If you like your winters cold then Chicago is your kind of town. I happen to love the Windy City (no matter what season), but I realize there are many travelers who would prefer a week in Hawaii to seven days in a chilly midwestern metropolis.
Those people don’t know what they are missing.
Of course, the beauty of so many people having that mindset is that traffic is lighter, lines at attractions are shorter, you don’t have to wait for a seat at area restaurants, shops are not packed and area hotels offer incredible winter deals those willing to brave the elements.
The city also goes all out promoting its nine ice rinks and sponsors winter activities at local parks. One of my family’s favorite spots is Millennium Park. No matter the weather, there are always a few hearty souls strolling around the park’s 110-ton stainless steel Anish Kapoor sculpture called “Cloud Gate.” (That’s its official name but most locals simply refer to it as “the bean” because that’s what it looks like). Another thing I love about Millennium Park is that its location provides magnificent views of the city’s skyline. The park is also within walking distance of the skating rink along Michigan Avenue and the Art Institute of Chicago.
Next month the “Museum of Modern Ice” opens at Millennium Park. The icy exhibits will be the centerpieces of the city’s winter celebration. On display will be a massive ice wall called “Paintings Below Zero” and another ice painting you can skate on.
Another city sponsored winter event takes place on February 23rd at Northerly Island, a park that once was a small airport between Soldier Field and Lake Michigan. This year the park will be the site of Polar Adventure Days — an event that features a dog sled exhibit, ice sculptures, and winter storytelling. There will also be a supply of snowshoes that visitors can borrow to trek around the park. And don’t forget your sled. There’s a hill near Soldier Field that has become a popular sledding spot.
Check out my next blog that lists some of the fantastic deals Chicago area hotels are offering to winter wanderers.
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