(Kari's Rating 7.5/10)…read more TLDR -Up-to-Date equipment -Work from home spaces -Convenient Healthy Market Came with a friend to hang out on a Wednesday around 5:30pm to see what East Bank Club is all about. After seeing all the crazy amenities which were super cool with a ton of variety, I think the thing that surprised me the most is how up-to-date all of the equipment was and the variety of activities they had for people to enjoy. If you're looking for an all encompassing workout/work space, this is it! They have everything from full-size tennis courts, to a golf simulator-like set up,except you get to hit into an inflatable pillow! They also had plenty of Pickleball courts, and they offer so many different workout group classes.both a wet and dry, sauna, and tons of treadmills and free weights. I was also really impressed that they also had a physical training area. So think something that was my personal favorite and the best thing for Chicago Summers is a beautiful rooftop pool and lounge area. Not only did they have two outdoor pools (one for adults and one for kids) but they also have an indoor pool as well for winter as well as an indoor hot tub! They also had a common area workspace where people can come to take meetings and do their work from home gigs. You could practically move in here haha! As of right now, it is a $750 new membership fee as well as $295 a month, which is a pretty hefty chunk of change if you ask me considering most of the high rises around, have some kind of rooftop pool and workout area. It is cheaper if you join with a domestic partner or if you're between the ages of 16 and 29-see pic for current pricing. They also sometimes host social events which is super fun to meet everyone else in the club, but at the same time I think it is more of an investment in your future and your future health if you can afford it! I will not be joining at the moment, but hey-that could change anytime if I decide I should be on a health kick.

Just here to update my previous review. Still a very very good gym in the city (or should I say…read moreclub) - with everything you really could want for an entire day..,.work out? Check. Lunch? Check, swimming, tennis, golf, childcare, the list goes on. You can even get your clothes cleaned and your car washed. One drawback is the price. It is very pricey (with rates going up in 2026).., I don't really want to think about how much more I'm paying since I joined. However, I've easily spent entire days here swimming and working and working out so I guess I can't complain too much. Their spa is also great though it can get busy and in the summer the pool is a total scene (and packed). New locker rooms are underway (men's done and women's getting close) with new features and upgraded lighting and fixtures. Worth it if you don't mind paying for the amenities (and be careful with the house charge account ... it can get surprising!)

The wife and I visited "The Bean" and the surrounding area for a bit…read more The mirrored bean is cool and drew a hefty crowd on this Saturday afternoon. It is pretty massive and iconic for this city. I captured some fun "funhouse" type reflection images of us in it. This area with the river makes for a nice walk and visual architecture splendor on full display. There were some huge mural water fountain art displays nearby. During the summertime water runs vertically down them.

My friend and I were recently traveling to Chicago, and we stayed along Michigan Avenue. We didn't…read morerealize until arriving that it was so close to Millennium Park, which we spent part of one afternoon exploring. Like every other tourist, we took photo after photo at Cloud Gate, also known as "The Bean." We wandered through the rest of the Millennium Park Campus and found the entire area to be quite delightful. It was hard to believe that only yards away were busy streets and hotels and buildings. I was impressed with the level of security in place at each of the two park entrances. There are metal detectors in place and bag searches for a variety of prohibited items from weapons, explosives, fireworks, and open flames to noise makers, narcotics, drugs, and animals (other than service animals). The lines moved quite quickly. The officers were friendly but clearly focused on keeping everyone entering the park safe. Millennium Park is a world leader of art and architecture in a public, outdoor, urban setting. The Millennium Park Campus includes the Lurie Garden, the Chicago Cultural Center, Maggie Daley Park, the Art Institute of Chicago, and Harris Theater. The Lurie Garden is the Millennium Park's 'secret garden'. This naturalistic garden is a place of rest and renewal for humans and wildlife alike. There are also many events from summer workouts, summer music series, and summer film series to a variety of different festivals. The Millennium Park is open daily from 6 AM to 11 PM, and there is no cost for admission. The Welcome Center is open from 9 AM to 5 PM daily. The Lurie Garden will be closed through early July though. There is nearby parking in the Grant Park Garages (North & South) and the Millennium Park and Millennium Lakeside Garage. You can pay in person at each garage or pre-pay online. You can also take the CTA to Millennium Park where $5 will cover your entire trip. You can learn more about the Millennium Park at https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/millennium_park.html. If you're in Chicago, you need to visit the Millennium Park!

