How to cool off this summer in Harlan, Kentucky
As the summer heat begins to set in this summer, we have a few tips and tricks of how you can beat the heat while having a ton of fun in Harlan County! Some of our favorite ways to cool off in the summer are:
- Get a snow cone. There are a few places in Harlan County that sell snow cones, but one of our favorites is Tropical Ice in Cumberland. Tropical Ice sells snow cones that are perfect for cooling off on a hot Appalachian day!
- Go ‘make a splash’ on the splash pad. Sometimes on a hot day, you wanna cool off and get wet, but you just don’t really feel like swimming. The splash pads in Harlan and in Verda are perfect for that. It can be found at the blue courts, and is a great way to cool off for those who want to run around and ‘make a splash’.
- Take a dip in Martins Fork Lake. Martin’s Fork is one of the only man made lakes in Kentucky. It was created in 1973, and is a very fun place to swim, fish, kayak, or boat on. It has a sandy beach, and is perfect for a beach day away from the ocean!
- Rent a pool party at Camp Blanton. Everyone loves to swim, but not everyone has a pool. This problem can be fixed at Camp Blanton. You can head on up there, and rent a pool for a swimming party. It would be perfect for a birthday, or even just a spontaneous hangout with friends and family.
- Cool off with a cold milkshake from the 606 Gaming Lounge. Go see the winner of dessert week at the 606 gaming lunge for a fun milkshake. There are so many flavors to choose from, so you know there will be one that you love. After you get it, you can sit back and play some video games ranging from Mario Kart to Fortnite.
- Grab an ice cream cone from Dairy Hut: One of the staple restaurants in Harlan County is Dairy Hut! Everyone from children to adults enjoys the americana style food and cool treats. They also serve delicious milkshakes! We recommend the peanut butter one!
- Escape the sun underground. Coal mines have a constant temperature in the mid 50s which makes Portal 31 Underground Mine Exhibit a great way to beat the heat above ground.
- Take a spin on the paddle boats at Kingdom Come State Park. If you want to get in the water without actually having to get wet, the paddle boats at Kingdom Come State Park are perfect for you. Paddle around and enjoy the breathtaking views of the Appalachian Mountains from an elevation of over 2,500 feet.
- Mountain Drives: One of the best ways to experience the county is from the comfort of your own vehicle, with the AC blasting, listening to some music while driving around our beautiful mountain home’s winding roads. You never know what you might see from the flora and fauna to the wildlife!
- Create Your Own Breeze: Go take a guided tour of the Black Mountain off road adventure area, or go over and try the tallest, fastest, and longest zipline in Kentucky to create your own breeze as you whoosh through the mountain’s trees.
