Erin Yarnall

Winters in Chicago are known to be particularly brutal, but that doesn’t mean that the city isn’t any fun throughout the season. Bundle up and head outside to go sledding or snowboarding, check out seasonally-themed activities, and, of course, hit the ice. Chicago, and its surrounding suburbs, are home to plenty of ice rinks to show off your skating skills, or work on them if you're still a novice. You don’t have to be an expert skater, or even own a pair of ice skates, to have a good time at one of the these spots around the city. The best skating rinks in Chicago offer skate rentals, for a fee, as well as lessons to help you skate circles around friends and family. Chicago Park District ice rinks will open November 29. All outdoor rinks operate weather permitting, so call ahead to confirm availability.

It’s been said that the best gifts in life are free, but no one’s really buying that, right? While the sentiment is nice, it’s always fun to see the excitement of opening a hand-selected gift (even if it’s your own excitement about something you bought for yourself). The best gift shops in Chicago are stocked with all sorts of fun and useful items, though finding the perfect one can sometimes be a tricky process—kind of like booking a table at one of the best restaurants in Chciago. We compiled a list to help you navigate where to find the best gift shops in Chicago for any occasion, whether you want to give a funny birthday card, a housewarming plant, a self-care package or something truly extravagant. Less time spent shopping means more time for the best things to do in Chicago!

Winter in Chicago can be pretty brutal—with freezing cold temperatures and icy sidewalks—but there’s still outdoor adventure to be had, especially if you own a sled. While the Midwest isn’t known for its elevation, there are snowboarding and skiing resorts within driving distance as well as some reasonably sized sledding hills throughout the city that are worth a visit, from toddler-friendly bunny hills to a steep “mount” that looms over Palmisano Park. Sledding is not just a daytime activity either—plenty of Chicago parks and forest preserves in the suburbs are lighted, allowing the fun to continue all night (or until the lights turn off). So the next time there's snow on the ground, layer up and head to the best hills in and near Chicago to go sledding. RECOMMENDED: Find more things to do in Chicago this winter

There are few, if any, cities better for food than Chicago. Between all of the city’s incredible restaurants and its large number of local specialties (including deep dish pizza and Chicago-style hot dogs), there’s plenty to choose from when you want something to eat. While you could spend time researching spots to check out, there’s another option when you want to try some of the best bites in the city: Going on a food tour. These experiences take guests to several stops, where they can enjoy smaller portions and sample a variety of foods and beverages. Food tours aren’t just great for quelling hunger pangs (although they are really great for that), they’re also a fun and ideal way to explore different parts of the city. So whether you’re a first-time visitor who wants to see where The Bear was filmed, or a longtime Chicagoan who wants to walk around a new neighborhood, here are some of the best food tours that the city has to offer. RECOMMENDED: Discover how to eat like a local in Chicago

Whether you’re a fan of the classics or prefer something a bit more original, Chicago’s best pie makers are here to please. With a seemingly endless variety of fillings and toppings to choose from, there’s an option for every taste. Key lime purists can head to Bang Bang to get their fix, while those who want to step into a time warp should check out Spinning J. Even gluten-free pies are available, courtesy of Defloured. While many of these offerings are found at the city’s best bakeries, they also serve as tantalizing desserts at seafood restaurants and steakhouses. And you can usually buy them by the slice, but if you’re trying to be the MVP during the holiday season, grab a whole one for the family. So keep reading to see our picks for the best pies in Chicago. RECOMMENDED: Discover the best restaurants in Chicago

There’s no surer sign that fall is coming than seeing pumpkins everywhere—whether used in fancy coffee drinks, recipes or just as decorations, pumpkins are the ubiquitous symbol of autumn. Maybe you don’t love pumpkin spice lattes or pumpkin pies, but it’s hard to deny the appeal of choosing your own gourd at a pumpkin patch. All of the farms and pumpkin patches on this list are within a two hour drive from the city (one is even in Chicago), and bursting with fall fun. After you’ve picked out a jack-o’-lantern, spend the day exploring creative corn mazes, eating apple cider donuts and checking out fall foliage. RECOMMENDED: Your complete guide to fall in Chicago

