Experiences Not to Miss in Chicago in Summer

Summer is in full swing in Chicago. On the north side, the sound of Cubs fans cheering echos through the neighborhood on game days. Sidewalk patios spill out of storefronts, the Lakefront Path is packed with runners and bikers from morning 'til night, and from above, the colorful dots of people on North Avenue beach look like someone spilled a pack of Skittles on a beige carpet. All too soon, the freezing temperatures of winter will return, but for now, locals and tourists are soaking in every last second of the season. Here are a few experiences not to miss during Chicago's summer.

Walk, run, bike or blade down the Lakefront Path

Photo Credit:  Ayrcan

Chicago's 18.5 mile long Lakefront Path stretches from downtown north along the shores of Lake Michigan, through several parks and past beaches and playground, taking in beautiful views of the city skyline along the way. Even if you aren't interested in physical activity on your trip, it's worth a walk just for some prime people watching.

See some live music, for free

Chicagoans love their summer festivals, and it seems there's at least one every week from July into September. The theme may range from the celebration of a neighborhood to a cuisine to a culture, but the ingredients are all the same: good food and drinks, plenty of people, and live music. Most festivals are free or cost only a few bucks for entry and feature local and national acts as well as popular local cover and tribute bands. You can also hear live music for free in Millennium Park, which hosts several live music events throughout the summer. Or ride the train to Ravinia where you can picnic to the sounds of music under the stars.

Get out on the water

Photo Credit:  caribbeanfreephoto

Chicago is home to the largest municipal harbor in the US, and getting out on the water is favorite summer activity for residents. If you don't happen to know some locals with a boat, you can still enjoy the city's setting on Lake Michigan by renting a kayak or standup paddleboard, taking a sailing lesson or booking a Lake or River cruise. A favorite among many, the Architecture Foundation River Cruise takes passengers on a tour of the city's most famous and impressive buildings, with entertaining and informative commentary from Foundations docents. On the cheap, you can also hop aboard the River Taxi and ride it from Michigan Avenue to Chinatown.

Drink at a rooftop bar

During summer, everyone just wants to spend as much time outside as possible before the return of the cold, dreary winter weather. So they hit the beach, dine alfresco, attend outdoor festivals, and even take their nightly cocktails under the stars. Places like Roof at the Wit and Zed451 open rooftop decks around late May and stay packed all summer long. Some bars even offer movies on their rooftop decks on certain summer evenings.

Party on North Avenue Beach

Photo Credit:  Joshua Mellin

There are 15 swimming beaches on Chicago's 26 miles of beachfront, each with a different personality. There are more family-friendly beaches, quieter beaches, and dog-friendly beaches, and then there's North Avenue Beach. The busiest beach in Chicago, it offers several volleyball nets and is the place to see and be seen while you work on your tan. It also offers prime viewing spots for the annual Air and Water Show in August.

Pack your picnic from a farmer's market

There are dozens of farmer's markets in Chicago around the city, including the excellent Green City Market, located near the Lincoln Park Zoo. And they offer a lot more than just fresh produce and locally-raised meat. You'll also find artisal cheeses, breads, pastries and sweets, plus freshly-prepared foods like Italian donuts, crepes, smoothies, and burgers, perfect for packing your picnic basket for a day at the beach or in the park.

Katie Hammel writes BootsnAll's Chicago travel guide, your guide to things to do in Chicago, plus where to stay and what to eat in the Windy City.

Top 5 Summer Music Festivals Worldwide

Every now and then we like to write about sites we love!  Lately, I've been checking out eventseekr, which offers people up-to-date information about upcoming entertainment and events.  Since summertime is underway, we kindly asked them to share their thoughts on what the best music festivals are out there.

Although we are wrapping up the month of June, and a good portion of the summer music festival season has passed (Coachella, Glastonbury, etc.), there is still a beautiful bevy of festivals around the world to look forward to this summer. Here’s a look at five of the greatest crowd-pleasers.


SF Outside Lands

Photo Credit:   saketvora

SF Outside Lands has provided even greater incentive for travelers to come tour the City by the Bay ever since the festival’s inception back in 2008. San Francisco is quite the concrete jungle, but the festival makes its home in Golden Gate Park’s luscious green pasture. Parking can be difficult to find in San Francisco, so your best bet on getting to the festival each day is the MUNI bus system. Although still in its toddler years, Outside Lands has carved out its own place in the summer music festival calendar, traditionally during the second weekend of August. In the festival’s inaugural year, the headlining spots were held by Jack Johnson, Tom Petty and the always illuminating Radiohead. This year, festival lovers can expect to not only rock out to Muse and Arcade Fire, but jam to two full sets by Phish.

Lollapalooza

Photo Credit:  J. Longstreet :I:

What was once a traveling music festival of chaotic fun can now be found in one single place, Chicago’s Grant Park. After 20 years, Lollapalooza, co-founded by Jane’s Addiction’s Perry Ferrell, celebrates their 2011 edition with Coldplay, Foo Fighters, My Morning Jacket and Muse as their four big headliners. Also in store for the festival’s anniversary is the expansion of their dance tent, Perry’s Stage, which takes its name after the Jane’s Addiction front-man. Chicago is no stranger to great live music and the small clubs that often host, so it’s no wonder that ever since making the Windy City its permanent home after the 2005 edition, Lollapalooza has also become renowned for its many official after-shows that are headlined by Lollapalooza artists.

