Fun Activities for Tourists and Family Trips
Lake Michigan, or often called “The Third Coast” is one of the crown jewels of the United States. On its shores sit many gorgeous cities, with Chicago being the largest one. If you’ve never been to the Lake Michigan shores, then you’ll be mesmerized by the ocean-like atmosphere when you get there. Many people more rooted in the city love to organize day trips to lake Michigan, especially during Summer. There are lots of activities you can do on Lake Michigan all year round. Take a look at some of the best places to visit on Lake Michigan, and maybe you’ll get to see them soon with the help of your trusty shuttle service nearby.
Lincoln Park
Starting from the top, we are first going to talk about the famous Lincoln Park. For fine dining, great nightlife, and entertainment, you should definitely go there. This fantastic urban refuge has everything for everyone:
- For a pleasant stroll, you can go to the Lakefront Trail Belmont, where it’s never too hot, even in the Summer. A gentle breeze will keep you fresh while you enjoy the view of the lake on one side and the city skyline on the other.
- Next, you can jump on over to the Picnic Grove for a rest, or join in on the Ultimate Frisbee game on weekends.
- On the way further down, you can enjoy some good Italian food, or eat some authentic American cuisine in one of the restaurants.
- If you are with children, then this place is going to blow their minds. The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum has an excellent educational program for young visitors and their guardians alike.
- After that, it’s only natural to move on to the Lincoln Park zoo, which is a tiny, free zoo with lions, primates, reptiles, a children’s area, and an interactive farm exhibit.
- For Summer activities, you can visit any of the Lincoln Park lakefront beaches and tennis and volleyball courts. All of these places are very family-friendly, clean, and safe.
Cricket Hill
For fun and relaxing time in Chicago in Winter, you can visit the Cricket Hill. It’s located between Montrose Avenue Beach and Lake Shore Drive. This famous sledding place is fantastic for children that want to have a good time. When it’s not snowing, this place is ideal for kite-flying. You can visit in May during the Annual Kids and Kites Festival, a favorite family event, and a harbinger of springtime in Chicago. You can visit any time of the year, and the park will always have something interesting to offer with current district events.
Golf Courses
For golf fans, there is an abundance of courses you can go to on the shores of Lake Michigan. In the past few decades, Chicago lakefront has become one of the most popular golf destinations, especially during the Summer months. Here, you can choose from over 200 golf courses, both regular and mini ones, and have a blast. M&M Bus Charter Chicago recommends a few, like Sydney R. Marovitz, Jackson Park, or Harborside International golf course.
Chicago Children’s Museum
For great family time, making a field trip to the Chicago Children’s Museum might be one of the best choices. With a plethora of programs, this museum offers interactive fun and education to all children. The museum is very accessible and offers different education programs depending on your child’s age, interests, and needs. It’s a very positive and fun place with lots of exciting things to learn through games. The “Dinosaur Expedition” is one of the favorites, where kids dig for bones and conduct archaeological research. This is just one of the many hands-on exhibits at the Children’s Museum, so you can take a look at their program and choose what suits you best.
New Eastside
Visit the residential haven in the middle of the hectic Chicago center. Located next to the shoreline of Lake Michigan, New Eastside is one of the prettiest neighborhoods you can see in Chicago. For fun in nature, you must visit the Lake Shore East Park that offers a lot of activities. If you travel with a dog, you can go and play in the vast dog park there, or take your kids to the children’s playground. However, the best aspect of this park is that it features a fantastic urban botanical garden with gorgeous fountains – perfect for taking memorable pictures. After visiting the park, you can visit one of the many cafes and restaurants for a bite, and then rent a bike and ride around the Lakefront Trail.
