School is nearing the end, which means summer is around the corner! Great vibes, great weather and a ton of time on your hands. The summer season is perfect to live it up and try something new, and these are 5 of the many memories you can create during this break!

Movies in the Park

What’s better than watching movies on a summer night? Watching the movies in the Park on a summer night! It’s like a 2 for 1 special. Every year, Millennium Park hosts this event. Beginning in June and ending mid August, movies are shown every Tuesday. There are a variety of genres and fan favorites, so it won’t be hard to choose a date to go. You can visit Choose Chicago for the full schedule.The cost is completely free so pick a date, pack a lunch and take advantage of this opportunity!

Ever been to Six Flags?

Your summer would not be as complete without visiting a carnival, having a water balloon fight and eating funnel cakes. Most water parks/amusement parks are only open during the summer so this means you HAVE to visit one. Again, summer wouldn’t be the same if you didn’t.

J Cole in Town?

Let’s just face it: Concerts are waaayyyyy much more fun to attend during the summer. You don’t have to worry about being cute yet cold at the same time. Some concert venues are held outside which gives off  more party vibes.There are plenty of people in concert near you and Lollapalooza is also around the corner so get your tickets asap. Check the Chicago Event Calendar for more info!

Watch the sunrise/sunset at the Beach

Going to the Beach is very common in the summer, but ask yourself this: “Have I ever been to the beach to watch the sunrise/sunset?” If you answered no, you’re missing out. Just imagine sitting and watching the beautiful scenery unfold before your eyes with no disturbances because there are not too many people out around this time. Pretty peaceful right? Who could say no to this?!?

Firework Show

When you hear the pops and booms around the neighborhood, it’s a clear indication that summer has started, and you don’t have to wait until the 4th of July to see a display of fireworks either. Navy Pier hosts firework shows twice a week beginning Memorial day weekend and ending Labor day weekend. This happens every Wednesday at 9:30 and Saturday at 10:15 and each show lasts about 10 minutes. The cost is completely free and you can get great views from Navy Pier, the Beaches, downtown rooftops and anywhere along the shoreline near Navy Pier. Visit their website for a more detailed schedule!

Of course, there are many other things to do for the summer including riding a bike, hiking, visiting a pool etc, but with these 5 things you will definitely get a more memorable experience. So get out your bucket list and start planning! Go Summer ‘17!