With the heat index now reaching triple digits, two things are certain: someone will ask you the annoying question, “Is it hot enough for you?” and you’ll be looking for ways to enjoy the summer without a bout with heat exhaustion. Luckily, Memphis offers some ways to stay cool during the scorching months.
Take a Dip
Summertime means swimming. Here’s a quick look at Memphis’s municipal pools courtesy of www.cityofmemphis.org:
Indoor Pools:
Outdoor Pools:
The City's outdoor pools will open Saturday, May 31, 2008 and will close on August 2, 2008. Pools will be open Monday - Saturday from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. All pools will be closed on Sunday. Admission to all outdoor pools is free.
Swim Lessons (offered at Charlie Morris, Ed Rice, and Westwood Pools only.)
- Swim Lesson for Children Monday thru Friday 6:00 pm - 6:45 pm for 2 weeks. $25.00 a session
- Swim Lesson for Adults Monday thru Friday 6:00 pm - 6:45 pm for 2 weeks. $48.00 a session
L.E. Brown Pool |
617 S. Orleans |
527-3620 |
Charles Morris Pool |
1225 Brown |
272-0327 |
Douglass Pool |
1616 Ash |
323-3542 |
Ed Rice Pool |
2907 N. Watkins |
353-0627 |
Gaisman Pool |
4223 Macon |
374-9182 |
Gooch Pool |
1974 Hunter |
276-9685 |
Lester Pool |
317 Tillman |
323-2261 |
Pine Hill Pool |
973 Alice |
947-2978 |
Raleigh Pool |
3678 Powers |
372-1930 |
Riverview Pool |
182 Joubert |
948-7609 |
Tom Lee Pool |
328 Peach |
527-3748 |
Westwood Pool |
833 Western Park |
789-6275 |
Willow Pool |
4777 Willow Rd. |
763-2917 |
Mud Island River Walk – www.mudisland.com
Why not cool down in the Mississippi River? No, not the Old Man himself, the 5-block long replica of the river at Mud Island. Make the “1,000-mile journey” from Cairo, Illinois, to New Orleans in just a few minutes and learn some fun facts along the way. Kids (heck, adults, too) can enjoy dipping their feet in the river, wading in the Gulf of Mexico at the walk’s end, or taking a paddle boat ride.
Water Spray Park at W.C. Johnson Park - http://www.colliervilleparks.org/parks/wcjohnson.html
You think running through a sprinkler in the backyard is fun? Then head to the water spray park at Johnson Park in Collierville for a real blast. Children 12 and under, along with their parents, can frolic in the park’s twelve “spray stations” where two touch-activated poles send water spraying from rainbows, elephants, and more.
Icy Treats
There’s no shortage of popular chains in Memphis that can quench your thirst or help you chill out from the summer swelter—Sonic, Maggie Moo’s, Ben and Jerry’s, Cold Stone Creamery, Bruster’s Real Ice Cream, Dairy Queen, Baskin Robbins, TCBY, Starbucks. Though all those places offer their share of tasty ways to cool down, don’t miss these two local gems that have made Memphians happy for years.
Jerry’s Sno Cones – 1657 Wells Station Rd. (http://www.jerrysnocones.com/index.html)
Snow cones (or “sno cones”) are the quintessential summer treat, and there’s no finer purveyor of them in Memphis than Jerry’s. For over 30 years, Jerry’s has served up an array of delicious snow cones, ranging from standard flavors to wedding cake, Fuzzy Navel, Great Balls of Fire (the shop was featured in the movie Great Balls of Fire incidentally), and my favorite the Supreme, which is part snow cone, part soft serve ice cream. Jerry’s also serves up soft serve ice cream in a cone or cup as well as burgers, fries, and the like.
Wiles-Smith Drug Store - 1635 Union Ave.
The oldest independent drug store in town, Wiles-Smith has a traditional lunch counter and a classic soda fountain where you can choose from delectable milkshakes, malts, sundaes, and—during the summer only—lime and orange freezes.