Roskilde

Photo Credit:  CoreFudge

One of the biggest music festivals in Europe, Roskilde is held in the Denmark city of the same name. Most, if not all, bands who perform at Roskilde play sets of at least one-hour, a fact that sets this festival apart from others across Europe. Being one of the largest festivals in the world, Roskilde runs the gamut of musical genres, including electronic, hip-hop, metal, local Scandinavian sounds, and everything in-between. If you’re daring enough, why not participate in the Nude Run, which is exactly what you think it is. One male and one female winner are chosen, with the victors given free a free festival pass for the next year’s edition of the festival. Portishead, Arctic Monkeys, Iron Maiden and Mastadon are among this year’s big headliners.

Fuji Rock

Photo Credit:  *key1jp

Held at the Naeba Ski Resort in Niigata Prefecture, Japan, this year's Fuji Rock is sporting some major names, including the likes of Coldplay, the Chemical Brothers and Incubus. DJ Steve Aoki and 80kidz are among the musical acts in the electronic dance-music (EDM) scene that will be melting faces and inducing dance parties in the smaller tents. Fuji Rock is truly an international music festival with more than 200 acts hailing from Japan and around the globe. First held in 1997, the festival that year was held at the base of Mount Fuji. Whether you’re a connoisseur of music or just good times, why not plan your trip to Japan to coincide with one of the biggest music festivals in the world?

Reading and Leeds

Photo Credit:  Ian Wilson

Essentially, Reading and Leeds are the same festival, but not really. Although both festivals feature practically identical lineups (on the same weekend no less), the two festivals are held in different cities in England, Reading and Leeds. The Reading Festival is the oldest of its kind. Having debuted as the National Jazz Festival in 1961, the first incarnation of the Reading Festival, and all the years since, has served as the boilerplate for what travelers and music enthusiasts have come to know and love about international music festivals. Whether you’re attending Reading or Leeds this year, you can expect to see the likes of Pulp, 30 Seconds to Mars, Friendly Fires, 2ManyDJs, and a whole host of others.

It may already be July, but the calendar is still packed with events, no matter where your travels take you! For more information on concerts, festivals, museum exhibits, and more around the world, check out the eventseekr website or download their handy mobile app for Android or iPhone and iPad.

Top 5 Ways to Stay Fit in Hawaii

Whether you've packed on a few pounds and are looking for a lifestyle change or just simply want some help getting bikini-ready for the beach, Hawaii offers tons of ways to stay active and get in shape. As a bonus, with the trade wind breezes and heaps of sunshine, it's the perfect place to take your workout outdoors. Here's just a few of the ways to work off that plate lunch.

Surfing

Photo Credit:  Hawaiian Fire Surf School

With miles and miles of coastline, Hawaii's warm waters are the perfect spot for taking up the "Sport of Kings" and giving surfing a try. If you're a beginner, you may want to consider signing up for a one or two hour lesson, which typically includes safety and technique instruction on land, then practice on the waves. If you're more advanced, you may opt to rent a board and head out on your own. You can also try body surfing, body boarding, or even stand up paddle surfing!

Hiking

Photo Credit:  Malia Yoshioka

Hawaii's lush green mountains make the perfect backdrop for hiking, and there are well-maintained trails available for hikers of all skill levels. Experienced hikers will rave about the Kalalau Trail on the rugged Na Pali Coast of Kauai. Newbies may prefer a shorter climb to Diamond Head or the Manoa Falls hike on Oahu, which pays off with views of a waterfall. On Maui, you can even hike into the crater of a dormant volcano atop Mt. Haleakala. The Big Island's diverse climate zones present opportunities for rainforest and lava rock hikes, or even a glimpse at ancient petroglyphs along the trails.

Running

It's easy to find paths for running in Hawaii. Well maintained parks are often used for road and trail races, so stop by a local running store to see what events may be coming up. The Honolulu Marathon draws close to 30,000 entrants each December with its scenic route and lack of a cut off time. Yes, the finish line stays open until the last runner has crossed, even if it's 15 hours later! Local running clubs welcome visitors to join in their group runs or races.

Boot Camp

Outdoor and beach boot camps have been gaining popularity in the past year or so, especially on Oahu. For a challenging full-body workout and a chance to meet locals, you can't beat a beach boot camp. Most offer early morning classes and you'll find tons of options for sunset or pau hana classes, especially at Oahu's Ala Moana beach park. Drop ins are usually welcome, provided they have enough space. Sure beats working out at the gym!

Yoga

Photo Credit:  Malia Yoshioka

If you're looking for a more gentle way to stretch and tone your muscles, try a yoga class on the beach or in one of Hawaii's many yoga studios. A sunrise or sunset yoga class is a great way to work out some tension in a picture perfect locale. After a hard day of sight seeing or laying around the beach, it may be just what your body ordered!

Malia Yoshioka is the resident Hawaii expert at WhyGo Hawaii. An avid runner, she's currently training for her fifth Honolulu Marathon this December. For more Hawaii travel tips, follow along on Twitter or Facebook.