Amy Bizzarri 2021-02-04 10:50:27
SOAK UP SOME SUNSHINE WITH THESE FUN OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES PLAN A DATE AT THE LAKE The fun begins at Navy Pier. Take a whirl on the Pepsi Wave Swinger’s high-flying swings in Pier Park or soar into the clouds on the Centennial Wheel. Don’t miss the summer Navy Pier Fireworks that light up the lakefront every Wednesday and Saturday night. Don your swimsuit for a dip at Oak Street Beach, located just off The Magnificent Mile and best known for its prime people watching. Join in a beach volleyball game at North Avenue Beach. And soak in the incredible skyline views from 31st Street Beach. Gently ride the waves on a stand-up paddleboard (SUP). Chicago SUP offers beachside rentals and instruction on Lake Michigan. Discover the lake aboard a kayak or jet ski. Chicago Water Sport Rentals at 31st Street Harbor rents single and tandem kayaks. And Jet Ski Chicago offers rentals at bustling North Avenue Beach. Set off on a brunch, lunch, or dinner cruise aboard the luxury Odyssey Lake Michigan. The Spirit of Chicago offers buffets and DJs. Spacious dance floors invite you to boogie the night away on a Mystic Blue cocktail cruise. ROLL WITH IT Take off at Maggie Daley Park, where you can rollerblade or scooter on the Skating Ribbon and scale the 40-foot-tall Climbing Wall. Test out new skateboarding tricks at the three-acre Grant Park Skate Park or at Burnham 31st Street Skate Park’s two gnarly bowls. The 18-mile Lakefront Trail is best enjoyed on two wheels. Bobby’s Bike Hike and Bike and Roll Chicago both offer bike tours and rentals, including tandems and trailers. Head west to explore The 606, a picturesque elevated trail that connects four hip Chicago neighborhoods — Wicker Park, Bucktown, Logan Square, and Humboldt Park. You can walk or rent a ride from a Divvy bike share station. Adrenaline junkies can head to Big Marsh Bike Park, a sprawling natural area with bike trails, off-road tracks, and jump lines for BMX riders. TAKE A HIKE Hike or bike the 20-mile North Branch Trail along the Chicago River. Take a break and refuel with a hot dog at the nostalgic Superdawg drive-in. Learn the stories behind Chicago’s historic buildings on a guided Chicago Architecture Center walking tour. MAKE A SPLASH Snap a selfie at “The Bean,” then splash around in the shallow reflecting pool of the interactive Crown Fountain at Millennium Park. Stake out a spot among the sun lovers at Humboldt Beach, nestled beside a scenic lagoon in historic Humboldt Park.
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