Five Reasons To Visit Chicago For Spring Break
When deciding where to go on spring break, generally locations like Florida or California may spring to mind. However, in addition to its own beach, Chicago has something for everyone in your group whether it be cultural, active or epicurean. Here is just a sampling of five reasons why you should choose Chicago this year for your spring break getaway.
Spring Awakening Music Festival
Soldier Field
1410 Museum Campus Drive
Chicago, IL 60605
(312) 235-7000
www.springawakeningfestival.com
Date: June 13-15, 2014
Party inside historic Soldier Field (U.S. Cellular Field) by attending the Spring Awakening Music Festival! With several stages to choose from and three days to attend, the Spring Awakening Music Festival is perfect if your spring break coincides with early June. You can get all kinds of swag before or after the event as well as check out your favorite acts. There's something for everyone with the variety of stages and if you get tired, go sit in the bleachers and people watch.
Wrigley Field Tours
1060 W. Addison St.
Chicago, IL 60613
(773) 404-2827
www.chicago.cubs.mlb.com
Take a fun and historic tour through Wrigley Field. A knowledgeable guide will show you through the field, the locker room and the press box all while telling related stories as you go (be sure to avoid touring on a game day if you're set on taking pictures and going through the locker room). Wrigley Field is steeped in so much history that even if you're not a baseball fanatic, you will be genuinely interested in the tour. Visit a must-see spot in Chicago and come away with new appreciation for both the field and the sport.
Chicago CityPASS
Valid at several museums
Chicago, IL
(888) 330-5008
www.citypass.com/chicago
If you love museums of all kinds, Chicago is your city. Get a Chicago CityPASS delivered to your door or choose printable vouchers and print them at your convenience. The passes are valid for nine consecutive days so you can choose what museums you want to see depending on how you feel that day. CityPASS offers discounted rates to The Shedd Aquarium, The Field Museum, Skydeck Chicago, The Hancock Center, The Adler Planetarium, The Art Institute and the Museum of Science and Industry. Many of the vouchers have a fast pass option which allows you to skip to the head of the line when you get there. Often there is a VIP option with the voucher as well.
Architectural Tour
Chicago's First Lady
112 E. Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60611
(847) 358-1330
www.cruisechicago.com
Ask anyone who's visited Chicago and they will say that the architectural boat tour is one of the best and most memorable tours they've been on. Who doesn't enjoy kicking back on a boat and sailing down the river, and a bonus is learning about architectural marvels along the way. If you've been incredibly active on your visit, the tour can be the perfect way to take a physical break while still taking in the sights of the city. Food and drink are available for purchase on the tour as well and there is a covered area to duck underneath if it does start to rain.
Steve's Segway Tours
155 N. Harbor Drive
Chicago, IL 60601
(312) 946-9467
www.stevessegwaytours.com
Get goofy and try out one of those Segways that you've seen on TV but never had a chance or a reason to pilot. Another good way to rest the feet and still take in the sights, Steve's Segway Tours guides you through the downtown lakefront while providing historical and factual information about the various monuments you'll come across. The tour is also a great way to cram in several things that you want to see, but perhaps don't need to take a separate trip to experience properly, like Buckingham Fountain for example. The tour guides train each person and oversee some practice runs before heading out on the tour, so you need not be afraid of falling off.
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Meredith Lyons is an actor, competitive fighter and fitness instructor in Chicago who also owns an amazing cat named Jake. Meredith has been writing on Examiner as the Chicago Martial Arts Examiner since 2008. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.