Beat the Heat: Fun Ideas to Stay Cool

With humid 90s sticking around until Wednesday evening, Waukesha Patch is sharing ideas on how to cool off.

If you don't have air conditioning or good fans, find places to be cool, stay hydrated and and watch out for the most vulnerable — children, elderly and pets, officials say.

Here's a link to the National Weather Service forecast for Waukesha. Good news: the high drops to low 80s on Thursday.

Cool ideas

Waukesha Public Library and other libraries: There is plenty to do in the , such as reading a book, doing computer research or bringing work to do on a table or conference room.

Or take the kids on a round-robin of area public libraries, exploring ones in New Berlin, Menomonee Falls, Elm Grove and Wauwatosa.

Eble Ice Arena: What could be cooler than ice skating? Admission to at 19400 W. Blue Mound Road is $6 for adults and $4.50 for those under age 18 and over age 60. Skates can be rented for $2.50. Public skating hours are limited — from noon to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. On Saturday and Sunday, the hours are 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Waukesha Pools: Whether it is leisure swimming at Buchner Park or rapid water slides at Horeb Spring Aquatic Center, check out the

Fox Brook Park: Any body of water is sure to be cooler than the air temperature. The beach and 6-acre quarry lake at the county park , 2925 W. Barker Road, offers lots of family-friendly amenities such as a beach house, diving dock, concession stand and pedal boat rentals. 

Beach hours will be from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. Hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on weekends, with lifeguards on duty daily. County park entrance fees are $3 on weekdays and $5 on weekends. 

Or explore these . 

Majestic Cinema: The , 770 N. Springdale Road, offers $2 popcorn and fountain drinks on Tuesdays.

Here are the movies being shown and times (scroll down page). 

Brookfield Square mall and other shopping centers: An easy way to spend time in air-conditioning is to hit the mall or numerous other shopping centers listed by the Brookfield Convention and Visitors Bureau.

Bowling: Hit the lanes at .

Big Backyard, Monkey Joe's and other children's places: There are a plethora of kid-friendly businesses that have air conditioning and icy treats. The Big Backyard in New Berlin offers outdoor playground equipment inside a large building. Monkey Joe's has massive inflatables, and Adventure Rock has indoor rock climbing.

Cool treats: Waukesha Patch freelancer Amy Gilgenbach

Where else do you go to escape the heat? Please share your ideas. Tell us in the comments.