Turn your NJ backyard into an oasis from the heat wave with these 5 ideas (2024)

While summer doesn't officially start until Thursday, the heat just couldn't seem to wait.

New Jersey is in the midst of its first heat wave of the season, bringing brutal humidity and 90 degree temperatures to most of the region throughout the rest of this week and into the weekend. That means that many of us in North Jersey, and others throughout the state, will be desperately looking for ways to stay cool.

There's an endless of list of possibilities, like stomping around at a splash pad, swimming at a local pool, traveling to a nearby waterpark or enjoying a meal in a cold, dark North Jersey restaurant. But if you'd rather not travel around during such high temperatures, and would instead prefer to stay in the comfort of your own home, you can make staying cool just as fun by turning your backyard into a — temporary and affordable — water oasis.

Here are four things that you can get to stay cool during this heat wave right in your own backyard:

Splash around in a temporary blow up or framed above ground pool

It's no secret that putting a real pool in your backyard, whether its in-ground or above ground, takes time and money. And even if money isn't an issue, there's no time to waste in the middle of a heat wave. So what's the solution? Putting up a temporary blow up or framed above ground pool.

Most people probably already own a kiddie pool, either because they currently have young kids, have kids that have outgrown them or grew desperate for a quick way to relax with their feet in the water. While these can be great options for some, they won't work well for a full-body soak in 90 degree temperatures.

For an inflatable option, there is a 10-foot rectangular Bluescape pool available at Walmart both online and in-person, for about $30, or $25 when on sale. A pricier option would be the seven person Evajoy inflatable pool with a canopy, which is available on Amazon for $109.99. If you're looking for something a little more stable, you can opt for a framed above ground pool. You can get a 10 foot framed pool for $126.99 from Walmart, or a Intex 8.5 foot framed pool for about $162.89 on Amazon.

In addition to Walmart and Amazon, you can find these pools at retailers like Target, Home Depot, Dick's Sporting Goods and more.

Glide across the yard on a slip n' slide

Of course we can't forget about the classic slip n' slide. While this option might not work for everyone — it does involve flopping down and sliding your body across wet plastic, after all — it's sure to keep the family occupied, and cool, for hours.

Slip n' slides, which most commonly include a plastic tarp or blow up platform, water sprays and blow up mats, are available on Amazon, Walmart, Target and more. They typically range from about $35 to $70, depending on the size and quality of the slip n' slide.

Run around on a blow up splash pad

While there are an abundance of public splash pads available throughout North Jersey, there's no doubt that they're going to be packed with other residents trying to stay cool. Luckily, you can find blow up splash pads at retailers like Walmart, Amazon and Target that you can enjoy in your own backyard.

You can get the WOW Watersports 10-foot splash pad for $84.99 at Tractor Supply, a SplashEZ 5-foot splash pad for $21.99 at Walmart or a 5.5-foot Dimple Splash Pad for $22 at Bed, Bath and Beyond, to name a few options.

Sit back and relax with a standing mister

For those that don't really want to run or splash around, but still want to keep cool, consider getting yourself a standing water mister. These gadgets, which are available on Amazon for anywhere from $15 to $40, typically include four misting nozzles that can be adjusted based on your needs. They can be used on patios, decks and gardens. Plus, they can also be used to keep your pets cool and your plants watered.

Get soaked with a yard sprinkler

If you're really looking for a cheap way to stay cool during this heat wave, but don't want to purchase all of these inflatables or gadgets, than look no further than the good, old fashioned sprinkler. Yard sprinklers are available at most retailers like Walmart, Target, Amazon, Home Depot and Lowe's, to name a few, ranging from about $10 to $25.

There are also speciality yard sprinklers out there that come in kid-friendly shapes, like fire hydrants, watermelons, dinosaurs, rocket ships, ducks and more. This helps make the experience that much more fun without having to break the bank.

Maddie McGay is the real estate reporter forNorthJersey.comand The Record, covering all things worth celebrating about living in North Jersey. Find her onInstagram @maddiemcgay,onX @maddiemcgayy, and sign up for herNorth Jersey Livingnewsletter.Do you have a tip, trend or terrific house she should know about? Email her atMMcGay@gannett.