Sacramentans, get your hats and fans ready. Nearly every day in the upcoming 10-day forecast looks as if it will top 100°F.
That kind of heat is no joke, so be sure to keep an eye on how pets, the elderly and children are doing. And if the long, hot days start to be too much, load the kids in the car and head out of town. Or, you can hit up one of these underground or watery adventures.
Wild waters
For nearby and natural relief from the heat, head to a swimming hole, a lake, or a river beach.
Sacramento Bee service reporter Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado recently compiled a list of local swimming spots and how to find them.
Sutter’s Landing Beach, for example, sits in the heart of Sacramento and offers free parking as well as life jackets to swimmers and paddlers on the American River.
A bit further afield, but still on the American River, the Auburn Swim Hole is a lovely, and popular, spot. Parking is $10, and it can be hard to claim a space on the weekends. There’s a short hike down to the water, so take care in the heat.
Big splashy water parks
Wake Island Waterpark
Wake Island Waterpark, which is only about 20 minutes from Sacramento, in Pleasant Grove, bills itself as “the largest water park resort on the West Coast.” At 80 acres, it’s definitely big, and there are lots of cool-water activities, such as clambering over inflatables in the man-made lake, rolling over the water in giant hamster wheels, and a beach for swimming. Activities such as wakeboarding and amenities like shaded cabanas are available for extra fees.
Friday through Sunday, adult admission is $75, kids $55, and seniors $65. The rest of the week, admission is $20 less per entrant.
Reservations must be purchased online at wakeislandwaterpark.com. Water park hours are 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekends, Noon to 6 on weekdays. The beach and the Cable Wakeboard Park have different operating hours weekends and weekdays.
Golfland Sunsplash in Roseville
Less than half an hour from Sacramento, this entertainment venue offers an arcade, miniature golf, and the Sunsplash waterpark. With a wave pool, a lazy river, and a number of different water slides and rides, there’s something for everyone.
Admission for Sunsplash is $52.99 for children over 3 years old and under 48 inches tall and $52.99 for seniors 60 and older. General admission is $57.99 from Tuesday through Thursday, and $62.99 from Friday through Monday. Tickets can be cheaper online, depending on how early you purchase.
Sunsplash is open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. for daytime admission, or 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. for Nite Slide admission. For more information on Sunsplash’s hours, check out the calendar on their website.
Head underground
The Bee’s diversions reporter Camila Pedrosa recently ventured deep into the earth, twice, to explore Black Chasm Cavern in Amador County, as well as California Cavern in Calaveras County.
“As family-friendly expeditions, these cavern tours are popular ways for parents to get their kids outdoors, yet out of the heat, all while learning about California’s geological history,” she wrote, adding that the temperature in both caves averages under 60 degrees.
Visits to both sites can be undertaken with Gold Country Adventures. Walking tours are free for children under 3, $16 for children ages four through 12, and $24 for teens and adults. The California Cavern even offers an intense expedition with a rafting experience across an underground lake, at $199 per person.
Get outta town
“While temperatures are set to rise dramatically into the triple digits in the Central Valley, traveling to higher elevations or right along the coast will offer some relief,” said Bee meteorologist Macaday.
To dive back down to the double digits on the thermostat, head up to the Sierra. Truckee and Lake Tahoe are projected to stay firmly in the 80s during Sacramento’s heat wave.
Alternatively, you could head west to the ocean. Bodega Bay, a little over two hours away, will be seeing dramatically lower temperatures compared to Sacramento, from the mid-70s down into the low 60s. San Francisco, on the other hand, will be hovering between the low 70s and high 60s.
Finally, exercise caution if you have water adventures in mind when heading out to keep cool. Jumping into chilly waters, especially when you’re already overheated, can trigger “cold shock.” Abrupt temperature changes can result in cardiovascular problems or drowning.
According to Verywell Health, water temperatures, even up to 77 degrees can cause cold shock. July and August water temperatures for Lake Tahoe, for example, range from 65 to 70 degrees. Sacramento-area river temperatures during swimming season are generally warmer.
Verywell Health recommends cooling down your hands, wrists, and neck with water first, instead of throwing yourself right in. Although it may be possible to experience cold shock in a swimming pool, the site says, most pools are typically kept above 77 degrees.
Related Stories from Sacramento Bee
The Sacramento Bee
Anne Ewbank is a service journalist and food reporter for The Sacramento Bee. Previously, she worked as a writer and editor for the New York-based travel website Atlas Obscura, where she covered food and culture. A California native, she is a graduate of Occidental College and Yale University.