Urban Kayaks ended up being one of the highlights of our quick weekend trip and was such a fun…read morelast-minute decision. Their location right on the Riverwalk is incredibly convenient and surrounded by gorgeous architecture, bars, and restaurants, making it easy to turn into a full evening downtown. The check-in process and safety/education class were simple, informative, and very beginner friendly. Our tour guide, Drew, was absolutely phenomenal. He was kind, funny, incredibly knowledgeable, and did a fantastic job making sure everyone felt comfortable and had a great time. He kept the group moving at a pace that worked well for everyone, which made the experience feel relaxed and enjoyable. We chose the sunset tour and highly recommend it. Seeing the golden glow reflect off the Chicago buildings from the water was stunning and such a unique way to experience downtown Chicago. The tour lasted about two hours and covered roughly two miles, making it the perfect light workout before heading out for late-night sushi afterward. You should definitely expect to get a little wet from paddle splashes, but that's part of the fun. Overall, it doesn't require a ton of physical effort, just a willingness to laugh, paddle, and enjoy yourself!

Came here a few months back in the summer and it was a great experience! If you even remotely are…read moreinterested or enjoy kayaking, you should absolutely try with urban for their downtown river tour! Drew and Caroline gave an excellent tour, as they were friendly, funny and were enthusiastic about sharing the unique information about the architecture downtown. The requirements are pretty straightforward, as they teach you all you need to know and the kayaks are well kept. The tour is about 2 miles overall and 2 hours in total. A bit pricey but I would say it's more than worth it for the experience and I would rent with them again.

My son started coming here with his baseball team for winter training. Now he's taking group…read morelessons to help with his speed, agility and endurance. Brennan is great with him. He pushes him just enough out of his comfort zone but also makes sure Joey feels confident in the end. Brennan also talks about the importance of fuel for the body. He'll offer us suggestions on foods that might serve more purpose for a teenagers body vs what we eat. Without a doubt, Joey will be ahead in the game come season. Also, they have classes adults on the other side so you don't feel lazy watching your kid do planks and suicides.

From the owner: We are the industry leading, youth athletic performance system in the world. More athletes in the…read moreParisi system are reaching college athletics than any other performance based program in the country and now worldwide. From ages 7-22, come try out Parisi's signature, speed and strength training programs. Teams, athletes, and coaches alike will benefit from the programs in place.

A fun fitness day with the girls! We tried rock climbing at Brooklyn boulders and it was…read morechallenging but fun. S/O to Lamuna (I hope I'm spelling that correct) , she was such an amazing guide for our visit. We got to try different level climbs and then the tall wall for the finale. I really enjoyed this experience! I loved the challenge the tall wall gave me but forgot I had to come down and got nervous to jump lol all in all, 10/10 experience would go again!

The wall and climbing are great, however the parking situation is horrible. Also, and this is the…read moremain reason for my ZERO STAR review, they switched over to a new computer system and deleted my 10-pack and would not transfer it over despite the fact that I had proof of purchase. Crooks. A 10-pack is worth $261 (see photo). In my opinion they stole 2 weeks of groceries from me! They should not be able to get away with things like this. From other 1 star reviews, it seems behavior like this is a trend for them.

