Summer Travel

Travel smart in the summer heat. That sounds trite but it's more difficult than we think. In a moment we can find ourselves in trouble, with blurred vision, dizziness and nausea when we are enjoying a walk or sightseeing in a large city.

Stay out of the heat if you can. If you are traveling and museums are on your agenda, schedule those visits for midday. If you walk, go early in the morning and carry plenty of water. Drinking water and staying hydrated is important. If you find yourself in trouble, stop, rest and douse cold water on your face, hair, arms and legs and drink plenty of cold water. In this weather, I always wear a bandanna soaked with water loosely tied around my neck. I can rotate it and keep moving the cold area to the skin to stay cool.

Hydration backpacks are great in this weather for hiking or long walks. Wear loose lightweight clothing. Wear a great hat, use plenty of good sun screen and wear sun glasses.

Most importantly, know when to stop and take a break. If you walk with dogs, remember that their feet are in contact with a very hot surface. Make sure they are hydrated and that they don't over heat. If they become heat stressed douse them with water. Heads, paws and bellies are places to cool a dog down quickly.

I've been in Paris in this kind of heat and it's difficult to go and see, unless you plan. Churches and museums are a great places to rest from the heat. You can take the great canal tour by boat or walk along the "beach" through the cool water spray.

Stay cool and travel well!