Need a cooling-off period? Refreshing destinations nearby

The heat from this past week must be getting to me. I’m actually hoping Seattle lives up to its cool, rainy stereotype when we head out there later this summer. I’ll explore the city in the drizzle; I’ll hike the nearby mountains and forests in a rain slicker – as long as the temps don’t exceed 75 degrees.

I am a Georgia native. I should be accustomed to the heat and humidity of our great state. In the years that I lived away from here, I would dream of Faulknerian heat and dripping humidity settling over the Georgia red clay. But these past few days have killed any romantic feelings I may have harbored for the charms of our home state’s sticky, energy-draining heat.

With our long summer just beginning, I know it’s only going to get worse. Is it too late to plan a trip to the Arctic Circle? I hear Baker Lake, Nunavut – the geographic centre of Canada – is wonderfully cool this time of year (averages of 49 degrees in June and 62 degrees in July).

Short of taking drastic measures and fleeing to Canada, Atlantans in need of a cooling-off period need not despair. There are places nearby where we can get some relief from the heat.

Here are a few worth checking out…

· Summer temperatures in the North Georgia Mountains average about five to ten degrees cooler than those in Atlanta. In addition, humidity is usually lower in the mountains. Cooler temps and lower humidity, combined with the region’s lakes, rivers and rushing waterfalls make the north Georgia mountains an ideal and easy cooling-off escape. Try DeSoto Falls between Dahlonega and Blairsville, Amicalola Falls near Dawsonville or one of the north Georgia lakes.

· Of course, southern mountains aren’t limited to North Georgia. If you’re up for a longer drive, you can head to East Tennessee or Western North Carolina for more cool, getaways. Kick-start your 4^th of July celebration this weekend with a fireworks extravaganza at Norris Lake in Andersonville, TN, explore the Great Smoky Mountains National Park or make Asheville, NC your base camp for cool outdoor and cultural adventures.

· Water parks are a great way to keep cool, and the south has plenty from which to choose. The area around Pigeon Forge, Tenn. packs a double wallop with its Wilderness at the Smokies Water Park Resort and Dollywood’s Splash Country Water Theme Park. Most southern cities have their own water parks, and many beach locales from Jekyll Island, Ga. to Gulf Shores, Ala. and Myrtle Beach, SC combine water park fun with beach-front sun. And don’t forget the huge water parks at the Walt Disney World complex in Orlando, Fla.

· Take advantage of ocean breezes at your favorite beach. The temperatures at southern beaches are always scorching in June and July, but the winds can make it feel a little cooler.

· Finally, you could just wait out the summer in the air-conditioning…or you could head to Kentucky and enjoy the natural air conditioning of Mammoth Cave in the south, central park of the state.

Where will you go to cool-off this summer? Do you have other great places to recommend? Tell us your favorite ways to beat the heat and still get out and go during a hot, southern summer!

• Atlanta, be here now. Check out ajc.com/travel