Summer days bring the heat with a chance for fun

Kristine LeClair has already been to the Eagle Lakes Community Park's new aquatic center twice to beat the heat.

LeClair was there again Thursday, on the first day of summer, with her 13-year-old son.

“It seem’s like in the summer all we do is go from pool to pool,” she said. “My mother has a pool but this is nice and right now its free.”

The triple-digit heat index can make it almost unbearable to be outside this time of year in Southwest Florida.

More:Here's where you can cool off this summer in Collier County

How hot will it get?

Temperatures are expected to be slightly higher than the average this summer, according to NBC-2 meteorologist Matt Gray. That means expect days in the mid-90’s with the heat index peaking at over 100 degrees, and days where the temperature may not get lower than 80, Gray said.

The actual temperature and humidity can depend on the weather pattern,he said. Winds out of the west can cause higher humidity but lower actual temperatures. It’s the opposite for east winds where humidity will drop but it’ll be drier and hotter. 

“Really it doesn’t matter what happens. It's unfortunately hot no matter what for us,” Gray said.

The heat can be used as an excuse to stay inside to go from one air-conditioned place to another. But LeClair was undeterred on the first day of summer at the Eagle Lakes Community Park aquatic center.

The park’s biggest attractions are the two slides, the family pool and the lap pools that include two basketball hoops on the ends.

“My son was immediately attracted to the basketball hoops, but he likes the slides too,” LeClair said.

The park’s grand opening is June 29 and according to the county, the park will be free for the entire month of July to celebrate National Parks and Recreation month. The Eagle Lakes Park is the fifth aquatics center in Collier County.

“I brought my grandson’s here earlier in the week and this is all they could talk about,” Larry Goode said.

Goode and his two grandsons, ages 10 and 13, had to come back one more time before they left town tomorrow. They are big fans of the water slide, he said.

More:In the Know: Aquatic center making a splash in East Naples

Things to do on the water

Naples also has plenty of ways to stay cool thanks to its beaches and waterways. All day activities like kayaking, paddleboarding or fishing can be tough work, but a nice way to spend the summer days.

The tourism off-season means the waters are less crowded, and sometimes you can find a better deal on a kayak or paddleboard rental.

“The summer water is actually beautiful here,” Naples Kayak Co. owner Chris Boland said. “The water is not as choppy as during the winter, making it easier to be on the water.”

He said the best places to kayak or paddle board are on the Cocohatchee River, Venetian Bay, the Gordon River, Rookery Bay, Clam Pass and Lowdermilk Park beach. At each location, you can either bring your own kayak, find a nearby rental shop or take a guided tour.

Remember, though, paddle boarding and kayaking take a different type of fitness, with paddleboarding putting much more strain on your core, Boland said.

Just going to the beach and swimming is another way to enjoy the hot summer days. . But it's important to remember this time of year the water is warm.

According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the water temperature was 90.7 degrees in Naples on Thursday.

The average water temperature for July and August is 87 degrees and in the winter the water can get as cold as 66 degrees.

Hot enough for you?