Be Cool, Go Rafting

Whitewater Rafting It’s hot out there, kids, and there doesn’t seem to be any good news coming from Hurricane Schwartz on the weather front any time soon. A lot of us like to get out of the house as much as possible during the summer months, but sometimes the heat is just too oppressive. Watching cartoons and eating cookies in the air conditioning (which is great from time to time) is often too tempting for us to get out the door. But if you’re looking for an outdoor adventure that will allow you to stay cool, we’ve got the answer.

Pools are ok if you’re looking to sit around or maybe make a whirlpool, but that gets old. No, you’re looking for something a little more exciting, and Phillyist thinks it’s whitewater rafting.
The aptly named Whitewater Rafting Adventures, located a little over an hour away in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, offers guided trips down the Lehigh River seven days a week from March to October, and the conditions range from placid to, well, not so placid.

Summer rafting trips (July and August) usually last around four hours. The river is its calmest during this time of year, so if you’re looking to relax and spy on some animal life while you lazily float along, this is time to do it. Children as young as 5 years old are allowed on the river at this time, and there are plenty of places where you can stop and hop in the water.

For those that don’t want to be bothered unless there’s a chance of getting tossed out of the raft, you may want to wait until the rapids come back in September, when the river is bumped up to a class II or III. This means there will be fast moving, irregular rapids and other obstacles that may be difficult to avoid; but never fear, all whitewater trips are guided by professionals.

The rates fluctuate depending on the size of the group, but the most you’ll pay for the entire day is $49.95. Everything you need is provided, including a free barbeque, which should be enough by itself to get some of us up there.

As their website attests, preparation always makes for a more enjoyable experience. They suggest that you bring a bathing suit, sneakers, a hat, sun block, and a reservation. You don’t want to drive all the way up there just to watch other people have all the fun. So get out those old sneakers and head up to the Lehigh River, it’s much better than flopping around in a public fountain.

Photo Credit: Adventure Rafting