How to Stay Cool Fourth of July Weekend

(This article was compiled by Kevira Voegele.)

If the warm temperatures this week are getting the best of you, head to these north and west metro places to cool off.

Eden Prairie

• Eden Prairie Community Center pool, open except July 4
• Miller Park Splash Pad
• Cold Stone Creamery
• Dairy Queen / Orange Julius
• Potbelly Sandwich Works
• Sub Zero Yogurt & Ice Cream

Edina

• Edina Aquatic Center, open 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. July 4; see the website for hours the rest of the long weekend
• YMCA Southdale
• Edina Creamery
• Neighborhood Ice Cream Shoppe
• Snuffy's Malt Shop

Fridley

• Moore Lake Park and Beach
• Harris Lake Park
• Grandpa's Homemade Premium Ice Cream
• Dairy Queen, Osborne Road Northeast

Golden Valley

• Wirth Beach
• Dairy Queen, Medicine Lake Road
• Dairy Queen, Olson Memorial Highway

Hopkins

• Shady Oak Beach
• Cold Stone Creamery
• Dairy Queen, Mainstreet
• DQ Grill and Chill, Blake Road

Lake Minnetonka

• Where to swim is a given: the lake
• Ben & Jerry's, Wayzata
• The Cottagewood Store, Excelsior
• Culver's Family Restaurant, Shoreline Drive, Wayzata
• Dairy Queen, Shoreline Drive, Wayzata
• Licks Unlimited, Excelsior

Maple Grove

• Grove Cove Aquatic Center
• Weaver Lake Community Park and Beach
• Elm Creek Swimming Pond, located in Elm Creek Park Reserve
• Fish Lake Regional Park swimming beach
• Cold Stone Creamery
• Culver's
• Dairy Queen, 83rd Way North

Mendota Heights

• West St. Paul Swimming Pool
• Cold Stone Creamery

Minnetonka

• Ridgedale YMCA
• Williston Fitness Center
• Dairy Queen, County Road 101
• Dairy Queen, Eden Prairie Road
• Dairy Queen, Minnetonka Boulevard
• Dairy Queen, Ridgedale Mall

Plymouth

• Life Time Fitness
• Cold Stone Creamery
• DQ Grill & Chill, Annapolis Lane North
• Sindi's Sweet Shoppe

Richfield

• Richfield Outdoor Pool
• Cone Brothers Ice Cream Cafe
• Dairy Queen, Lyndale Avenue South
• Dairy Queen, East 66th Street
• DQ Grill and Chill, West 66th Street

Shakopee

• Shakopee SandVenture Aquatic Park
• Valleyfair Family Amusement Park
• Coffee Ta Cream

Southwest Minneapolis

• Fuller Park
• Kenny Park and Neighborhood Center
• Minneapolis beaches
• Dairy Queen, West 50th Street
• Liberty Frozen Custard
• Papa Cool Ice Cream
• Sebastian Joe's Ice Cream

St. Louis Park

• St. Louis Park's Outdoor Aquatic Park
• Bean Good Cafe
• DQ Grill & Chill, Excelsior Boulevard
• M&T's Munchies

St. Michael

• Beebe Lake Regional Park
• Dairy Queen
• Kremer's Toy and Hobby

Note: This is not a comprehensive list of cool-off spots in north and west metro Patch towns. Instead, it is a sampling of places you can go for ice cream and a dip in a pool. If your favorite place isn’t listed, tell us in the comments.