One Facebook ad, quick online reservation, and here we are Thanksgiving weekend floating down the…read moreriver in a hot tub in 20 degree weather...AND we would do it again! Here's what to know: -Make the reservation online days or weeks in advance so everyone can complete/sign waivers online well in advance -A couple of days before your date, the person who made the reservation will receive a text w/ additional waiver to sign and a training video on safety. Complete prior to date as it reduces the amount of time to check-in -Yes, they do ask for the credit card that was used to pay for the reservation, their ID, and they have to be at check in -There are a lot of fees for misuse and misconduct so definitely read the documents -once checked in, a team member walks you to the marina area and the changing rooms; the bathrooms are near the changing area and require a key to enter -The bathrooms and changing area are heated -The changing area has a few lockers to keep your belongings safe and you are responsible for keeping the key (if you lose there is a fee) -Once in your bathing suit, keep your shoes on, warm hat, and jacket -The boat doesn't have areas to keep your stuff so keep most of your items in the locker -A team member will walk you to your boat and there is a covered plastic crate that you will put your coat, locker key, and shoes in -There is a walkie talkie on your boat so you can stay connected w/ your assigned team member -The water is very warm and you can control the heat off/on -Make sure the entire group pays attention to how to drive the boat, it's def a team project -The boat doesn't not go very fast but turns seamlessly so give yourself grace for figuring how it maneuvers -Yes you are on the water w/ big water taxi boats and tourist boats; they definitely make waves and will push your boat out of their way -You can drive the boat w/in a 5 block radius -We had the most fun just floating in one of the "pier" type areas; sooo many people bundled up walking near the river said hi, took pics of us, and asked about our experience -You will stay warm the entire time, it was sooo hot sometimes we stood up just to cool off If you are thinking about this experience just grab some friends and do it! We are already talking about doing it again and bringing some friends!

When I asked if I wanted to cruise down the Chicago River in the middle of February, I first…read morethought my husband had lost his mind. However, once I saw the hot tub option I decided to be open minded and boy am I happy I did. The company has great communication and Devante, our crew member, was very helpful and friendly. We had 90 minutes but honestly because you can only cruise between a bridge span of three blocks we came back early. Just know that you are the one driving the boat so you definitely have to take somebody who is willing to be the designated captain. Overall, a really fun experience and I would try it again in the summer..

One of my favorite things about visiting Chicago was all of the gorgeous gardens. In addition to…read moremaking the city beautiful they are free to visit. You can find the Daniel L. Flaherty Memorial Rose Garden in Grant Park. It is located just north of the Buckingham Fountain. In 1963 Daniel L. Flaherty with help of the Chicago Horticultural Society and the Chicago Central Area Committee planted the original rose garden with 8,000 roses of more than 120 varieties. Flaherty was the parks general superintendent at the time Mayor Richard J. Daley dedicated the garden on May 8, 1963, Although designed with the best intentions some of the roses were not best suited for Chicago winters. The Chicago Peace Rose was one such hybrid tea rose that could not tolerate the harsh winters and overcast days that allowed diseases to proliferate The garden dwindled down to 3,000 roses in 30 varieties. In 2002 the Chicago Park District dug up and gave away 250 rose bushes of the hard-to-manage, delicate hybrids and replaced them with 16 hardy varieties of shrub roses instead of the tea roses. Roses are even more difficult to grow in south Florida's tropical climate so it was a real treat to see so many lush and colorful flowers blooming. In addition to the roses there are four circular fountains with bronze figures installed in the center of each: Dove Girl, Turtle Boy, Crane Girl, Fisher Boy. The fountains were created by artist Leonard Crunelle (1872-1945), who was well known for sculpting figures of children. Crunelle was born in Pas de Calais, France in 1872. He emigrated to Brazil, Indiana, in 1882 before making his way to Chicago as a student and apprentice of famed sculptor Lorado Taft. He settled down in Chicago and lived here until his death in 1944, at the age of 72. I love how the nature of the flowers frames the art of the fountains. This was one of many places I enjoyed taking pictures of in the city.

Another great part of Grant Park is this small area north of Buckingham Fountain. Grant Park has a…read moreRose Garden. It may not be big but it still has lots of flowers to see and smell. Have a seat at one of the many benches. There's good views of the skyline from here. It conveniently is just north of Buckingham Fountain. Just walk north until you get to the white arches and you'll be here. The Rose Garden is very easy to overlook. Lots of other great things in this park get more attention. You have to remember to see this. Best time here is in the late spring when the roses bloom. The roses in the shaded areas look better in summer. Be sure to check this out when you're in Grant Park. It's easy to forget with all the other stuff. The park is nice for a hangout with someone because it looks and smells terrific.

Great facility open year around BUT CLOSED FOR SCHOOL…read moreHOLIDAYS! Spa and sauna are super nice. The rec app says there is a Pilates reformer but no classes to sign up. Testing to find out if true.

