It’s Hot. We’re Melting. Now What?

There comes a point every August when everyone in Hampton Roads collectively gives up. 

You walk outside and your glasses fog up. Your steering wheel has become a branding iron. You tell yourself 94 degrees "isn't that bad," because yesterday it was 97. 

Every summer seems to break another heat record. Remember when everyone joked, this was the hottest summer ever? Statistically… they're probably right. On the bright side, it may eventually be the coolest summer we remember. 

Love that for us. 

But despite what the weather would have you believe, August isn't cancelled. School is creeping back onto the calendar, everyone is trying to squeeze in one last beach trip, and there are still plenty of reasons to get out of the house. 

You can’t beat the heat.  

You can outsmart it.  

Source: unsplash.com/Markus Spiske

Chase the Breeze

If you're going to leave the house, at least let the wind do some of the heavy lifting. 

Hop aboard the Elizabeth River Ferry before grabbing dinner in Norfolk or Portsmouth. The ride is half the fun, and everything feels a little less miserable with a breeze.  

The same goes for the beach. Sure, you could set up your umbrella at one in the afternoon. 

Or... 

You could wait until the evening, head to Buckroe Beach in Hampton or your favorite stretch of shoreline, skip the worst of the heat, avoid some of the crowds, and catch a sunset while you're at it. 

It’ll still be hot. Just… less so.  

Become a Morning Person (Against Your Will)

Nobody wants to exercise at 6 a.m. But August leaves you no choice.  

If you've been meaning to kayak around Isle of Wight, bike the Elizabeth River Trail, or squeeze in a morning walk before work, this is your sign. Before nine o'clock, things are surprisingly pleasant. 

After that? Slightly different story.  

Find Air Conditioning Worth Leaving Home For

If you're looking for an excuse to escape your house without immediately melting, Hampton Roads has options. 

Spend an afternoon wandering the Slover Library downtown with a good book. Catch “Spider-Man: Brand New Day” at the Commodore Theatre in Portsmouth and enjoy one of the coolest movie experiences around. Or head to the Virginia Living Museum. 

Yes, technically the dinosaur trail is outside. Yes, we're still recommending it. 

Because dinosaurs. 

Besides, there's enough shade to survive, and if you're going to sweat a little, it might as well be while looking at a life-sized T. rex. 

Source: unsplash.com/hannah Pemberton

Accept That Water Is the Answer

August isn’t the month to prove you’re tough. It’s the month to find water.  

Water Country USA? Excellent choice. 

A pool invitation? Say yes immediately. 

One last beach day before school starts? Absolutely. 

The forecast may be giving "surface of the sun," but fortunately, Hampton Roads has no shortage of ways to cool off. 

Time It Right

Not everything has to happen at two in the afternoon. 

Grab friends and head to Suffolk’s Nansemond Brewery after work when the patios become bearable. Catch a Norfolk Tides game once the sun starts dropping behind the stadium. Browse a farmers' market early, stay out later for a concert, or simply save your errands until the evening. 

The heat doesn't disappear. It just becomes slightly less disrespectful. 

And honestly, we'll take it. 

Source: unsplash.com/jake Weirick

Make Getting There Easier

Here's the part where we gently remind you this is a goCommute blog. 

If you're heading downtown for a Tides game, consider hopping on the light rail. Planning to head out to that aforementioned brewery? Ride together so only one person has to deal with the stop and go traffic. Spending the afternoon exploring Norfolk and Portsmouth? Let the ferry become part of the adventure instead of just a way to get there. 

The best commuter solutions aren’t just for work. They’re for making everyday trips a littler easier, and that’s exactly what goCommute services are here to help with.  

For Hampton Roads commuters, August isn't about pretending the heat doesn't exist.  It's about working with it. 

Leave a little earlier. Stay out a little later. Find some shade. Drink more water than you think you need. And if your plans involve dinosaurs, ferries, baseball, breweries, or one last beach sunset before the school year begins... 

Even better. 

September will be here soon enough.