When every penny is precious on your own travels, you don’t need to waste just a single one for those who don’t should. Chicago is loaded with 100 % free things you can do each summer, from lakefront concerts to outdoor movies. The parks and beaches are next level, and there’s a bucket report on amazing architecture and public art to look at. Basically, it’s a frugal traveler’s summer paradise. Let us discuss 10 things on our radar for a lot of memories — gratis.
1. Swim, sun and build sandcastles along 26 lakefront beaches.
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Chicago’s yard is a lake, bringing surf and sand together against a legendary backdrop of soaring skyscrapers. Sun-seekers should visit the free Chicago Park District beaches along Lake Michigan. Squeal with abandon as you rush in the cool blue waters or act cool whilst you dip your toes during the sand. Nothing needed here — a little swimsuit, some SPF in addition to a beach towel to get your waterside digs during the day.
2. Kick it with cool cats, playful penguins and everything their animal kingdom friends.
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While it’s open year round, Chicago’s free lakefront zoo is better in the summertime and admission measures just the right price: free! Wander around Lincoln Park Zoo and get lost in 49 lush acres packed with wildlife — much more than 1,100 animals for being exact. Up to date habitats are particularly impressive, just like the penguin cove, macaque forest and arctic tundra where huge glass windows will let you come nose-to-nose with all the animals.
Get an incredible skyline shot and also a mini-lesson in Chicago’s built environment on the Nature Boardwalk, when the bridge over the South Pond incorporates a handy diagram that identifies the notable downtown buildings.
3. Enjoy open-air classical music.
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A no cost treat each months are the incredible talents of your world-class orchestra and chorus, presented for 10 weeks in the Grant Park Music Festival. Millennium Park results in an amazing outdoor concert space which you could opened up to the grassy lawn or find a pavilion seat to know free performances of greats like Gershwin, Mozart and Tchaikovsky.
4. Watch outdoor movies under the stars.
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The beautiful park venue trades while in the conductor stand for a 40-foot LED screen for any Millennium Park Summer Film Series. Tuesday nights are restricted to movie lovers which includes a state-of-the-art big screen and subwoofer that plays favorites films both new and old. Pair the disposable screenings with a picnic to get a perfect date.
5. Get involved an al fresco workout.
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Jay Pritzker Pavilion, the formal name for the Frank Gehry-designed masterpiece of billowing steel, sets takes place — literally — for nothing Millennium Park Summer Workouts. Sweat it out beneath the crisscrossing trellis is undoubtedly the soft grass on the Great Lawn with yoga, pilates, lifting weights and Zumba® weekly.
6. Find fireworks, free concerts and epic views from Navy Pier.
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Boat cruises and amusement rides are big draws for website visitors to Navy Pier, along with major stops like Chicago Shakespeare Theater and Chicago Children’s Museum. For the totally free experience, though, sit in on live music with the Miller Lite Beer Garden (no cover ever), or look into the diary for performances within the Wave Wall and Polk Bros Park stages. Be sure to also catch the fireworks a week over the waterfront on Wednesday and Saturday night (from May to September). It\’s understandable the views alone count the get out of on the end within the pier, which happens to be almost miles long.
7. Find moments of zen through these hidden park escapes.
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Over 50 million people visit Chicago yearly, plus in summer it can sure get crowded. Swarms of babies running around Navy Pier, sweaty festival goers standing shoulder to shoulder, numerous folks in line to go up into Willis Tower…if you require a break and would like to find some solace there are many free nature sanctuaries hidden in plain sight:
- If you’re at Navy Pier, find Milton Lee Olive Park. This little refuge is tucked between the pier, the seaside, and a massive water purification plant, yet still remains remarkably serene. Don’t miss the zen-like concrete paths as well as floating deck which enables for the great lookout point.
- In Millennium Park, visit Lurie Garden. It’s the word urban oasis hidden behind a verdant hedge steps from “The Bean”.
- From Maggie Daley Park, go to the Cancer Survivors’ Garden. A compact pavilion is flanked by granite columns and encompassed by beautiful plantings. Find its location squeezed amongst the climbing wall, skating ribbon, and kiddie playgrounds of Maggie Daley Park as well as the rush of traffic from Lake Shore Drive to the east.
- Outside Art Institute of Chicago, the museum’s South Garden is truly one of several artful outdoor havens off a busy stretch of Michigan Avenue.
- Near North Avenue Beach, seek out Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool — a landmark that\’s all to easy to miss on busy Fullerton Avenue near to the entrance to Lake Shore Drive. Silence prevails in this particular dreamy setting; an idea of tranquility featuring its gently cascading waterfall, stone council ring, and Prairie-style pavilions.
8. Explore Chicago’s downtown Loop which includes a free InstaGreeter tour.
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Proud within their city and excited to demonstrate it off, Chicago Greeters are really a list of Chicago-loving local ambassadors that define a 200-strong volunteer group. Each weekend, Friday to Sunday, they take visitors on free guided walks over the Loop. See inside historic hotels, check out at early skyscrapers to get cool public art on every corner together with the one-hour InstaGreeter tour. No tickets or advance registration needed, only be there towards meeting spot (Chicago Cultural Center, Randolph Street Lobby) during the hourly time slots.
If you register ahead, you\’ll be able to pick the neighborhood which you decide on to educate yourself regarding using a personalized 2-4 hour Chicago Greeter walk — also completely complimentary, truly tips are permitted.
9. Stroll the Chicago Riverwalk and earn the own architecture tour.
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The next best thing to executing a formal architecture tour is to just walk down the Chicago Riverwalk and then determine what buildings speak with you. Sure there are pros who can provide you with full bios to the architects and rattle off dates and addresses from memory, but not it’s just as enjoyable — and cheaper — to admire their beauty on the nice stroll. The waterfront promenade is a good route as it gives you open clearance to find information on and take unobstructed photos.
Our favorite spots to look up are:
- Standing over the McCormick Bridgehouse stairs west in the double deck Michigan Avenue bridge, hoping to the Wrigley Building (400-410 N Michigan Ave) and Tribune Tower (435 N Michigan Ave)
- On the Riverwalk’s grassy steps with the Vietnam Memorial between State and Wabash, seeing the trio of Trump International Hotel & Tower (401 N Wabash Ave), Marina City (300 N State St), and AMA Plaza (330 N Wabash Ave)
10. Tripped on the photography expedition using this type of bucket variety of Chicago’s biggest icons.
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Speaking of photos, selfies at “The Bean” were made for summertime. Picture the many puffy white clouds, blue skies and rays of sunshine beaming off the reflective stainless-steel surface. The 110-ton sculpture, known formally as “Cloud Gate”, provides a mirror-like exterior that invites that you arise and capture cool angles from all of the around. Since a huge number of visitors all have identical idea, get there early so there are less individuals to photobomb your frame.
Rounding your must-see, only-in-Chicago photo bucket list once you get “The Bean” are: Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park, the enduring marquee with the Chicago Theater, The Picasso commanding downtown Daley Plaza and also the couple of Lion sculptures on guard outside of the Art Institute of Chicago.
This \’s no full set of every free event in Chicago — for the reason that summer calendar is loaded with them. Mega festivals and parades like Chicago Blues Festival (June), Chicago Pride Parade (June), and Chicago Air and Water Show (August) are just some of the annual one-day/weekend events which might be free. Plus you can find weekly neighborhood festivals each weekend — most are technically free, but ask for a $5-10 donation for admission. There’s also many free Chicago museums and galleries open year long. For additional summer fun, turn to this comprehensive Chicago summer guide around the best points to eat, drink and do.