Millennium Park & Maggie Daley Park
For more fun family time, hop on down just under New Eastside to find the gorgeous parks where you can do just about anything. The Millenium Park is a vast green area with a video display, the reflective “Bean” sculpture & an outdoor theater. There, you can see the famous sculpture “Cloud Gate,” and take pictures of the Millenium Monument. You can also watch a concert at the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, or look at sculptures at Boeing Gallery North. Besides that, you can find great ice skating rinks, drink some coffee at the Rink Cafe, and take your kids out to the Maggie Daley Park, where there are lots of structures they can climb on. Be careful, though, as it can get crowded and easy to lose sight of the kiddos.
Buckingham Fountain
This historical fountain dates back to 1927. Located in the center of Grant Park, this fountain is one of the largest in the world, so you can’t miss it. Allegorically, this fountain built in a rococo wedding cake style is supposed to represent Lake Michigan. For any nature lover, architecture nerds and public art fans, this is the perfect place to relax, unwind and enjoy the breathtaking view. The fountain features a light-show every hour for 20 minutes from dusk until 10pm. Depending on the weather, these light-shows last from April to October on average. The “wedding cake” design was the genius work of architect Edward H. Bennett. Around the fountain, you will find numerous sculptures, including four sets of Art Deco-style seahorses that represent the four states bordering Lake Michigan.
Shedd Aquarium
The beautiful Shedd Aquarium can introduce you to the kingdom of aquatic animals. This public, indoor, and family-friendly place is awesome for learning and fun. You can watch the exhibit, see some of over 32.000 animals there, and learn a bunch from the friendly staff at the Shedd Aquarium. No questions will be left unanswered! Things to keep in mind though are: weekends are crowded, there’s very little parking space, and tickets are kind of pricey, but that’s a full day of activities for the whole family.
Field Museum
The Chicago Field Museum or the Field Museum of Natural History is one of the largest museums in the world. This world-class museum features a massive collection of specimens and artifacts that numbers in millions. Hundreds of scientists and researchers of this museum travel around the world in pursuit of new knowledge that can be shared there. An all-access pass in this museum can buy you all general admission exhibitions, all ticketed shows, and one 3D movie. The displays cover a considerable amount of topics, from science and nature to history and culture. There’s something new to learn for everyone.
Adler Planetarium
The Adler Planetarium hosts all kinds of events during the year. It’s a perfectly balanced date idea for couples, as well as a good family activity. Learn about astronomy, astrophysics, and ecology at some of their lectures, presentations and exhibits. The Adler Planetarium has three full size theaters, detailed space science exhibitions, the Gemini 12 space capsule, and a significant collection of antique scientific instruments and print materials. The cool “Adler After Dark” has open museum access, sky shows, and views of the Chicago skyline. You can also spend a night under the stars at the Adler!
La Ronda Parakata Gathering Space
For a discrete, beautiful, quiet, and peaceful place to unwind, the La Ronda Parakata Gathering Space is probably one of the best places to go. This spot hidden in the prairie can be reached by taking the Serene wood chip trail. It offers one of the best views of the Chicago skyline, ever. There are fitness and biking tracks nearby, so this is a perfect escape for people that love to bask in nature and silence. There are not many people there, so it’s ideal for introverts that avoid crowds.
Jackson Park
Located on the South Side of Chicago, Jackson Park features a gymnasium, three multi-purpose rooms, and a fitness center. Some green areas are the Japanese styled Osaka Garden, Bobolink Meadows, and flower garden. For outdoor activities, you can go to the golf course, basketball/tennis courts, and other multi-purpose fields. There’s also lots of space for rent. There’s a bunch of kids after-school programs and the popular six-week day camp. Holiday-themed events for the whole family are commonplace, so you can visit there any time of the year.
How to Make a Family Trip to Lake Michigan in Chicago?
With M&M Buses Chicago’s fleet, you can choose from a diverse selection of vehicles for charter transport. You can organize field trips or day trips with your family, coworkers, or friends at any time of the year. Simply book a charter bus with your nearest bus rental agency. M&M Buses Chicago offers different ways of booking group transportation: you can book via the website, email, or call at 312-883-9333. If you live anywhere in the Chicago area, you can book the shuttle service nearby to get to your destination safely and at a reasonable price.