Hot, hot, hot! Forget frying an egg on the sidewalk, this clever cook sun-baked chocolate chip cookies on the dashboard.

The last few days have been a little heated, but there are many ways to stay cool. We’ve started an interactive map to make it easier to find places to escape the summer heat including water parks, public beaches and indoor, air-conditioned things to do when it's hot enough to bake cookies in your car.

Click on the map above to make it larger, move it around and discover more cool ways to beat the heat.

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• Chill out at Mystic Waters Family Aquatic Center, 2025 Miner St. in Des Plaines.
• Check out the new MB Financial Park at Rosemont: Live entertainment, movies, bowling, dining. Muvico 18 is located at 9701 Bryn Mawr Ave. in Rosemont.
• Check out the Steven Urry exhibit at the Koehnline Museum of Art until July 19. Oakton Community College’s museum is located at 1600 East Golf Road in Des Plaines.

Earlier: Photos of the 2012 Independence Day parade in Des Plaines.

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