This coming weekend is the Delta Ditch Run, but there’s a whole other way to do the Delta. You can take it slow. The miles of waterways, rivers and sloughs of the Delta are perfect for chilling out. While the Bay is cool the Delta is hot, helping slow everything down to a more comfortable pace. The warm air is balanced by the freshwater Delta swimming.

With high fuel prices making air and auto travel very expensive this summer, it may be time to bring back the “staycation.” The Petaluma River, Napa River and the vast network of waterways in the Delta are just the places to stay here and get away at the same time.

Whatever you can fit aboard for “pool toys” are an important part of Delta cruising for kids. Bring the swimming noodles, SUPs, sailing dinghies, kayaks — and don’t forget the swimsuit. We did that once. Guess we should mention plenty of sunscreen, too.

There are many bedroom communities that temporarily form during the summer on the Delta. Have you got a favorite? Potato Slough has Bedrooms One and Two; Georgiana Slough has some great nooks to tuck into. Yacht club members can find Delta clubs with reciprocal privileges, and there are numerous marinas for guest slips, refueling, ice and sundries.

People worry that the Delta is too shallow for sailboats, that is until they’re passed by an enormous ship heading to Sacramento or Stockton. Just like the Bay, there are places you can run aground, but there’s plenty of room for the deepest of keels. When cruising the world or the Delta you’ll have more choices of anchorages with a shallower keel or a smaller boat, but we’ve seen 80-ft sailboats anchored up in the Delta. They’re usually the boats with the most toys — and ice.

Who would ever go cruising with an umbrella? Biminis, sunshades, tarps and numerous other sun-protection paraphernalia may feel useless on the Bay, but they become critical survival tools for comfort during the summer on the Delta. If you don’t have an open transom, a swim ladder will make life easier, too.

In a week, you can have a ton of fun without too much pace, but many folks like to spend the whole summer. If you can, you won’t regret it. That includes Baja Ha-Ha cruisers passing through the Bay Area on their way to San Diego. Two or three weeks in the Delta in advance of our September crew party at the Spaulding Marine Center in Sausalito is definitely time well spent.

There’s plenty to explore in the Delta. If you’re looking for a warm place to chill, the Delta is it. If you’ve got some tips for summer Delta cruisers, you can add them to our Comments below or email us here. Slowing down and chilling out is one of the most difficult challenges in modern life. A cruise in the Delta will help make it easier.