If you're coming to Chicago, there's no shortage of places to explore—and you shouldn't limit yourself to the Loop. If you want to experience the real Chicago, head for the city's 77 community areas, where you'll find some of the most unique things to do in Chicago and many of the best restaurants in Chicago. Keep in mind that Chicago is a city with excellent public transportation, so a trip downtown to Museum Campus or the "Bean" is only a short ride away (and we won't shame you for sneaking away to try the best deep dish pizza Chicago has to offer). From eclectic dining in Logan Square to a free Mexican art museum in Pilsen, here are the best neighborhoods to stay in Chicago when you visit. RECOMMENDED: 🏨 The best hotels in Chicago🛏️ The best Airbnbs in Chicago

It often feels like the second you step outside, money is immediately sucked from your wallet. Prices for things like concerts, a fancy latte or trendy bars are getting higher and higher, but that doesn't mean that everything in Chicago will break your budget. There are plenty of activities around the city that don't cost a penny. Give your bank account a rest by exploring captivating Chicago museums during free museum days, checking out a beautiful park or laughing out loud during a free show at a comedy club. Our list of the best free things to do in Chicago is here to save you some dough. RECOMMENDED: Our complete guide to the best things to do in Chicago

Often defined by its amazing restaurants, beautiful beaches, lively jazz scene and culturally significant architecture, there's another side to Chicago that most tourists don't get the opportunity to delve into ...  The city has a notorious history of Prohibition-era organized crime and violence, which you can explore by signing up for one of the best Chicago crime tours. Learn the nitty gritty details of the city's dark past as your guide unearths stories that will leave you shocked. While the tours may be a bit eerie, some can be experienced on your own schedule, whether in-person or virtually. Certain tours even make stops at the most haunted places in Chicago to help set the mood. RECOMMENDED: 📍 Check out the full guide to the best Chicago tours🏠 The best Airbnbs in Chicago 🏨 The best hotels in Chicago

Between the best restaurants to try, swankiest bars to visit and events to attend, having a good time in Chicago can be expensive. However, there are still plenty of options for fun on a budget. Chicagoans have access to affordable museums around the city, creative activities that don't break the bank and even a cat cafe. Here are some of the best cheap things to do in Chicago for under $25. And for even more cost-effective options, check out the best free things to do in Chicago. RECOMMENDED: The best cheap eats in Chicago

As the weather turns a bit chillier and the leaves begin to change, it’s not just fall that’s upon us, but spooky season. Autumn is the perfect time to watch horror movies, tell scary stories and walk through haunted houses. If you’ve ever wanted to have a real paranormal encounter, though, Chicago has plenty of destinations to try and make that happen. Historic buildings aren't the only places that have reported hauntings—music venues, cemeteries and hotels all have ghost stories surrounding them as well. So for those who are looking for more than pumpkin patches and corn mazes this fall, we’ve put together a list of some of the most haunted spots in Chicago that offer a truly chilling experience. RECOMMENDED: Our complete guide to Halloween in Chicago

Summer in Chicago is fun, but the city really stands out in the fall when the trees start to change colors, a slight chill permeates the air and there's an abundance of autumnal activities to take part in. One of the most fun ways to celebrate the season? Visiting a corn maze. It’s nearly impossible to find one in the city, as you need a pretty large field, but we've traveled just outside of Chicago to nearby suburbs to find find a wide array of farms and orchards that have creative and sometimes daunting corn mazes to get lost in (plus apple picking). Open through the end of October, some of them serve as a festive way to get into the Halloween spirit as well. So make the most of the season with a fun-filled day at the best corn mazes near Chicago. RECOMMENDED: Find the best pumpkin patches near Chicago

DePaul University students use The Ray to help avoid the freshman 15, but it’s not just for students. Undergraduate students have the membership cost included in their tuition, but graduate students, staff, faculty and members of the community can purchase memberships with community memberships costing $91 per month. The 12,000-square-foot open fitness area has more than 100 pieces of cardio equipment, free weights and strength equipment. The gym also offers up a six-lane swimming pool, a banked jogging track, racquetball courts and more than 40 group classes each week.

