Outdoor Winter Fun In Chicago

This is a sponsored post but all thoughts are my own.

Winter here in Chicago seems to be dragging on forever. We haven’t seen temperatures above twenty degrees in the past couple of weeks and we’ve gotten almost 20 inches of snow so far this month. Thankfully, I see some warmer temperatures in the forecast so I thought I’d share some fun activities to do in Chicago to enjoy the rest of our winter days. All of these activities are COVID-friendly and can be done outdoors or from your vehicle.

Go ice skating

Spend an afternoon partaking in a traditional winter activity- ice skating! Maggie Daley Park’s skating ribbon is open through the end of February. Reservations are required so that the ice skating ribbon doesn’t get too busy and people are able to maintain social distancing.

Visit Lincoln Park Zoo

Lincoln Park Zoo opens up again at the beginning of March and it’s the perfect family activity. Plus, it’s free so you can’t beat that price for a day of fun!

Eat outdoors in one of Chicago’s many igloos or greenhouses

Chicago restaurants have really come up with some genius ways to get around the indoor dining ban in the city- creating individual dining experiences outside in warm igloos, greenhouses, and more! Chicago Parent has a great list here of all the many options. Personally, I’ve heard great things about JoJo’s Shake Bar and all their Instagram worthy milkshake creations and they have the cutest setup including some igloos for small groups of 4-6.

Go on an architecture scavenger hunt

Take a drive around the city (or walk if you are brave!) and look at all the beautiful architecture that the city has to offer. Examples of awe inspiring Chicago architecture include Chicago Water Tower, Aqua, The Art Institute of Chicago, Sears Tower (locals don’t call it Willis Tower), The Wrigley Building, and The Bush Temple.

Get takeout

Explore the many flavors of Chicago by getting takeout from one of the city’s restaurants. Here’s a list of Chicago area restaurants offering takeout and delivery. Chicago pizza is a must-try if you are visiting from out of town!

What are your favorite Chicago activities to do outdoors in the winter?

Visiting the city? You might also like this list of Chicago summer activities, these ideas of what to do in Chicago on a rainy day, this sensory friendly guide to visiting Chicago, and this post about 7 ways to explore Chicago.