The weather is warm, now what? How to take advantage of the summer sunshine

School's out for summer! After being cooped up in classrooms for five long months, there's nothing better than taking advantage of the wild outdoors of Bloomington. So pack a lunch, grab some sunscreen and get out!\nParks around Bloomington\nLocal parks offer everything from jogging tracks to baseball fields and best of all, they're all free.\nBryan Park features volleyball courts, tennis courts, fitness trails and a water park for those hot summer days. Bryan is a thirty-three-acre green spot, bound by Woodlawn Avenue on the east and Henderson Avenue on the west. Get out to Bryan and dust off those running shoes!\nFor a closer, more urban feel, check out People's Park on the corner of Dunn and Kirkwood Avenues. Benches, murals, concrete sculptures, checkers tables and mosaic tiles create a fun place to meet. Grab some ice cream and people watch.\nLearn to garden organically or challenge your friends to a game on the 9-hole Frisbee golf course at Crestmont Park on Illinois Avenue near Fifteenth Street. \nThe Bloomington Skate Park offers skaters the challenge of ramps, rails and other skating terrain. The Skate Park is located on Bloomington's northwest side, on Kinser Pike just south of Cascades Golf Course. For more information on Bloomington parks, check out www.bloomington.in.gov/parks.\nGet wet\nGriffy Lake offers boat and canoe rentals, hiking trails, mountain biking trails and horseback riding trails. Pack a lunch, rent a canoe and explore the lake. Don't forget your sunscreen! The Griffy Lake Boathouse is located at 3300 N. Headley Road.\nLake Monroe offers boat rentals for sail boats, speed boats and pontoon boats, canoe rentals, a beach and fishing. The large lake stretches through Monroe, Jackson and Brown Counties, covering 10,750 acres, according to the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. \nCommunity pools can give everyone the opportunity to brush up on their backstroke and their tan. The IU Outdoor Pool is open to students, faculty, staff and locals. Day passes are $1.75 for students, $2.25 for faculty and staff and $2.50 for the general public. To receive the student rate, bring a valid student ID.\nRediscover Bloomington\nA bike ride around Bloomington on a beautiful, sunny day can be just the trick to fight summer boredom. The Bicycle Garage Inc. rents out bikes based on availability from $15 to $25. May 16 through 21 is Bloomington Bikes Week. Ride through residential neighborhoods, explore new parts of downtown and feel like a kid again!\nThe summer is the perfect time for 5k walks and races. www.Bloomington.com lists area 5Ks in Bloomington, Jasper and Columbus. Information on how to sign up is available on the Web site. Wash out those dusty water bottles and see if you still have what it takes.\nComedy can fix the summer blues for anyone in mood to laugh. Bears Place offers Comedy Caravan Saturdays and Mondays with prices ranging from $5 to $7. Shows start at 7:30 and 10:15 both nights. \nBloomington is also home to the nation's only Tibetan Cultural Center, which was consecrated by the Dalai Lama. The TCC offers discussions, classes and meditations and is open to members of all faiths, according the center's Web site, www.tibetancc.com. \nGet out of town\nTaking a day trip to Nashville, Ind. can be a charming afternoon with a home-style lunch at one of many restaurants that line the main drag. \nHiking around Brown County in the Hoosier National Forest is a potential one-day get away for anyone.\nThe Hoosier National Forest has lakes, streams, caves, hunting, fishing, camping, and hiking for those who want to escape the busy hustle and bustle life and relax in the wilderness. \nThe wildlife at Hoosier National Forest isn't for the amateurs. Birds, reptiles, fish and wild turkeys abound. Blossoming trees and flowers sprinkle the area with desire for those yearning for a one-day escape.\nScattered all around Indiana, Holiday World in Santa Claus, Ind., and Indiana Beach in Monticello, Ind., are amusement parks that also have water parks within them. Kings Island, located outside of Cincinnati, Ohio, has roller coasters and a water park. Admission ranges from $26.99 (for children and seniors) to $34.99 for adults. \nMinor league baseball games are another option for hot summer days. The Indianapolis Indians play throughout the summer and tickets start around $8. Ticket info and the schedule of games can be found at www.indyindians.com. \nThe legendary Indianapolis 500, which Indiana locals look forward to every year, will take place May 29, but events and festivities for the race begin May 8. Ticket information for the 89th running of the Indianapolis 500 race can be found at www.indy500.com. \nThe Indianapolis Zoo, located in the White River State Park, plays host to more than a million visitors each year. Visit the two rare Grand Cayman blue iguanas that were recently hatched at the zoo and take a spin on the Endagered Species Carousel. New dolphin exhibits and World of Waters exhibits re-open Memorial Day weekend. Adult ticket price is $11.50 and a combo ticket for the zoo and White River Gardens is $12.50.\n-- Contact Features Editor Kehla West at krwest@indiana.edu and Opinion Editor Andrea Opperman at acopperm@indiana.edu.