How to Beat the Heat and Cool Off in Metro Detroit

With temperatures hitting the 100-degree mark and records being broken across Metro Detroit, many residents are searching for new ways to cool off and beat the heat.

Sitting around in the air conditioning at home gets boring after a while, so here are five unique attractions to visit this summer that both kids and adults alike can enjoy, both indoors and out:

Oasis Golf Center-

The 100-degree temperatures are probably too much for all but the serious golfer, so why not head to Oasis in Plymouth for a little practice at the driving range in a cool, controlled environment?

The massive dome of the center is easily visible from I-275 and Oasis also offers mini-golf for the kids.

Kensington Metro Park-

This sprawling, multi-purpose natural area in Milford just minutes from most major Metro Detroit cities offers plenty of tree cover and shady areas to relax in as well as Martindale Beach and the popular Splash N' Blast mini-water park featuring two 250-foot water slides as well as other attractions.

There's always something new to discover at Kensington and that's what makes it one of the area's best attractions for nature-loving kids and adults alike.

IMAX Theatre at The Henry Ford-

Check out a summer blockbuster like Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Pt. 2 or the wildlife documentary Born to be Wild 3D with the kids at this massive theater complex, which is part of The Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn. It's hard to think of a better escape than to relax, cool off, and beat the heat than in front of Michigan's biggest movie screens at the IMAX Theatre.

Indoor water park getaway-

The Bavarian Inn in the Germany-inspired vacation city of Frankenmuth is a little over an hour and a half from most major Metro Detroit cities, but it's well worth it for a quick overnight getaway as one of the best indoor water parks in the Midwest, featuring a lazy river, waterfall and five indoor pools.

A closer option for others in the the area is the Best Western Sterling Inn in Sterling Heights which houses a 32,000 square-foot indoor water park.

Detroit Science Center-

It might sound cliche, but this Detroit favorite really does make learning fun, and it's never a bad thing to give kids a refresher while they're on summer break.

The Detroit Science Center is the kind of place you can get lost in for hours at a time and that's what makes it perfect for those who want to beat the heat and cool off in Metro Detroit.

I'd say don't forget to check out the impressive new Dinosaurs Unearthed exhibit, but it's hard to miss, especially with its roster of more than 20 enormous animatronic dinosaurs, which make up the largest dinosaur exhibit to ever hit the Motor City.

Nick Meyer is a freelance journalist in news, sports, natural health, and entertainment who has lived and worked in Metro Detroit his whole life.