Come summertime, Colorado lives up to its reputation as a sunny state. And in July and August, that ever-present sunshine can create some sweltering days that sometimes reach the triple digits! 

Thankfully, there are plenty of ways to beat the heat in Northern Colorado. To help you stay cool, we’re highlighting a few things to do on a hot day in Loveland, which includes a mix of outdoor heat-approved activities (mostly involving water) and indoor attractions (always involving air conditioning). Whether you’d rather retreat to the shade with an ice-cold frozen cocktail or spend the day swimming at the lake, bookmark this list for a sunny day in Loveland! 

 

Get Ice Cream at I Scream Ice Cream 

There’s nothing like an ice-cold ice cream cone on a hot summer day. Head to Loveland’s newest ice cream joint, I Scream Ice Cream, to get your ice cream fix. Near the original location of Esh’s Market in west Loveland, this ice cream shop is small but packed with a variety of flavors to choose from, plus shakes and coffee drinks. There’s plenty of seating outside with twinkling string lights and shade umbrellas overhead to protect you from the sun! 
 

Cool Off at the Fairgrounds Park Splash Park 

Splash parks just might be the best invention of the modern era. And we have a few incredible splash parks in Loveland, including the expansive and interactive one at Fairgrounds Park. Open between Memorial Day and Labor Day, the splash park has a variety of fun water features, both above ground and in the ground, which keep the kids mesmerized and entertained for hours. Plus, there’s so much to explore at Fairgrounds Park, including a dog park, a skate park, sports fields, a playground, and more. Plus, Sonic is practically attached to the park, which makes for a great stop before the park, especially if your visit falls during their daily happy hour from 2–4 p.m.! 
 

Go Swimming at Chilson Recreation Center 

Chilson Recreation Center Loveland, CO

Operated by the City of Loveland, Chilson Rec Center is a full-service fitness, sports and aquatics facility with a variety of swimming options. The center has two indoor pools, a steam room, and an indoor and outdoor hot tub, plus a variety of aquatics programs for the whole family. You can either swim for leisure in the zero-depth entry leisure pool with a lazy river, or for exercise in the lap pool. If you’d rather swim outside, you can head to the swim beach on the shore of Lake Loveland or Winona Pool, which is adjacent to Osborn Park a few minutes away. 
 

Retreat to Loveland Museum 

On an extremely hot day, sometimes the best thing to do is avoid being outside altogether. It’s an excellent time to explore our city through art and history at the air-conditioned Loveland Museum. Founded in 1937, Loveland Museum is an accredited art and history museum that has grown to offer various history exhibits dating back to 1919, world-class art exhibitions, family events, adult and youth classes, readings, lectures and more. Click here to explore their upcoming exhibits and programs!

 

Order a Juice or Açaí Bowl from Inta Juice 


View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Inta Juice (@inta_juice)

Stay healthy and refreshed with a juice from Inta Juice, a juice bar with a variety of fresh, delicious juices, smoothies and bowls. Inta Juice was born right here in Northern Colorado and has been so successful that it expanded to include 10 locations across Colorado and Wyoming, including two in Loveland. Inta Juice uses real fruit, supplements and veggies to create fresh, healthy and delicious juices and smoothies. They never add additional sugars or syrups and instead depend on the natural sugars and sweetness in real, whole ingredients. But Inta Juice has more than juice and smoothies! Their açaí bowls are packed with healthy toppings, like bananas, strawberries, granola, chia seeds, coconut flakes, pitaya and more. 
 

See a Movie at MetroLux Theatres 

Movie theaters are back! Escape the heat with a matinee at one of the two MetroLux Theatres locations in Loveland, at the Foundry and Centerra. Both offer luxe amenities, including luxury recliner seating, reserved seating, and a full bar. Plus, the Foundry location has a full restaurant, where you can order food to snack on during your movie! This is luxury movie-going at its finest. Download the app to place your order right from your phone! 
 

Play at Loveland Laser Tag and Fun Center 

You’re never too old for laser tag. So, whether or not you have kids, you have to visit Loveland Laser Tag and Fun Center. In addition to laser tag, they also have a ropes course, an arcade, virtual reality experiences, bumper cars, a laser maze, a 4D motion simulator, a climbing wall and more! It’s the perfect indoor option for a full afternoon of fun away from the sun. 
 

Climb at Wooden Mountain Bouldering Gym 

This climbing gym is operated by a passionate team that believes climbing can change the world. The boutique facility offers more than 70–85 carefully curated bouldering problems that are reset on a 5-week cycle and include fun courses for all ages. Wooden Mountain has experiences for climbers of all ability levels, from joyful challenges for small children and crimpy compression sequences for calloused fingers. For more information about your visit (including details about their free intro to bouldering clinic for new members), click here! 

 

Sip on Summery Cocktails at Wicked Tequila Room 

At the end of a summer day, there’s nothing like a refreshing cocktail made with sweet, summery ingredients. As Loveland’s first exclusive tequila bar, Wicked Tequila Room has more than 30 tequilas, plus a substantial list of signature crafted cocktails made with mezcal or tequila. A few favorites include the Smokey Pineapple, made with Wahaka Mezcal, pineapple juice, St. Elderflower Liqueur and lime juice, and the Black Widow, made with Exotico Silver, fresh blackberries, basil syrup, triple sec, and a splash of sweet and sour. And of course, don’t miss the Tequila Snow Cone, which is made with shaved ice, tequila, and your choice of blue raspberry, cherry, grape or piña colada! 

 

Go to Boyd Lake State Park 

Maintained by Colorado Parks & Wildlife, Boyd Lake State Park is one of Loveland’s best outdoor recreation destinations—especially during the summer months when you can jet ski, spend the day on the pontoon, or splash in the water at the swim beach. The lake itself offers more than 1,700 acres of water with areas designated for open swimming and wake and no-wake boating. Both on and off the water, other activities include fishing, seasonal hunting, biking, hiking and camping, too! In short, it’s the perfect place to spend a hot summer day in Northern Colorado. To get the details on all you can do in the park, where you can rent boats, and more, check out our guide, Everything You Can Do at Boyd Lake State Park in Loveland, Colorado. 

 

Drink Beer at Rock Coast Brewery 

Sip on an ice-cold brew at Rock Coast Brewery, which recently teamed up with its neighbor, AKA Kitchen, to provide an elevated food and craft beer experience in the heart of downtown Loveland. From the juicy IPAs to their Belgian blondes, their beers are approachable and flavorful — and they pair quite nicely with the dishes from AKA. Plus, don’t miss their line of refreshing hard seltzers made with seasonal fruits! The best part? Rock Coast and AKA have an exceptional outdoor patio space, perfect for summertime sipping and snacking. 

 

Stay Cool Out There 

What is your favorite way to stay cool on a hot day in Loveland? Let us know in the comments below!