Many residents in Chicago are used to two things -- living in an older home and living with no air-conditioning. If you're employed, chances are you can escape to cooler conditions during your working hours. But what about the unemployed?
Although the unemployment rate in Illinois has dropped statewide, there's still plenty of people without a job and living without air-conditioning or unable to pay their electric bill to provide cooler air. With temperatures reaching 90 and above in Chicago this week, making it uncomfortably sticky and humid, if you're hot and unemployed, here are four free things to do to make it easier until the heat wave subsides.
Jump in the lake
One of the beautiful things about Chicago is its 26 miles of lakefront, and admission is always free. Spend time relaxing or swimming in the water. Be sure to lather yourself with sunscreen and bring plenty of water to drink. Parking may be expensive for some of the beaches. Take the train or the bus which are considerably cheaper.
Jump in the pool
Not one for sand between your toes? Go for one of Chicago's many free public pools. The Chicago Park District has 26 indoor pools and 51 outdoor pools. There's bound to be one located near you.
Visit the library
There's two wonderful things about a library -- free reading and free air-conditioning. You need a library card to take the books outside the building, but you don't need one to read the books, magazines or newspapers inside the building. So visit one of their more than 70 locations. Take a seat, enjoy the cool air and read.
Visit a museum
Today, Chicago museums cost money. There are free days, but those are only one day a week or less. However, a museum pass will get you into such attractions as the Alder Planetarium, Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago Children's Museum, The Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium and the Museum of Science and Industry for free. You'll need a library card for these. It's true that the popular museum passes, such as for Shedd Aquarium, are usually hard to get.
However, if you don't luck out with one of those, there's always passes left for other museums. It gives you a chance to see a museum you haven't visited before. For example, have you visited the DuSable Museum or the National Museum of Mexican Art? Special exhibits are not included, but general admission is free. So grab a pass, enjoy a museum and enjoy the free air-conditioning. Call ahead to determine what passes are available. Parking at these museums can get expensive so opt for the train or the bus. (The pass is called Kraft Great Kids Museum Pass, but you don't have to be a kid to take advantage of it.)
Jolie du Pre is a full-time freelance writer, published author and editor who lives in Chicago. She has immersed herself in the "Windy City" for more than 30 years and brings that experience to her articles.
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