I don't live in the suburbs, and I don't even wish I did, but every so often you discover one of…read morethese amazing places . . . The Cermak Family Aquatic Center is awesome. A holy-grail destination for summer days with kids. They have a lazy river full of innertubes, and giant 2.5 foot deep pool with a play structure and various splashing items, plus a splash pad, and a junk food concession. It is neither a real swimming pool nor a water park. Not a real swimming pool because the deepest part of the pool is 2.5 feet deep. Not a water park because there's no actual waterslide, though there is a slide ... into the water -- if you grasp the distinction I'm making. But as a consequence this means that you can feel much more comfortable giving even young kids a decent amount of freedom (obviously not too much! be safe!) and generating the kind of wet, chlorinated, hot, happy, exhausted summer day that you may have grown up with as a kid. Chicago is a big city of rich amenities, so there are not a ton of things that I say are clearly worth a 45 minute drive from my house, but this is one of them.

Located inside Forest Preserve District of Cook County; Cermak Woods. Free parking for customers…read more Wonderful recreational area to enjoy with your family and friends. This is a well designed water recreational area. It has been changed, upgraded and redesigned throughout the years, but still here providing a great relaxing service to this community and visitors. You can grab a towel at the nearby Marshalls, and sunscreen as well. Plenty of grocery stores and restaurants nearby if you would like to enjoy a picnic with your family as well. Enjoy this wonderful experience.

I really like this location! I switched here from a previous gym, and I've been pretty happy I did…read more There are a ton of cardio machines from rows, to bikes, to treadmills. I've never had an issue of waiting for a treadmill like I have at other places, so I like that they have so many. I've never experienced any of the machines being broken either -- cardio or weightlifting. I like how many variations of each machine they have. For example, they have two variations of the leg extensions, two of leg curls, and about a million for bicep curls lol. The staff is pretty nice, and I've been satisfied with the conditions of the locker room/bathrooms. Parking is also free for the first 2 hours. Only down side is that it's too hot in here! No matter the time of the year, summer or winter, it's hot!

2/5 I've been a…read moremember of LA Fitness for nearly 20 years, and unfortunately, the Hyde Park location is one of the most disappointing I've experienced. The locker rooms are consistently dirty, there are often no paper towels or sanitizing wipes available, and much of the equipment feels old and poorly maintained. For a "Signature" club, this location falls far short--it feels more like a Bally's from 1995 than a modern fitness facility. Really hoping to see improvements, but as it stands, this will likely be my last year as a member. Do better. Either upgrade, discount or close this location.

We were visiting from California and checked this place out with our family who lives close to it…read more It was so much fun! The slides were great. Splash pad amazing. And the pool was so nice it was cushiony on the bottom. Deepest is about 5 feet.

Great place to hang out with family! Come here a lot. Very clean and well taken care of.read more

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.

What a great hotel gym! I was lucky enough to be staying at…read morethe Hilton Chicago last month and get a workout at their fabulous fitness facility. Amenities include: Indoor running track Indoor lap swimming pool with three lanes Jacuzzi Free weights up to 100 lbs Treadmills Elliptical machines Stationary bikes Stair climbers Smith Machine Rowing machine LifeFitness strength machines Dry sauna Most hotel gyms have one treadmill, one stationary bike, and some free weights, so this one definitely blew my mind. I cannot wait to return to take advantage of this offering the next time I'm in Chicago.

I'm not used to indoor pools. I was surprised at the…read morestrength of chlorine. We could smell it getting off the elevator. It would have been nice if they left the doors to the sun deck open, but apparently there are lots of spiders and insects that will fly in. Other than that, the rest of facilities are really nice. Great indoor track. I didn't use the machines, but they looked very clean and there were quite a few of them.

We love this park! It has a little bit of everything. Lots of grassy areas like baseball and soccer…read morefields, a rubber track, and a large playground for the kiddos. The park is great for picnics, people-watching, or walking the track. We typically come here to play on the swings though! They have baby swings which is perfect for my 9-month old. The playground is large with activities great for children of all ages that I know my baby will grow into along the way. On the weekends it can be busy, but adults and kids have always been respectful when playing. It's a great park, and we are so happy/lucky to live close by!

Nice courts in a friendly park setting…read more I found the court and hitting partners on joinplaytennis.com/chicago

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.