With Chicago in the throes of what could be its last warm spell, it's time to start preparing for a cold winter in the city. While the winter months typically bring lower temperatures and fewer hours of daylight, it's also the only time of the year when you can bust out your skates and slide around on ice outdoors.
If you enjoy skating under the skyline, you'll want to hit the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink in Millennium Park, which is scheduled to open on November 13. An opening ceremony at 11am will kick off the skating season, before the public is welcomed onto the ice at 11:35am. As usual, access to the rink is free and skate rentals are available for $12—if you're a frequent skater, you might want to invest in your own pair. The slippery fun is scheduled to run through early March—weather permitting, of course.
Those looking for a slightly different skating experience may want to check out the popular skating ribbon at nearby Maggie Daley Park, scheduled to open sometime in late November.