Living in Chicago, the summers can be brutal. During those really hot days when I still want to get out of the house, I usually head to a museum or the aquarium. You can be there for hours, it is pretty inexpensive, its fun, and best of all, its very cool (temperatures) there.
North Avenue Beach in Chicago is where I head to when trying to cool off on a hot summer day. This is because It is a great spot to enjoy the lake breeze, relax on the sand, and take in the beautiful skyline views. If I'm looking to quickly quick cool-down, I often grab an Italian ice from one of the beachside stands-refreshing and perfect for beating the heat.
I love the water and Lake Michigan and like to take advantage of it as much as possible during our short summer so to cool off I grab my paddleboard and head to Montrose Beach