Chicago is so much bigger than Michigan Avenue and the lakefront. With 77 neighborhoods, there are a lot of great places to uncover.
1. Lakeview: The Music Box
The Music Box is a historic movie theater that opened in 1929 on Southport Avenue in the Lakeview neighborhood. The Music Box has only a single screen with a maximum seating capacity of 750 people. The theater projects both film and digital films and often has theme nights and other events for guests to attend. DePaul students have a great relationship with the theater as well.
2. Lincoln Park: Lincoln Park Conservatory
The Lincoln Park Conservatory is the perfect sanctuary tucked away from the noise of the city. The botanical garden is my favorite spot to take a walk in the Lincoln Park Neighborhood. It is a free green space with several exhibits that are changed seasonally. I often take my homework and work on it in there!
3. South Loop: Lakefront Trail
My second favorite place to walk is the lakefront trail between Diversey Harbor and Adler Planetarium. There are incredible views of the city skyline the entire way, but my favorite spot is at the Adler Planetarium. There are always an array of people enjoying a picnic on the stairs, or friends biking and walking their dogs. You can also hear concerts from the Huntington Bank Pavillion, and see inside the Shedd Aquarium.
4. Chinatown: Ping Tom Park
Chinatown is an underrated neighborhood that is packed full of countless great restaurants and shops to browse. In the spring- and summertime, I love heading down to Chinatown with a few friends to check out the area and any festivals going on. My routine usually consists of getting boba from Joy Yee and walking over to Ping Tom Park. This park offers amazing views of the city skyline and really highlights Willis Tower. The park has great green space and art all around. It is one of my favorite places to bring out-of-town guests!
5. Wicker Park: Ipsento Coffee
Wicker Park is one of the best neighborhoods in Chicago to walk around, get good food, and visit a variety of shops. There are plenty of vintage stores that I like to browse, but my trip to Wicker starts before then. I love to access Wicker Park by the 606 walking trail that begins in Bucktown. The 606 is an old Metra train line that is converted to a walking path for all to use. When I exit at Wicker, Ipsento Coffee is the first stop I make before heading into the rest of the town! Pro-tip: sign up for their reward card!
~Morgan