GOING SOLO

Take a bike ride on the Oak Leaf

Trail – Riding solo on the trail affords a different view of the city. Check out what's up at the Urban Ecology Center. Head south along the lakefront and skip stones at the small beach at Lakeshore State Park.

Spend the afternoon at Atwater

Beach – Bring a chair, a good book and lunch, and enjoy our gorgeous lake. By August, the water temp should be around 70, so wear your swimsuit. Save some energy for the end of the day, when you'll climb 131 steps to get back to the street.

Treat yourself to a spa service at Institute of Beauty and

Wellness – Students at the Institute (327 E. St. Paul Ave.) need bodies to practice on, so the price is right. To book a service: ibw.edu, 414-227-2889.

Explore a new neighborhood – See how Vliet Street in Washington Heights or National Avenue in Walker's Point have been transformed. Travel by foot, unfettered by anyone else's agenda. Pack a journal and a camera (a real one, not your iPhone) for your field notes.

See a matinee at the Oriental

Theatre – Escape the heat and lose yourself inside the dark (and historic) theater. Starting in July, Milwaukee Film will be running the show, so expect three times the number of titles on screen, along with much-needed restoration.

Shop the Third Ward – Unique boutiques on Broadway like Edie, SoHo, Francesca's, Lela and Anthropologie help you stand out. Or pick up something for your living space at MOD GEN, Broadway Paper or Inspired.

Rent a kayak and paddle down

the river – Tune into the quiet of the river while floating through the city. Even the aqua-phobic can feel secure going it alone in a kayak. Rent one through the Milwaukee Kayak Co., paddle at your own pace and enjoy.

Learn at the Central Library – Marvel at the Neo-Renaissance architecture or research a new skill. Explore the building bottom to top, from the tessera mosaic tiles to the green roof. Free docent-led tours take place Saturdays at 10 a.m.

Geek out on arcade games – 1983 was a great year for video games. Also the name of a new Milwaukee “barcade,” 1983 has 22 classic games and four pinball machines. At only 25 cents a pop, that's a cheap afternoon. 1983mke.com