Exploring Chicago

One of the things I love most about going to DePaul is being in the heart of Chicago! There is something going on in the city every day of the week, making it nearly impossible to ever get bored. This week, we’ll be talking about some of my favorite activities for every season!

Autumn

Autumn is personally my favorite season to be in Chicago! The weather is absolutely perfect, and the leaves are just beginning to change colors. Additionally, Halloween is right around the corner and celebrating in Chicago is such an experience! A few of my favorite activities to do around Chicago during this time are, exploring new areas of the city, visiting outdoor markets and attending live music performances. Fall is the perfect time, in my opinion, to explore new neighborhoods and enjoy the comfortable weather before it begins to get colder. On Wednesday and Saturday mornings, the Lincoln Park Farmers Market opens and hosts dozens of local vendors. The market is just a short walk from campus and one of my favorites, though there are plenty of others all around the city. Finally, the fall is my favorite time for live music in Chicago. Many big artists tour in Chicago in the fall and there are plenty of smaller scale concerts held in the parks and other venues!

Winter

Despite the frigid weather, there is still plenty to do in Chicago during the wintertime! Some of my favorite activities include ice skating in Maggie Daley Park, exploring museums and visiting the Lincoln Park Zoo! Ice skating at Maggie Daley is free, while skate rentals will cost you around $15. Additionally, entry to the Lincoln Park Zoo is free and is a major attraction during the holidays due to the famous Zoo Lights! If you prefer to stay indoors as much as possible during the chilly winter months, there are plenty of amazing museums to check out all around Chicago. Many are free entry for students when you bring your student ID, or if not free, your student ID can usually get you a substantial discount!

Spring

In the spring, I LOVE to be outdoors as much as possible. Though there is still much to do around the city in the colder winter months, Chicago winters can be quite harsh and sometimes leave you feeling like all you want to do is curl up in the house and isolate (at least for me!!) This is why the warmer spring weather is such an exciting and busy time for Chicago! Some of my favorite springtime activities are (again) enjoying live music and other live outdoor performances, exploring street festivals and attending the St. Patrick’s Day parade!

Additionally, I love taking a class in the Loop during spring quarter! It’s always so busy downtown during that time of year.

Summer