More Than 50 Twin Cities Places to Keep Cool on the Fourth of July

Written by Kevira Voegele

St. Michael

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

• 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

• 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

Mendota Heights

• West St. Paul Swimming Pool
• Cold Stone Creamery

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

• 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

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.