By Meghan Streit
THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

With the wind chill consistently dipping below zero, and the sun seemingly in hiding for the season, Chicago winters trigger fantasies of lounging poolside somewhere sunny and warm. If you can’t escape to Florida, Mexico, or some  other tropical locale, a day by a heated indoor pool just might do the trick.

That’s exactly what Monarch Landing residents and their families did one cold January afternoon. Although the temperatures outside have most of us seeking  refuge under blankets by the fire, Monarch Landing’s aquatics center gives residents the chance to indulge in summer fun a few months early. Not only is there a huge pool for swimming laps or challenging the grandkids to a game of water volleyball, but there’s also a Jacuzzi—a perfect way to warm up when it’s cold outside.