As the anticipation of summer break rises, many people are looking for ways to spend their newly free days. I have found myself wondering what I will be doing when I’m not preoccupied by work. Spending my days outside, basking in the sun seems like the obvious choice. But one question continuously revolves throughout my mind: where will I do that?

This question, I’m sure, is one that many people have been thinking about recently, with the impending light of summer dawning in on us. So, I decided to take the research into my own hands, to present you (a person I’m sure has been wondering the same as me, otherwise you probably wouldn’t have clicked on this article) with my information!

Because of my extensive past of summer swim, I am extremely familiar with the local pools that host weekly meets and invitationals. However, I am much less knowledgeable about the other swimming locations that exist in the McHenry County area. As it turns out, there are a lot! From lakes to pools, playgrounds to splash pads, there is so much summer fun to be had around here!

To start off strong, let’s begin with an aquatic center we all know and love: Cary’s Sunburst Bay. Located at 1201 1st Street, this faculty is one of the newer additions to the local aquatic scene.  So far, it has managed to keep up a great reputation! Everything from its cleanliness to its swim school are highly acclaimed, and spark a long chain of loyal, returning patrons. 

The facility is fun for children and parents alike, with two separate and spacious pools to enjoy your time in. There are many different amenities throughout the center, such as the beloved current channel and slides. Sunburst Bay has lots of room for you and your company to spread out as well, so there is rarely any fights for space to lie down. That is not to say that it doesn’t get busy, though. With such a new and popular spot in town, it can be overwhelming how many people flock to spend their summer days there. 

Pros: 

• Relatively new
• Waterslides
• Diving boards
• Zero depth
• Swimming lanes
• Spacious

Cons: 

• Can get crowded
• Admission fee ($12/15)

If all you are looking for is time spent outdoors with a bit of water to cool off, why not look for a local splash pad?

An older but no less beloved summer site in the Cary Area is Kaper Park, a community playground and splash pad along Georgetown Drive. The playground went under renovation recently, in 2018. Now one of the most colorful and fun summer destinations in Cary, hundreds of people flock to have fun there each summer.

If the playground and the splash pad weren’t appealing enough, one could simply look out into the distance and have fun in the 15.5 acres Kaper Park flaunts! There is plenty of room for activities of all kinds, from quaint picnics in and around the picnic shelter to competitive sports in one of the many fields in the area. 

Pros: 

• Relatively new
• Fun playground
• Picnicking areas
• Game fields
• Splashpad
• Free admission

Cons: 

• Can get crowded
• No pool

So far, we’ve moved from a bustling pool to a more outdoorsy park. However, Kaper Park is more of a grassy neighborhood park and does not offer much in the name of nature. However, if you head a town over, you can find much more nature-filled sites for summer fun. 

Diving out of Cary and into Crystal Lake, it is much easier to find places for summer recreation. Although there are many, one of Crystal Lake’s most popular swimming spots is Three Oaks Recreation Center, located at 5517 Northwest Highway. This special place not only gives patrons a great view of the deep blue lake, but also provides many options for those who are less keen on an afternoon in the chilling waters. 

The recreation center is huge, and boasts many different amenities for people to enjoy. For those who love to spend their summers outdoors in the embrace of nature, there are tons of trails and open green areas to spend time around. They even offer kayak rentals, if you wish to try your luck on the water. If you like a more modern style of summer relaxation, look no further than the spacious beach and colorful playground. There is even a splash pad if the day is especially hot!

Pros: 

• Beach space
• Splash Pad
• Kayaking/boating
• Nature trails
• Picnic Grounds
• Scuba Diving

Cons: 

• Can get crowded
• Limited beach space
• Admission fee ($5 non-resident)

Crystal Lake actually has more than one beach available for fun in the sun. This next one in particular seems to be a lot less crowded than the ever-popular recreation center!

The Crystal Lake Main Beach can be found at 300, Lakeshore Dr, Crystal Lake. Here, people of all preferences can enjoy summer recreation in the ways they best see fit. There is fishing and boating, picnicking and walking, as well as room for swimming and playing. On the weekend of July 3rd, Crystal Lake will actually be hosting its annual Lakeside Festival alongside this location! Be sure not to miss out!

Pros: 

• Boat rental
• Playground
• Fishing pier
• Picnic areas
• Pavilion room
• Open swim

Cons: 

• Can get crowded
• Admission fee ($10/15 nonresident)

Not looking for a big site? Do you want to lie back and relax in a smaller, more peaceful facility? 

One of the older, more reliable summer sites in the area would have to be Lion’s Armstrong Memorial Pool at 599 Longwood Drive, Algonquin. This facility has been in the area for generations, and still offers so much fun for both the individual and the family. The pools are quaint and clear, and offer small shallow areas for those with young children. If you are not looking to relax in what the pool has to offer, I encourage you to take a walk along the winding trail and pass by all of the ample green space the space has to offer. Beauty often lies in the simplest of things. 

Pros: 

• Quaint
• Zero depth
• Playground
• Spacious green area
• Path (trail)
• Diving board

Cons: 

• Small
• Older
• Well-used
• Admission fee ($5)

There are a ton of local summer sites around the area, so many that I could not fit them all into an article. They all have their beauties and aversions, their pros and their cons, but that does not take away from their overall goal: to provide a patron with an unforgettable summer experience. 

Whether you are looking forward to a blast of a summer, or a quiet time of peaceful relaxation, there are many local pools and recreational centers in the area that are more than willing to provide that experience for you. From parks to playground, pools to splash pads, and nature to blacktops, there is plenty to choose from. All I wish for you to have fun doing so!