It goes without saying, right? Heat in the upper 80s and into the 90s, plus humidity like a wet towel, equals prime time on Chicago’s beaches, summer’s places of respite and cool.

The photo spread that Chicago Journal photographer Jason Geil submitted for this week’s paper illustrates the power of the city’s beachfront territory. At 12th Street Beach, people swim in Lake Michigan and bob in its waves. They lay out and splash around. This is the best that summer offers, in our opinion. A trip to the beach sounds mighty fine right now, in fact. Just remember the suntan lotion, and some good reading material in newsprint.