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The heat is on. Summers in Ohio are undeniably beautiful, with lush green forests, sparkling lakes and endless hills. Summer can also be on the hot and sticky side, a fact many Midwesterners think is a very small price to pay for the extreme beauty of the state.

In preparation for the inevitable “dog days,” Ohio State Park Resorts have developed some suggestions for staying – and being – cool at parks around the state.

Do your strokes inside and out. All seven Ohio State Park Resorts operated by Xanterra Parks & Resorts offer indoor as well as outdoor pools. The pool at Maumee Bay State Park Resort has floor-to-ceiling windows so indoor swimmers still feel like they’re surrounded by the great outdoors.

Watch birds. It’s cool to be a bird watcher now. The sport has been gaining in popularity as baby boomers – a super-curious and nature-loving generation – take it up with gusto. It’s best to go early in the morning when birds are active and the air is cool. Arm-chair watchers can learn about our feathered friends at Mohican State Park Resort, where the Ohio Bird Sanctuary regularly stages birds of prey demonstrations in the air-conditioned lobby.

Early worms catch the fish. Go fishing at the crack of dawn. Lake marinas at Hueston Woods and other resorts are open dawn to dusk in the summertime.

Dine al fresco. Pack a lunch or let us pack one for you, find a shady tree and have an old-fashioned picnic. The parks feature picnic tables and grills for picnickers with a penchant for burgers and brats. For your total relaxation, all seven resorts offer a boxed lunch to go from the lodge restaurant. Shawnee State Park Resort will even pack the lunch in a backpack for those who want to hike to some of the best spots in the park.

Run around with a watermelon. Organized children’s activities are a fun way to keep young visitors occupied. Various resort activities include hayrides, greased watermelon races and crafts. All seven resorts feature children’s activities during the summer months.

Take an evening stroll. Salt Fork State Park Resort features 14 miles of hiking trails that wind through the park, including wheelchair-accessible hard-topped trails.

Build a sandcastle. The lake at Punderson State Park Resortincludes a sandy beach, where kids can be found discovering their inner architect – and then rinsing off in the always-cool natural lake.

Tee it up in the early morning or late afternoon. All seven resorts feature golf courses at or near the properties. The Maumee Bay State Park Golf Course is situated on 1,850 acres of protected wetlands.

Sip a cool drink in the Wren Lounge at Burr Oak State Park Resort or at any of the other six locations.

Hunt for treasure at Salt Fork State Park. The resort features geocaching packages that include a hand-held Global Positioning System (GPS) and map. Visitors can search for caches of “treasure” – inexpensive trinkets – hidden throughout the park. No need to bring a whip or dodge giant rolling balls for this family-friendly treasure hunt.

All seven resorts are open-year round and feature wide-ranging seasonal activities, from leaf-peeping to snow shoeing. For information or reservations at any Xanterra-operated Ohio State Park Resort, visit www.atapark.com or call 1-800-ATAPARK (1-800-282-7275).

Your Ohio State Park Resort prize package includes:

• 2 nights lodging
• breakfast for 2 both mornings
• dinner for 2
• $25 gift certificate to our souvenir shop

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