In the early morning we open all the screened windows and doors and let the cool morning air breeze through the house. By 9:30 - 10:00, when the sun is higher, we close everything up, including drapes and curtain to keep out the heat of the sun, and the house stays pretty comfortable the rest of the day. It is only on really, really hot days the air conditioning kicks in.
Actually, the dehumidifier kicks in more often than the ac.

Hope you enjoyed your day trip to the coast ...that's something we do as often as possible ...especially to the dog beach!