Summers in Atlanta are HOT. Between near-100 degree daily temperatures and random summer showers, the weather is extremely humid in Atlanta. 

That’s why my summer to-do list involves activities that can take place on the water, at night, or indoors. These activities usually also involve (read: revolve around) cocktails. 

Shootin’ the Hooch 

There’s no better way to beat the heat than to grab your friends and float down the Chattahoochee River in a tube (or kayak or canoe) with a beer in hand. All you need is a waterproof backpack for snacks and drinks and some sunscreen. Find out rental costs for tubes/canoes/kayaks here.  

Drive-In Movie Theaters

That’s right—a drive-in. As in, watching a movie on a jumbo screen under the stars from your own vehicle, complete with air conditioning and potentially a good ole’ make out session. Check out which movies are screening this summer at the Starlight Drive In. 

Rooftop Pool Parties 

Lounging poolside at a posh hotel, sipping a swanky cocktail and people watching while the DJ spins the latest tunes? Yes, please! Head to Wetbar at the W Hotel downtown Atlanta for the JetSet 2.0 party. 

The Abundance of Festivals 

Atlanta hosts lots of festivals in its many parks during the summer: Dogwood Festival, Atlanta Film Festival, Jazz Festival, 420 Fest, etc. Ones you can still look forward to: Attack of the Killer Tomato Festival, To Live & Dine in Atlanta, Festival on Ponce, Piedmont Park Summer Arts and Crafts Festival, Grant Park Summer Shade Festival, German Bierfest Atlanta, Atlanta Ice Cream Festival, 

Local Home Brews 

Atlantans are finally catching on to the joy of home brews—it’s cheap, it’s fun, and (most of the time) it’s more delicious than buying beer at the liquor store. These guys turned their hobby into a home brew bar.