Staying around town this week? It’s no reason to sit home—there’s plenty to do in the city and ‘burbs over spring break.
We’ve got five great itineraries you can mix and match depending on the weather:
Day 1: Take an architectural tour.
The Chicago Architectural Foundation offers amazing experiences by bus, by train and by foot. If there’s a part of the city you haven’t explored, the CAF is sure to have the tour to cover it.
When you go … Grab lunch along the Pedway. It’s a fun way to explore the lesser-seen side of the city—and stay warm and dry on a blustery day!
Day 2: Daytripper to Morton Arboretum
Make a quick escape to the west side and the Morton Arboretum in Lisle. With acres to explore and nature starting to shake its winter cloak, there’s plenty to see and do. Don’t miss the daily Acorn Express tram tours, or the Wednesday wine tastings.
Photos courtesy of Morton
When you go … Think about a side trip to nearby Naperville for shopping, food and fun.
Day 3: Did you know Chicago has museums?
There are a bunch of great exhibits to see locally, including:
- “Jellies” at Shedd Aquarium
- “Welcome to the Universe” at Adler Planetarium
- “The Machine Inside: Biomechanics” at The Field Museum
- “Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives” at the Museum of Science and Industry
And there’s also free admission on Tuesdays at the Museum of Contemporary Art and Thursday evenings at The Art Institute of Chicago.
When you go … You can save yourself time at the ticket counter by purchasing your admission online—it also guarantees a better shot at a good exhibit entry time.
Day 4: Daytripper to Milwaukee
A quick zip up I-94 and you can spend the day exploring our friends to the North. The Milwaukee Art Museum has a great exhibit on American art, and the nearby Discovery World is all hands-on, with a wicked virtual Les Paul experience for your amateur axe players.
Milwaukee Art Museum; photo: Jeff Millies
Milwaukee Art Museum
700 N. Art Museum Drive, Milwaukee
414-224-7588
Discovery World
500 N. Harbor Drive, Milwaukee
414-765-9966
When you go … Don’t forget the frozen custard. Cold weather be damned, but you have got to get the good stuff. Try Kopp’s and their flavor of the day. And bring me some.
Day 5: Treat the kids to a little hands-on education.
There’s nothing better than learning something without knowing you’re being taught. Both Frank Lloyd Wright and Ernest Hemingway have deep roots in Chicago—so why not learn more, with a tour of The Robie House or the Hemingway family home?
Frederick C. Robie House Tour
5757 S. Woodlawn Ave., Chicago
Tours daily, except Tuesdays and Wednesdays
$12-15 | 312-994-4000
Hemingway Birthplace Home and Museum
200 N. Oak Park Ave., Oak Park
Tours daily, call ahead for groups of 10 or more
$8-10 | 708-848-2222
When you go … Robie House visitors should grab lunch at Medici’s on 57th Street. Oak Park visitors should do themselves a favor and check out the local shopping, too.
