Wanderlust World Wanderlust World Chicago is best known for its downtown area, known as the Loop, and its beautiful lakefront. While these areas are full of great shopping, outdoor recreation and restaurants, the Windy City has many attractions and activities that are hidden even to locals. With its ethnic neighborhoods, cultural history and recreational options, there are plenty of offbeat, fun activities to be unearthed in Chicago and environs.
Taste of Chicago, held in Grant Park around the Fourth of July, gets most of the publicity, but Chicago’s many ethnic neighborhoods also hold street fairs and festivals.
West Fest, in Ukrainian Village on the city’s West Side, is a two-day street fair with food booths from nearby restaurants, live music and wares from local artisans. Famous for the high-profile indie music artists that grace its stage, West Fest offers visitors a lot to do as they enjoy food and beverages from local eateries.
The Kids Fest area features kids’ entertainers, pony rides, face painting and bounce houses. There’s a Pet Fest area to educate pet owners on how to care for their furry friends. Vendors sell pet treats and accessories. You can even get your dog washed, with proceeds going to an animal charity.
West Fest
1800 W Chicago
(between Wood Street and Wolcott Avenue)
Chicago, IL 60622
312- 850-9390
westfestchicago.com
With 3 miles of trails to reacquaint hardened city dwellers with outdoor hikes, the Heller Nature Center caters to families and kids. (Single adults are welcome to explore the flowers and plants on the grounds, too.)
The 97-acre nature preserve has an oak-hickory forest, wetlands and numerous animal species. Ride a bike through the grounds or picnic under a shaded tree. Rent cross-country skis to get exercise after winter snows or visit the nature exhibition in the center’s log cabin.
Walter E. Heller Nature Preserve
2821 Ridge Road
Highland Park, Illinois 60035
847-433-6901
pdhp.org
Chicagoans love their sports teams, and the trials and tribulations of "da Cubs" and "da Bears" are well-documented. Lesser-known pro sports teams wow fans in the Windy City as well.
The Chicago Red Stars are one of six charter teams in the Women’s Professional Soccer League. Since 2006, they’ve played in front of enthusiastic crowds in 20,000-seat Toyota Park, south of downtown Chicago. The WPSL season runs from April through early September, with a series of special promotions for Red Stars fans. Geared toward families, the “Four Pack Series” offers discounted prices on tickets, snacks, a photo taken by the field and player autographs.
Off-field, the team offers day and half-day soccer camps for girls. Players and team representatives also speak about healthy lifestyles at school assemblies.
Chicago Red Stars
7300 W 71st St.
Bridgeview, IL 60455
708-496-9500
womensprosoccer.com/chicago