With summer around the corner, students seem to be thinking less about school and more about how much fun they’ll be having over summer break. If you’re a student who needs some inspiration regarding how to spend your summer, this list of the ten best things to do in Chicago this summer will have you set.

1. Visit the beach 

As people living in the close suburbs of Chicago, we are very lucky to have access to some of the best beaches in the Midwest. For people who are looking to spend the day tanning and swimming, beaches like Gillson Park and Lee Street Beach offer close options. For people who are looking to travel into the city to have a view of the skyline while swimming, beaches such as Ohio Street Beach and The Concrete Beach are great options that offer amazing views and refreshing waters. If you have a dog, consider taking it to the Montrose Dog Beach.

2. Get ice cream

For me, ice cream season is year-round, but nothing beats a summer scoop after an afternoon swim. From chains like Oberweis and Baskin-Robbins, there are ice cream options on every corner. If you’re looking for some higher-quality ice cream, consider checking out The Chocolate Shoppe and Dairy Star. If you’re more of a gelato person, visit Frio Gelato in Evanston.

3. Visit live music concerts

Chicago is home to one of the largest and most iconic music festivals in the world, Lollapalooza. This year’s headliners include Tyler the Creator, Sabrina Carpenter and Olivia Rodrigo. The festival takes place in Grant Park from July 31 to August 3. It’s important to get your tickets as soon as possible to reserve a spot at the renowned festival. If Lollapalooza just isn’t your thing or you’re looking for another music festival to attend, don’t fret, Chicago has a festival for everyone. For rap lovers, Chicago hosts Lyrical Lemonade Summer Smash in Bridgeport from June 20-22. Headliners this year are Young Thug, Future and Don Toliver x Yeat. Along with this, the Ravinia Festival in Highland Park offers over 100 different concerts over the summer. For jazz lovers, make sure to check out the Chicago Jazz Festival in Millennium Park on August 28-31. For an option closer to home, Wednesdays On The Green showcases some great weekly concerts during the summer in Skokie.

4. See fireworks at Navy Pier

Navy Pier has fireworks every Wednesday at 9 p.m. and Saturdays at 10 p.m. from May 24 to August 30. The fireworks show is completely free. Still, it’s important to find parking beforehand, as the lot at Navy Pier can get very crowded, especially on a Saturday night.

5. Tour colleges

Most high school students are going to be applying to college in the coming years. Chicago has a variety of colleges; going on a tour can give you a feel of what a college campus looks like, and you can use that to understand what you are looking for when it comes to picking a college. Some of the colleges that may be interesting to visit include DePaul University, University of Chicago, Northwestern University, Loyola University, University of Illinois-Chicago and more.

6. Go to a baseball game 

Chicago is home to many successful sports teams. As of now, the Cubs are ranked number one in the National League (NL) Central. The average cost of a ticket is over $100, but tickets can be bought for as cheap as $15. Although buying a more expensive ticket guarantees a better seat, going to the game is about the experience. Even if you’re not interested in spending large amounts of money, you can still have fun from the cheap seats. If you’re not interested in paying for parking or taking an Uber, it’s easy to hop on the train and be downtown in no time.

7. Spend time in nature

Chicago is home to many vibrant parks and green spaces worth exploring. Lurie Garden is Millennium Park’s ‘secret garden’ and spans 2.5 acres.  The green space offers tours, lectures, demonstrations and is open for people to walk around freely. If you’re not interested in going downtown, the Skokie Lagoons are another great option to explore. A path spans down the lagoons, and it makes for a scenic walk where you might even cross paths with a deer. The Chicago Botanic Garden is a great choice as well.