banner image courtesy of geralt from Pixabay
It's too damn hot in Chicago. The dog days of summer are most assuredly here, and it's enough to drive a person crazy. Temperatures are hitting the high 80s and 90s and there is no end in sight. And if you have kids... Well that only adds to the boiling pressure to figure out what the heck to do when it's this hot out. The only way to keep your wits about you during this maddeningly hot months is to come up with a list of super fun activities that beat the heat. Luckily for you, we've prepared a very fun list of things to do in Chicago during the wet hot summer.
1. Take a swim in Lake Michigan
We promise it's not gross! One of the best parts of Chicago is the lakefront and we have many easily accessible beaches from the very popular Oak Street beach in Gold Coast to the more secluded Loyola Beach in Roger Parks. No matter the neighborhood you're in along the shore, you can bet on Lake Michigan being a good time. With an average water temperature of 75 degrees in the summer, this is an excellent and free way to beat the heat.
2. Movies in the park
Chicago's Park Authority hosts a multitude of free movies at the parks sprawling across the city. Millennium Park, for example, hosts a movie every Tuesday at 6:30, completely for free! By this time, it has cooled off significantly and you can relax with a nice picnic and bottle of wine (it's BYOB!) while catching one of the summer movies.
3. Hit the museums.
Who says learning has to stop in the summer? Chicago has a plethora of museums to chose from, including the world famous Art Institute and Museum of Science and Industry (my favorites!) If you have kiddos to bring, check out Chicago Public Library's museum pass system for a way to bring your children to these museums for free. As all of the museums have AC, we can 100% recommend them on a scorching day.
4. Speaking of libraries...
Chicago has over 70 branches in our public library system, and many of them offer way more than just books (though we highly encourage reading here at FiaB!!!) There is certainly something to discover at the library this summer, no matter if you are a child or an adult. Go to story time, take a class on 3D printing or check out their Maker Lab. The possibilities are endless!
5. Play an escape room
You didn't actually think we would leave playing an escape room off the list now, did you? All jokes aside, playing an escape room is an excellent indoor activity on those unbearably hot days. There's nothing like beating the clock to take your mind off of beating the heat! Fox in a Box is centrally located to many of the famous museums and parks in Chicago and even is within walking distance of several ice cream stores if a sweet, cold treat is what you truly need to escape from the sweltering Chicago summer. Fox in a Box is open 7 days a week and has early afternoon slots available so you can avoid the peak temperatures of the day. Need an alternative to mindlessly scrolling Netflix all summer? Come try to break out of the Prison, or save the world in Bunker, or perform the perfect jewel heist in Bank! Over the age of 18? Get kidnapped by the Zodiac killer and try to escape... if you dare.
Article by Kelsey Sullivan, Marketing Contributor
BLOGS
Please wait