The Traveller's Magazine
Visiting certain destinations in winter can really give you a whole different perspective on a place. Like Siberia. This is a region that really should be seen covered in snow. In the US, Chicago is a treat to visit in summer but if you find yourself in the Windy City in winter, here are a few tips to help you survive.
Chicago is a city that can be appreciated year-round but winter can be mighty chilly so it’s best you bundle up tight and plan your day right so you don’t end up wandering the streets too long as your nose slowly freezes.
Hit up the city’s museums
Three of the city’s best museums are located on a museum campus: the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planetarium. Plan to visit all three in one go, so you only need to use public transportation once to reach them. Check out the museum’s other events and tours too while you’re there.
Other museums that will definitely keep you busy for a few hours at a time include:
- Art Institute of Chicago
- Museum of Contemporary Art
- Museum of Science and Industry
- Chicago History Museum
- National Museum of Mexican Art
Enjoy the city’s restaurants
Chicago has some really great restaurants, fancy ones and cheap eateries too. To taste the best of the city’s restaurant scene, plan you trip in February, to coincide with the Chicago Restaurant Week where more than 250 restaurants offer prix fixe menus for lunch ($22) and dinner ($33 or $44) for ten days.
Go to the theatre
Is it too cliche to go and see Chicago on stage while on holidays in Chicago? Hardly! With over 200 theatres, offering everything from Broadway to small indie productions, Chicago is a great city to discover something new in the theatre scene.
These companies are definitely worth checking out:
- Steppenwolf Theatre Company
- Lookingglass Theater Company
- Goodman Theatre
- Chicago Shakespeare Theater
If you’re up for a laugh, it’s worth stopping by Second City, one of the best comedy clubs in the world and where many greats got their starts including folks like Dan Aykroyd, Tina Fey and Stephen Colbert.
Embrace winter sports
There’s no better time to go ice skating or try you hand at a bit of ice hockey than in winter. Enjoy an hour or two of outdoor ice skating in Wrigley Field or in Millennium Park (free entry, $12 for skate hire) where the rinks are open until mid-March. For indoor skating, try the John Hancock Observatory.
Why not try a snowshoeing adventure in Northerly Island? If you’re in Chicago under a blanket of snow, sledding is the thing to do. Try Soldier Field Sledding Hill and ride down the 65 metre slope!
Ready to book your flights to Chicago? Don’t be scared to visit in the dead of winter, there’s plenty to see and do!
