Gorgeous health club!! My friend belongs here and I joined her for dinner at the restaurant/grill…read more The food was tasty and excellent service. I was given a 90 minute pass for dinner and they seem strict on the time. My friend also gave me a tour. It's an impressive space!! About 450,000 square feet, spanning across 2 full city blocks and 5 levels. They have everything you can think of: pools (4 pools!), saunas, restaurants, tennis, golf, basketball, boxing, group glasses, weights, machines, pickleball, spa, hair and nail salon, indoor running track, co-working space, and so much more. Beautiful artwork, pristine locker rooms and restrooms. Wow! High ceilings and so much space overall. Nothing felt crowded. Beautiful design and layout. I was in awe and very impressed.

(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.

Because you just have to come to The Bean!…read more This was a really cool sight seeing opportunity and we didn't pass it up

Absolutely gorgeous place to site see. I'm just not a big touristy person with a bunch of people…read moreso, even though it's cold in the winter if you're like I am, I would suggest going when there's less people. The bean was a bit dirty, not sure if someone comes and cleans it but it was still really neat to see. The park itself is gigantic with a lot to see and do. Overall, it's a really cool place to check out.

Had a great time thanks to our guide Matteo, who taught us well, made us feel comfortable, and was…read morejust a fun/funny dude. Would def recommend!

This the best kayaking experience and a great way to view the city. Everyone is so helpful. Can't…read morewait to back

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!

A fun time with friendly staff. The place has several rooms and floors for bouldering and rock…read moreclimbing. They also offer student discounts which is a plus for anyone still in school. We did some bouldering for the first time and it wasn't bad/scary, so if you're on the fence I say just give it a try!

We rented a 8 person electric boat this weekend with the chicago boat company and had a very…read morepleasant experience! The staff was friendly, the boat was clean, and the online booking process was smooth. I even emailed them the morning of our trip because of possible weather issues and the acknowledged my email in a timely manner which was nice they took the time to check it and respond. Highly recommend!

Great boat rental! Kelly was great and super informative. Wonderful experience and highly…read morerecommend. I grew up in Chicago and now live in California. It's nice to come back and do all the tourist things we have never done when living here.

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.

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.

Chicago Lakefront Trail is, as advised, the trail that follows the Lake Michigan Shoreline. It's…read morebeen around forever. This walkway covers a nice section of the lakefront. What you get to see is not only a great view of Lake Michigan, but stunning views of the city, as well. In the summer, you can find a few places to grab a quick drink or a snack. During the winter months, pretty much all of those places are closed down for obvious reasons. But, no matter what time of the year you go there, what you can experience is a great place to get your steps in, as well as a really beautiful view of the lake and the city. The overall maintenance on this lakefront walk is a bit sketchy. In some places, it's really well maintained, whereas other places, not so much. But, as long as you keep your eyes open, you should have no trouble, and you won't fall flat on your face as I have seen some people do due to the concrete either being cracked, risen, or just a little too old to be where it exists. The type of people you encounter along this walkway are as expected: the joggers, the power-walkers, those that are taking a stroll, and a few of the, for lack of better term, less desirable. Yes, occasionally you'll see somebody smoking some crack out along the shoreline, or perhaps having a little too much alcohol to drink. But, that's just all pardoned parcel of the city. Overall, it's a fun place to take a walk, to get between two destinations, and/or just to enjoy nature flanked by the city of Chicago.

My daughter and I visited Maggie Daley Park last week and we had a wonderful time. We found that it…read morewas rather easy to get to the park from several CTA stops. I was worried that the park would be unshaded but our trip in the afternoon offered tons of shade to make the heat less severe. There are tons of different stations to enjoy like the little water park, the pirate ship, lighthouse, big slides, swings, and other play areas. I appreciated the decent bathrooms and the water stations got our water bottle. This park is amazing and worth a visit if you have kids. We will be back.

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.