May 22, 201207:00 AM
Uptown Life
Lifestyles, Galas and Gaiety from St. Charles Avenue Magazine's Morgan Packard
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Ways to Stay Cool as it Gets Warmer
(When You Don't Own a Pool)
Morgan Packard
My favorite thing to do in the summer is swim. But I don’t own a pool or have a membership anywhere that does.
So, here are fo easy ways to stay cool in New Orleans this summer:
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“Adult Swim”
For the first time, the W New Orleans (at 333 Poydras St.) will be opening its rooftop pool every Sunday from June through August, free to locals. Starting at 1 p.m., entrance is free (though drinks and such are not) on a first-come, first-serve basis (so get there early). Or you can pay for a package, which includes bottle service for six, fresh fruit, water, a flat-screen TV and DVD player, wireless Internet and comped parking for one car (with reduced parking for the second).
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All On an Audubon Day
While the zoo isn’t known for its air conditioning, there are cool rooms, the cool zoo (for kids, but adults can get their feet wet) and cool drinks. Then take the ferry (stand outside for the breeze and a great view) to the aquarium. The aquarium: dark, cool and there’s seating – yes! Then walk on over to the Insectarium and end in the butterfly garden to get yourself acclimated before walking back outside.
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Watch & Shop
One of my personal favorites: Go see a movie (dark and cool with drinks and food) then go shopping (cool and finding that perfect score will get your adrenaline going) then go see another movie.
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Drive & Dive
Gulf Shores is a little over three hours away and has plenty of public beaches. Dolphin Island offers another opportunity. New Orleans is well situated for short drives to the coast, and there’s nothing better than some sun, sand and surf (well, hopefully no surf so that swimming is easier).
With that said, I’m off to Gulf Shores myself; see you there!
Morgan Packard may not be a native New Orleanian, but with every passing day New Orleans becomes more her home. Attending Newcomb College and gaining her masters from Tulane University, Packard immersed herself in the culture and peculiarities of the Big Easy, the culmination of which was reached when she joined the staff of Renaissance Publishing in May 2006. You can reach Morgan at (504) 830-7227 or 
Reader Comments:
I assume by "the ferry" you mean the John James Audubon Riverboat which used to dock behind the Zoo and take visitors to the Aquarium. It was sold by the Audubon Institute in 2006 as it was no longer profitable, and has not operated since.
I also assume you mean Dauphin Island, the island off the coast of Alabama near Gulf Shores. Apparently that misspelling is even a google destination now. I assume you are not speaking of Dolphin Island, Fiji, as that is significantly farther than 3 hours away, although I'm certain it has public beaches too.
Hello ARE YOU SERIOUS?
I have been assured that you can still board a boat from the dock behind the zoo that will take you to the French Quarter, and as soon as I have those details, I will add them to the blog.
Thank you for correcting my misspelling of Dauphin Island – I have no excuses for that other than to say that I was just too excited to get to the beach.
I'm glad that you were interested enough to correct me and hope you find further great ways to cool off this summer,
Morgan
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