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The sounds of skate blades scraping against the ice and the echo of more than 100 children bounce off the rink walls at Tucker Road Ice Rink in Fort Washington, while the smell of hot chocolate fills the cold air.

The setting does not invoke thoughts of a hot summer day, but that is exactly the scene during the summer at the rink, as hundreds of children with summer camps or their families seek refuge from the heat.

According to the rink's facility manager Tony Herdemian, Tucker Road is the perfect destination for Prince George's County residents looking for a way to keep cool this summer.

"We have day camps in the area that come and visit us as a field trip," he said. "It's something different as far as the camps are concerned. They're not accustomed to having this as a regular activity."

Herdemian said the ice rink provides a plethora of activities for children beyond just ice skating.

"For the kids, there's an area we set aside for some video games," he said.

"There's a cafe here. We have some teen camps that come in and order out. They'll have pizza delivered right here to the rink. I think they like it. It's a different activity."

Herdemian said the rink also has bumper cars on the weekends. In addition to camps, he said the facility also attracts a lot of families.

"The whole family can enjoy themselves here," he said. "We have the bumper cars for people who may not skate, and that's another attraction to get people to come to Tucker Road. Even though the adults may not skate they can be in the cafe and watch the kids."

Tucker Road is also hosting a summer hockey school in the evening for the first two weeks of August and a hockey clinic on Sunday mornings. The rink's skating lesson program will begin Sept. 16.

North Prince George's County residents can find many of the same activities at The Garden Ice House in Laurel, with public skates on weekends.

Cool fun outdoors

Ducking into the air-conditioned cover of an ice rink is not the only way to stay cool during the summer in Prince George's County, though.

Bernadine Sandy, the park manager and naturalist at Bladensburg Waterfront Park, said there is plenty to do at her park to stay cool while still enjoying the outdoors.

Bladensburg Waterfront offers a 45-minute boat tour of the Anacostia River, paddleboat, kayak, canoe and rowboat rentals and evening activities such as the Sunday night summer concert series.

"It's like I-95 on the water," Sandy said. "There's a promenade, there's the center with activities, there's historical and interpretive information throughout the park. We have a playground and a covered pavilion that people can reserve. There are gazebos; there's natural history. There's a lot and people can experience a lot."

Sandy said people are often surprised to find a park like Bladensburg Waterfront buried deep in an urban setting.

"It's right in your neighborhood," she said. "A lot of people are surprised to see this pristine, natural area in this dense, urban area," she said. "It's right in your backyard."

One of the reasons Sandy thinks the park is such an attractive option is because of its affordability. The boat tours are free, the canoe and kayak rentals are $5 per hour or $12 per day for county residents and $6 per hour or $15 per day for others.

The paddleboats and rowboats are $6 per hour or $15 per day for county residents and $7 per hour or $20 per day for others.

"The boat ride is free," Sandy said. "If you go to Washington, D.C. to do one of those tours, I know people pay a fee for that. If you're a little queasy about canoeing or kayaking, you do the boat ride and you'll see the wildlife and learn about the history of this area."

Sandy said the prices and array of options at the park have helped make this summer very busy.

"To pay $5 an hour or $12 for a day to paddle on the Anacostia is a very affordable price," she said. "You can make it a little one-day adventure — a wilderness adventure. You don't have to go all the way to Shenandoah [National Park] or Western Maryland."

Pouring water on amusement

Just a quick trip away from Bladensburg Waterfront is Bowie's Six Flags America, a long-time Prince George's County summer destination.

Julia Filz, spokeswoman for Six Flags, said the park is perfect for a summer day because there are plenty of activities to do in the sun, but the water park is always an option when it's time to cool off.

"The cool thing about Six Flags America is that our water park is included with the price of admission," she said. "A lot of people start their morning at 10:30 and go ride a couple of the roller coasters and other attractions. Then, during the high heat they go over to the water park."

The Hurricane Harbor Water Park at Six Flags features a wide range of water rides including a lazy river, a wave pool, water slides, kiddie pools and several "thrill" water rides such as Tony Hawk's Half Pipe, The Tornado and Paradise Plunge.

Filz thinks the scope of water attractions at Six Flags makes the park a destination for everyone.

"If you have a family, they may have a wide variety of interests," she said.

"Mom and dad can hang out at the pool and the kids can go ride the roller coasters. You have that wide variety. Say mom has a 2, 7 and 17 year old, there's something to do for everyone."

IF YOU GO

Bladensburg Waterfront Park

4601 Annapolis Road

Bladensburg

301-779-0371

Tucker Road Ice Rink

1770 Tucker Road

Fort Washington

301-265-1525

The Gardens Ice House

13800 Old Gunpowder Road

Laurel

301-953-0100, Ext.102

Six Flags America's Hurricane Harbor

13710 Central Ave.

Upper Marlboro

301-249-1500