**UIC Swim Classes: A Budget-Friendly Option for Kids**…read more We enrolled in UIC Swim Classes for our 1.5-year-old and found it to be a solid, budget-friendly option. At $22 per session, the classes offer structured swim lessons at a more affordable rate compared to other local options. There is a chill vibe that works great for a 1st learner, but the level of rigor is lower than Goldfish so we switched there once we got off their wait list. Classes are sold in 5 week packages, and reschedules are not typically allowed. The class structure follows a set sequence of exercises. Instructors are friendly, but engagement is inconsistent. While they guide kids through various activities, the level of encouragement and feedback varies, with some instructors mentally checking out after providing initial directions. The UIC facility itself is quite nice - The water is comfortably warm and there are changing areas. Parking is available but paid for a few dollars. Note that your access is restricted to within 15 minutes of class time, so don't go too early. Though there are fewer opportunities for underwater practice and confidence-building dips, the parent/tot classes are primary about getting your kid comfortable in water. Overall, UIC Swim Classes deliver decent value for the price, though parents seeking a more intensive training that will get kids swimming faster may want to explore Goldfish.

We visit Chicago a few times a year to see family and a walk along the Lakefront Trail is a must…read moredo, in almost every weather. Despite the chilly conditions yesterday, we had a nice walk and my son had fun collecting shells. It's great in the summer, when you can swim at the beaches. There are also dog friendly beaches so your pup can play too!

The Chicago Lakefront Trail is a scenic walk alongside Lake Michigan. The lake is so large and…read moreexpansive, you forget it's a lake. It feels like you are looking out at the ocean, except that it's so filthy, with no sand. You're reminded it's freshwater because there are so many geese along the trail, on the grass, and in the water. Bird doo doo everywhere, too. The waters are choppy. I even saw a sunken boat. Someone's not going to be happy finding out that their boat sank. Since I visited during the fall season, even though it was cold and windy, the skies were blue with fluffy white clouds in the sky. Handful of joggers and a few tourists taking selfies by the water.

It was a random 60-degree day in late March here in Chicago. I personally have been wanting to…read morecheck out "Maggie Daley Park" in downtown. With that thought, let the exploration begin! Of course we took our kids along because they would be the ones who could take full advantage of the facilities. The park itself was quite large, but we went for the kids playground. Signs were clearly marked for direction so we got to our destination with no difficulties. Our boys definitely enjoyed the suspension bridge, though my younger one was hesitant to go on first. I did see some older kids who were climbing "outside of the bridge infrastructure. There was a note to remind anyone not to do so. Oh well, it is what it is. Even if some accidentally fell when doing risky tricks, the soft padded ground would reduce the impact. On the other hand, there was one section of playground exclusively for children older than 5 years old. The slide seemed to be more advanced for young toddlers for sure. Therefore, we performed our sightseeing duty and walked away since our munchkins were 2.5 and 4.5 years old. Our older one enjoyed the straight slides. I liked that fact there were multiple slides with various speeds so that kids would not get bored on staying on the same one. Normally I wouldn't recommend anyone to drive to downtown but we did this time. My partner was able to secure a spot via SpotHero at the Harris Theater for a reasonable price. I got there much later than our scheduled arrival time yet he was able to extend for another 30 minutes in the app. Overall, we highly recommend parents to visit "Maggie Daley Park" and let the kids release some energy. We probably will be back again to poke around other areas when spring and summer in Chicago are in full bloom.

We met friends with their kids at the Maggie Daley Park area of Chicago's Millennium Park before a…read moreday of shopping (Feb 2026). It's a bit of a walk in, and the path from the southwest corner of the park at Columbus & Monroe is longer but less-steep than the winding path uphill from the southeast corner at Lakeshore & Monroe. You get some lovely views of downtown Chicago. We continued past the (seasonal, of course) ice-skating ribbon, because we were not prepared to skate. There are several play areas of swings, slides, and climbing structures, some intended for (and with signs to indicate) specific age ranges. The giant slides and towers, and the ship-shaped climber, were very popular. Busy, but not over-crowded. It was quite entertaining, and we played there over 1.5 hours!