1. Get Some Air (Conditioning)
Not everyone has air conditioning, but there are a number of public places to go if you need to cool down. The Milwaukee Central Library and other public libraries are welcoming spots to get out of the sun. Pick up a book on polar exploration to send your mind somewhere cold, too. Another option is chilling in the 3rd St. Market Hall with handmade ice cream from Bebe Zito. Art and air conditioning for just $5? That’s a bargain, and it’s what you’ll get at MSOE’s Grohmann Museum, where the collection focuses on humans at work. Check out the city’s official cooling centers here.
READ MORE OF OUR 2026 SUMMER GUIDE HERE
2. Make a Splash
Splash pads are a great way for kids to cool down and burn off energy at the same time. Milwaukee County Parks operates eight splash pads (plus 23 wading pools) around the county, and there are more in the suburbs. In Riverwest, Gordon Park’s pirate-themed splash pad has a rubber surface to prevent skinned knees. On the northwest side, Dineen Park’s arcing pad is also rubberized and has fun spray tunnels and a water-spitting dragon. Elm Grove Village Park has a big splash pad alongside its public pool.
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3. Cold Bia Ho’i Here!
Hot days call for cold beers. For maximum relief, pass on the porter and take a page from the Vietnamese, who cope with sweltering Southeast Asian summers with icy glasses of bia hơi, a super light, unpasteurized lager often finished, delivered and drunk in the same day. You can get a taste of the tropics at Amorphic Beer (3700 N. Fratney St.), which makes a refreshing bia hơi using rice and jasmine flowers that it serves in ribbed green glasses like you’d get at a Hanoi street bar. Alternatively, grab a four-pack to take home and drink over ice, in the Vietnamese style.
4. Keep Your Cool
It’s hard to be in a good mood when it’s 90 degrees and humid. And it’s not just you. Studies have shown that hotter days are associated with increased rates of violent crime. To find a bit of inner peace, join a meditation class at the Mindfulness Community of Milwaukee (1922 E. Park Pl.) or the Milwaukee Shambhala Center (2344 N. Oakland Ave.).
5. Put Yourself on Ice
Your custard might be melting faster than you can eat it, but at the Pettit National Ice Center (500 S. 84th St.), the ice stays solid in summer. On select days through July 24, the Pettit offers public skating on one of its hockey rinks for a couple of hours in the middle of the day. (Check the website for its schedule.) Entry is $9.50 for adults and $7.50 for kids 4-12, and you can rent skates for just $5. There are also free ice sleds for visitors with special needs.
Stay Safe in the Sun
→ Limit sun exposure; the rule is, if your shadow is shorter than you are, seek shade. 
→ Wear long-sleeve shirts and long pants when working outside.
→ Apply sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher, and reapply every two hours.
→ Wear sunglasses that have a UV400 rating or “100% UV protection” label.
→ Ask your doctor if any medications you take increase sun sensitivity.
