Before any vacation, constantly research your destination so that you don’t miss something! Are you visiting Chicago and looking for entertaining activities? There are all sorts of activities to check out near Midway Airport. In this article, we will explore entertainment near Midway Airport and things to do in Chicago.
Things to do Near Midway Airport
There are many activities that appeal to all ages near Midway Airport. Midway is an old-school community in Chicago with some entertaining and exciting things to explore. Midway has some of the best playgrounds in Chicago, museums, and candy stores. There is something for everyone.
Marquette Park
Marquette Park is the centerpiece of Midway. The park was designed by Frederick Law Olmsted. The park has a variety of athletic features including baseball fields, a golf course, basketball courts, a spray pool, and tennis courts. Marquette Park also has beautiful public art pieces. The most noted art piece is the monument to Lithuanian-American aviators Steponas Darius and Stasys Girenas.
Cupid Candies
Cupid Candies opened in 1936. It is a small, family-owned business. It is a South Side chain and makes a variety of delicious handmade chocolates. These chocolates include a nice variety from Cupid Turks to English toffee to giant chocolate tortoises.
Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture
The Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture boasts the largest repository of Lithuanian cultural artifacts outside of Lithuania. At the museum, you can explore this eastern European country from prehistory to the present, or view temporary exhibits by Lithuanian-American artists. The Balzekas Museum of Lithuanian Culture has something for all ages. Researchers and genealogists are welcome to look through archives, while kids can try out armor and weaponry inside a mock castle.
Pasteur Park
Pasteur Park has all sorts of activities for kids. The park has baseball, softball, and soccer. It also has a turf field. Pasteur Park also has extracurricular activities for kids. This includes roller hockey, acting/drama classes, tap and ballet, painting, and choir which are all offered throughout the year.
Bluebird Lanes
Bluebird Lanes has been open since 1957. If you’re old school and looking for some good bowling, go visit Bluebird Lanes. This is a perfect place for a birthday party and offers romantic, candlelight bowling.
Hayes Park
Hayes Park serves the Ashburn/Wrightwood community and boasts more than 20 acres of land. The park features all kinds of athletic facilities, most notably, an indoor pool. Bring the whole family down for a game of softball in the summer or for holiday-themed events in the chillier months.
Things to do in Chicago
Chicago has major museums to visit, vibrant shopping districts, and some interesting nightlife venues.
Millennium Park and Cloud Gate
If you’re visiting Chicago for the first time, be sure to stop by Millennium Park and Cloud Gate. It’s located just north of the Art Institute of Chicago. Millennium Park is twenty-five acres and is used to showcase art, architecture, and landscaping. It’s also the perfect backdrop for concerts and festivals. Most notably people visit Millennium Park to see Crown Fountain and Cloud Gate, better known as “The Bean.” There are many other things to do in the park depending on the season. The Millennium Park Summer Music Series offers free concerts at its amphitheater on Monday and Thursday evenings. In the winter, visitors can skate on the Maggie Daley ribbon and Millennium Park’s ice rink.
Grant Park and Buckingham Fountain
Grant Park is often referred to as “Chicago’s front yard.” First-time visitors should plan to spend some time in Grant Park. There are many popular activities and things to do there. These include The Field Museum, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the Shedd Aquarium. Millennium Park also rubs elbows with the northwest corner of Grant Park. The park contains baseball diamonds, flower gardens, walking paths, and wide-open grassy terrain, too.
Art Institute of Chicago
The Art Institute of Chicago features nearly 300,000 works of art from all over the globe. It’s the home to one of the most impressive collections of impressionist and post-impressionist art and many other genres. At the Art Institute of Chicago, you will find pieces created in the Byzantine era, as well as paintings completed just a few decades ago. Highlights include Jacob Lawrence’s “The Wedding,” Georgia O’Keeffe’s “Sky above Clouds IV,” and Grant Wood’s “American Gothic.” Art enthusiasts particularly commend the museum’s impressionist collection, which features pieces from famous artists like van Gogh, Monet, and Renoir.
The Magnificent Mile
When you’re on a trip shopping is a must. The Magnificent Mile is known for its world-class shopping. There are more than four hundred sixty retailers within walking distance in downtown Chicago. The Magnificent Mile is located on a portion of Michigan Avenue and stretches between Lake Shore Drive and the Chicago River. It is full of department stores such as Bloomingdale’s, Neiman Marcus, Macy’s, Tory Burch, and Nordstrom. The Magnificent Mile has some great places to eat and luxury hotels including The Drake, the Sofitel Chicago Magnificent Mile, and the InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile.
Wrigley Field
You can go to Wrigley Field to watch the Chicago Cubs play baseball at the Friendly Confines. History buffs will also appreciate this sports treasure, which first opened in 1914 and holds the honor of being the second-oldest Major League Baseball stadium in the country. If you can’t score game tickets, consider signing up for a guided tour of the ballpark. Basic tours start at $30 per person and children 2 and younger can go for free. The tour lasts 75 to 90 minutes. Travelers who have taken the tour described the experience as nostalgic, noting that they especially loved the stories the guides shared about the teams and fans.
Shedd Aquarium
Shedd Aquarium is one of the world’s largest indoor aquariums, housing around thirty-two thousand creatures. While visiting Shedd Aquarium, you can experience feeling stingrays float beneath your fingers, listen to sea lions bark, and learn all about a variety of turtles. A visit to Shedd Aquarium will lead you through a large variety of habitats. You will also find additional animals like penguins, piranhas, sharks, and beluga whales. For an additional fee, you can participate in specialty experiences like animal encounters, feeding experiences, and virtual reality.
Finally, if you’ve never been to Chicago, it’s worth visiting to check out the many exciting opportunities and a wide variety of activities. There are many other things to do besides this list. Before going to Chicago, remember to do your research so you don’t miss the perfect opportunities for you and your family.
