As temperatures in New York City skyrocket, the challenge of escaping the city's heat has hit us once again.  That doesn’t mean you have to stay at home and use all of your A/C, you can still hit the streets of New York.  Here are a few ways to cool off in the concrete jungle and cut your electric bill.

Take a Dip in the Pool  

While many pools are members only, there are quite a few that offer guest passes for purchase each day. Try The James New York or La Piscine at Hotel Americano for a daily guest pass. If you're fast enough to grab a pass for the day, be sure to take advantage and enjoy the refreshing water in their rooftop pool. If you aren’t able to grab one, don’t worry! There’s other ways to stay cool in the heat.

Check Out Museum Mile

Museum Mile is a tree lined walk along the east side of Central Park, offering a beautiful scenic walk with an air conditioned destination. Enjoy a variety of artwork at any of the museums; many of which offer suggested admission, meaning you can pay what you want to enter; no need to break the bank for this one. The MET is currently showing Manus x Machina as a part of their costume exhibit; a must-see for any fashionista. All the museums have new exhibits showing so be sure to check out their websites for details before heading in.

Hang Out by the Water Front

Any spot on the water is going to offer a cool breeze and an overall lower temperature. On a hot summer night, make plans to set sail on a dinner cruise with World Yacht at Pier 81.  If you’re looking for something a little more casual, try a café overlooking the Hudson, like Grand Banks or the Boat Basin Café. No matter which one you prefer to dine at, the waterside front will be 5 to 10 degrees cooler.

Sweet Treat

What’s summer without hitting up your local ice cream shop? A time old tradition to beating the summer heat is enjoying an ice cream cone with friends. NYC has countless ice cream destinations. If you can’t catch a Mister Softee Ice-Cream Truck on the street, check out 10 Below Ice Cream in Chinatown or stop into Little Italy for authentic gelato. These sweet treats are sure to cool you off in the summer’s heat.

See A Show

Sometimes it’s just too hot to enjoy the weather outside and going to see a show or a movie is a perfect way to escape the heat for a few hours. Broadway is home to some of the best musicals and plays in the world. Broadway can get pricey so take advantage of their “Rush Tickets” and enjoy a show for $40 or less.  If you're more into movies, take advantage of the large cinemas in the city and catch a showing at the Paris Theater or AMC Loews 84th Street.  No matter your taste in genre there are plenty of options for you to go enjoy a show in the air-conditioning.