From the Arctic to the Andes, cool off now

WELCOME to August. Forecast? Sweaty. Times like these call for a contingency plan. And while you could beg your friends who planned ahead for couch space in their beach house, or fight with everyone else in Cobble Hill over the last Zipcar, how about just ditching on New York entirely and heading somewhere cooler — or, at the very least, slightly less humid? Here are eight such places to get you motivated to think beyond the Jersey Shore.

#1 SWIMMING ON THE EDGE

Zambia

CLICK HERE FOR A VIDEO OF DEVIL'S HOLE AT VICTORIA FALLS

Victoria Falls. Highest in the world, making Niagara and Iguazu seem a little, well, petite. A spot up top called Devil’s Pool, right at the lip of the 360 foot drop, is perhaps the world's ultimate swimming hole. You hop in a boat and head out to the very island where explorer David Livingstone explored this World Wonder, hike for a few minutes, then jump in, allowing the current to sweep you to the edge — the very edge, no kidding. A half-circle of guides stands between you and the lip of rock that keeps this fun excursion from turning into a tragic disaster. Yes, you can go right to the edge and look over. No, you should not knock the guides off balance. It is considered poor form.

GO Excursions can be booked through Tongabezi Lodge from about $60; tongabezi.com

#2 TAKE IT OFF

Mexico

Ever feel the urge to strip down while walking through Midtown on a 90 degree day? Maybe it’s time to bare it all. Somewhere you won't be brought up on charges as a sex pervert. And if you’re thinking all nudist resorts are cheesy 70s-era swinger movies come to life, you should take a look at spiffy Hidden Beach on Mexico’s Riviera Maya, a classy joint where guests are expected to behave in a civilized fashion at all times. The hotel sets the tone with a stylish look and things like champagne at check in and yoga classes; their extensive network of pools encourages days on end of doing nothing -- in the buff, of course; the private-ish beach invites strolling au naturel.

GO “Like” the resort on Facebook and receive 6 nights for the price of 5; rates are all-inclusive and start in the low $200s; hiddenbeachresort.com

#3 DUE NORTH

The Adirondacks

It never seems to really matter how hot it gets down here in the city. Up in the Adirondacks, someone is wearing a sweater. Last week on a day when temperatures soared over 90 in Manhattan, Lake Placid was chilling out at a sexy 69. You can feel the change in the air as you head north from Albany on the Northway; not only does it cool down, it also seems like it's about 50 percent easier and more pleasurable to breathe. By the time you pull off the road at Exit 30, you feel a whole lot further away from Manhattan than the four-plus hours it took to get here. Whatever you do is from here is up to you, but right about now, just being in the Adirondacks and not somewhere else is more than enough doing of anything.