as long as they have seating. Bring a book or a little bit of work to do. Oh, and get a cold brew.

Afternoon: Head To The Hotel Lafayette Pool

The Hotel Lafayette has a revamped retro pool with umbrellas, cabanas, and a cocktail bar, making it an ideal spot for cooling off on a hot day. Get a $28 day pass from Open Table and set up shop for a day of sunbathing (or shade-bathing) with a cocktail in hand. Day passes start at 10 a.m. and go until 9 p.m.

Take occasional dips in the water to cool off (but not to pee, do not pee in the pool). You also have poolside service from Beginners Diner inside the hotel. If you bring a change of clothes you can just transition to the activities in the hotel itself later that evening.

Evening: Go To Swan Bar For Dinner And A Night Cap

Swan Bar is cool and comfortable and spacious. It serves cold cocktails (with ice!) in a low lit space. It is low key and slightly hipster, but super friendly. They have a delicious burger. They are open until 2 a.m. – that should be late enough for the heat to have dissipated.