Beating the heat: Check out these local spots to help cool off this summer

Summer is in full swing in Johnson City. With the temperatures a bit hotter than normal this year, now is the optimal time to take advantage of local options to beat the heat. LEGION STREET POOL The Legion Street Pool is a popular place in Johnson City for people to enjoy summer days. Located at 111 Legion St., the outdoor swimming pool spans 50 meters and includes a diving board and diving well. The pool is also open to all ages and affordable for families to enjoy, with kids 12 and under being $3 a person, while 13 and older is $4 a person. Those interested in hosting a pool party can also consider the community pool. And for people frequenting Legion Street often, memberships are available — meaning every day could be a pool day. The Legion Street Pool is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday from May 23 to Aug. 1. On Sundays, the pool is open from 1-6 p.m. From Aug. 2 to Sept. 6, the pool will be open on weekends only. ROTARY PARK AND CARVER PARK SPLASH PADS Another option for parents and their little ones to cool off and have fun is the Rotary Park Splash Pad. Contained in a fenced-in area, which includes a playground, the splash pad allows parents to keep a closer eye on their kiddos while they enjoy the splash pad's amenities, including dumping water buckets and a ring tunnel that shoots streams of water for children to run through. Carver Park also has an open splash pad for park-goers to enjoy, with a more open area for kids to run around. Similarly to Rotary Park, children can run through streams of water or stand under dumping water to get a quick fix in cooling off. The Rotary Park and Carver Park Splash Pads are open and free to the public from Memorial Day through Labor Day. The parks' hours are from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Rotary Park Splash Pad is located at 1001 N. Broadway, while the Carver Park Splash Pad is at 322 W. Watauga Ave. WETLANDS WATER PARK In Jonesborough, Wetlands Water Park can be the spot to go. With water slides, general pool, lazy river and cabanas, Wetlands has options for thrill and relaxation for kids and parents alike. The water park has both enclosed and open slides, and it provides multiple options for kids — or adults — of any age to participate. Guests can also enjoy lunch in the water park's cafe area. And those who would rather not ride the slides can still enjoy some water fun with Wetlands' water bubblers and tumble buckets. The Wetlands Water Park is located at 1523 Persimmon Ridge Road in Jonesborough. From May 24 through Aug. 1, the water park will be open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Monday through Saturday, and noon to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. From Aug. 2-31, Wetlands will only be open Saturdays from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 5:30 p.m., respectively. For September, it will only be open on the weekends from noon to 5:30 p.m. BLUE HOLE FALLS Elizabethton also has its hidden gems for where people can go cool off, especially after a short hike in the natural beauty of the East Tennessee region. Consisting of three waterfalls at the base of Holston Mountain, the area gets its namesake from the deep blue water at the bottom of the falls. The hike to the falls, though short, can work up a sweat in its steep terrain, making the water of Blue Hole refreshing for travelers to enjoy. The Visit Johnson City website states in order to find Blue Hole Falls, drivers can take Highway 19E out of Elizabethton for 10 miles before turning left onto Panhandle Road at the brown national forest sign for "Blue Hole." SHOOK BRANCH SWIMMING AREA AT WATAUGA LAKE Also in Carter County is the Shook Branch Swimming Area at Watauga Lake. Part of the Shook Branch Recreation Area, visitors can dip their feet or take a swim in the Watauga Lake's waters to cool down from the sun's rays. The recreation area also provides guests with large areas for picnicking, and picnic tables and grills are also in the area for those wanting to spend their day at the lake. Shook Branch is only for day use from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.