THIS WEEKEND IN CHICAGO - WINTER ACTIVITIES ABOUND IN & AROUND CHICAGO!
Well, as we say here in Chicago, "if you can't beat the snow, then join it!"
It's time to put on your boots, Parka, scarf, hat & gloves and head out to the great outdoors. There's plenty of winter activities in and around Chicago. Here are a few ideas -
Grab your ice skates and head on over to any of these outdoor ice rinks. Don't have ice skates? That's no excuse because all the ice rinks listed below rent them for a nominal fee.
Daley Bicentennial Plaza Rink located at 337 E. Randolph Street
McCormick Tribune Ice Rink at Millennium Park located at 55 N. Michigan Avenue
Rink at Wrigley located at 1100 W. Addison Street
Have no clue on how to balance yourself on ice skates? Well, there's always plenty to do at the Cook County Forest Preserves, which are open daily from 8:00 a.m. to sunset, and there's no charge for these winter activities -
When snow conditions permit, Sledding and Coasting hills, with or without lighting speed, are located at Dan Ryan Woods, Caldwell Woods, Indian Road Woods, and Schiller Woods, just to name a few.
Or, you can even go Snowshoeing on the trails of the forest preserve of your choice. Snowshoe rental is available throughout the city at such places as the Viking Ski Shop on Fullerton or Eastern Mountain Sports on North Avenue in the Old Town neighborhood.
Or, what about one of the most popular winter activities in the forest preserves these days -- Cross-Country Skiing. Please take note of their Rules of the Trail before venturing out.
The Morton Arboretum located in Lisle (suburb of Chicago) also has a great line-up of winter long activities such as cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, Cool Kids Nature Hikes (20 minute hike followed by a cup of hot cocoa) or the Gnome Hunt (24 gnomes are hiding in the Children's Garden waiting to be found), which both run through February 28th, weather permitting.
If you're game for more of the "thrilling" winter activities, then Villa Olivia Ski Area is the place to go. Located in Bartlett (suburb of Chicago, just a short drive from anywhere in the Chicagoland area) at Route 20 and Naperville Road, Villa Olivia offers the best downhill skiing as well as snowboarding and snowtubing (tickets sold by availability).
Some quick stats on Villa Olivia's downhill skiing are -
Vertical Drop is 180 feet
Total Runs are 9 (20% expert & advanced, 40% intermediate, 40% beginner)
Total Lifts are 6
Skiing Area is 15 acres with an annual snowfall of 2 feet
Don't want to venture out past your home, then head out to your backyard for a good old-fashioned snowball fight, or create some snow angels, or build a snowman or an igloo!
There is absolutely no reason why you should be hibernating! It's character building playing in the white fluffy stuff!! So get out there and enjoy, you might even lose a few of those Holiday pounds while you're at it!!!
SUE MOSS & DEAN'S TEAM CHICAGO