If you’ve ever craved a private space to work out beyond your home office or living room, The Gym Pod, a cluster of repurposed shipping containers in Fulton Market, is ideal. The Gym Pod offers five different types of pods, each equipped for various types of workouts—the gym pod, which comes equipped with free weights and a cardio station; the spin pod, where spin classes are available; the flow pod, which offers yoga, dance barre and martial arts classes; the rumble pod for anyone looking to improve their boxing or MMA; and the grit pod, which has three weight training stations.

You don’t have to be ready to rumble in order to have a good workout at Gold Coast’s Rumble Boxing—the gym welcomes first-timers and breaks down each of the six punches they’ll be using during class five minutes before it begins. Like a boxing match without a knockout, classes consist of 10 rounds, alternating back and forth between boxing on bags and strength and conditioning, making sure you’re ready to jab, cross and hook with the best of them.

If you’ve heard your really in-shape friends talking about CrossFit and thought you should give it a try, then look no further than MagMile CrossFit. The gym offers several different membership options, including drop-in options for either a day or a week for those who are curious about the workout but not ready to dedicate themselves to it just yet.

Since opening in 1997, Cinema Chatham has been owned by a number of different companies, and has closed and reopened several times. After shuttering due to Covid-19, the South Side multiplex was purchased by Emagine Entertainment, and reopened in August 2021, showing the latest blockbusters to hit the silver screen.

Before she started working with My Block, My Hood, My City, Ashanti Marshall says that, despite living in Chicago, she and many teenagers like her hadn't actually seen much of the city. Marshall, who's currently a sophomore at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, first started working with the Chicago-based nonprofit four years ago and is now much more familiar with the city's 77 neighborhoods—including her own, North Lawndale. My Block, My Hood, My City aims to provide educational programs and field trips to underprivileged youth communities throughout Chicago (which, by the way, was just named the second best city in the world according to Time Out readers). It was founded in 2013 by Jahmal Cole after he spent time volunteering at Cook County Juvenile Detention Center. According to Ernesto Gonzalez, the nonprofit's marketing manager, while working at Cook County Cole heard young people talk about their blocks and their hoods, but never the city as a whole. From there, Cole started an after-school program and the organization grew from there. "We're one of the fastest-growing nonprofits in the city," Gonzalez says. It's very local work, but with a loud purpose For the past five years, My Block has been hosting youth-led community walks through neighborhoods like Marshall's native North Lawndale. She's one of many young people leading community walks through their own Chicago neighborhoods, giving historical context and sharing what makes their blocks special. "I rea

One of the distinctive features of the West Loop is its vast collection of street art created by numerous artists, present amid the streets lined with restaurants and on the side of overpasses and railway embankments. Painter and muralist Jenny Vyas is one of those artists whose work has helped to shape the former industrial area, adding splashes of color and creativity to the trendy destination for nightlife and dining that it has become. A self-taught artist, Vyas first became inspired to paint while recovering from a breakup in 2013. She said that much of her work is inspired by “a lot of the darkness in life that we don’t really talk about.”. Her latest show, “Awaken,” opened last month and is on display at Pilsen Yards through October 31. The show features 15 of Vyas’ paintings, all of which center on themes of vulnerability and finding strength through exploring one’s own demons. “It’s the show I’ve been working toward for the last five years so it’s been really great to bring it all together,” Vyas said. “It’s my largest body of work, ever.” Although she’s originally from India, Vyas has lived in Chicago for more than two decades and considers the city to be her home. “I love the inclusivity and different cultures in Chicago,” Vyas said. “I’ve been to so many cities in America and the feeling of home that you get, it’s very much integral in Chicago. You can go to a bar and make friends that night.” One of the painter and muralist’s favorite neighborhoods in the city is