The midday downpour; the earth-trembling thunder; oh, and of course, the oppressive humidity -- it all sounds like one big environmental horror story, right? Living in Miami, especially during the months of July and August, can easily evoke grueling spells of manic depression.

Yet, despite our inability to partake in otherwise normal summertime recreational past-times like the rest of our nation's coastal cities -- i.e. beachin', convertible cruisin' with your crew, and boats'n'hoes hoppin' -- July and August also come with a propitious prescription to amend your cabin-fever gloom: Miami Spa Month.