Good Places to Cool Down in Extreme Heat

With temperatures expected to push past the three-digit mark for the next few days, getting to someplace cool is a matter of both comfort and, in some cases, preventing overheating.

For those with only limited home cooling — or who are beginning to go stir crazy hiding indoors — the Basking Ridge Patch has put together a list of places to chill for the next two days, when temperatures are expected to again exceed 100 degrees.

We've tried to make our ideas fun as well as providing relief for the overheated. Since your local Basking Ridge Patch editor falls into the first category (limited home cooling), you may run into me at some of these spots. I already spent some time working at the Riverwalk as of 8 a.m. on Friday morning.

1) The United States Golf Association Museum at 77 Liberty Corner Road currently is The posters can help you dream while you relax in luxury in the historic mansion that houses the golf museum on USGA property.

The museum's regular hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Tuesday through Sunday, so you have somewhere to go on Saturday, too.

2) The invites residents to cool down, read a book and enjoy library programs within the air-conditioned building. Summer hours are from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday, and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday.

The library at 32 S. Maple Ave. and the Senior Wellness Center are both recommended by Somerset County as official "cooling centers" for those seeking relief from the heat. The county's list also included other area libraries, including the Bernardsville Library, the Clarence Dillon Public Library in Bedminster and the Peapack-Gladstone Library.

3) The  at 202 Mount Airy Road will be open until about 3 p.m. on Friday, offering activities, a cool haven and lunch for older residents.

However, because of the extreme heat, a spokeswoman for the center said those of any age will be welcome inside the center on Friday. The center is closed on Saturday. 

4) Although you may not want to go out in the mid-day sun, it's always good to jump in the water of your local pool, whether the town pool at Pleasant Valley Park, or the pools in one of the township's local housing developments.

Those who don't belong to a pool, or who can't attend one as someone's guest, can always head down to the Somerset County Warrenbrook Pool at 500 Warrenville Road in Warren Township.

Daily passes are available when the pool is open from noon to 8 p.m. on weekdays or 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on weekends.

Further information on the Warrenbrook pool are on the Somerset County parks website.

5) are available through August. Even if working out doesn't sound like a way to cool down, you might reconsider if you take a look at the Y's air-conditioned Wellness Center. Or the large swimming pool complex at the main facility at 140 Mount Airy Road.

6) Go to a movie, museum, shopping mall or restaurant with air conditioning. Isn't this a good day to see if you haven't already? Or doesn't ice cream sound good?

7) Go to the office, work a little late. Hey, if your office building is cooler than home, it might be safer to stay at work until the sun goes down. A sizzling Saturday might be an opportunity to catch up on a rearranging your desk before you head or somewhere else to take advantage of summer weather while it's here.