Are you thinking a traditional dinner and a movie for your next date? Think again. The Windy City offers numerous, more exciting things to do on a date. If you think a meal is a must, Chicago has many alternative food restaurants to choose from. You can also skip the meal and go mountain biking, ice skating or ghost watching.
Alternative Dining Experiences
For an alternative evening meal, take your date to a vegan or vegetarian restaurant. Karyn's Cooked, a vegan restaurant that promises conscious comfort food, is among Chicago's best. On the menu you can find gourmet vegan pizza, grilled portobello mushrooms, spicy lentil meatballs, soy burgers and much more. The Chicago diner offers traditional dishes but without the meat--for example, Philly "cheese steak" sandwich and corned "beef" sandwich. Beverages on the menu include organic wine and vegan beer. For a less traditional meal, take your date out for breakfast. Meli Cafe and Juice Bar offers a selection of fresh and organic health foods and freshly squeezed juices.
Cultural Activities
Enjoy a day of cultural activities. Chicago is home to a variety of museums and galleries, including the Chicago Folk Art Gallery and the Chicago Hot Glass. The Museum of Holography features three-dimensional laser photographs. As a perfect finish to a day of cultural activities, treat your date to a theater performance. Chicago's main theater district offers top-notch plays and musicals, but you can find more low-key performances just about anywhere in the city.
Sports Activities
Bike through the city with your date. Chicago's many high-rise buildings and intriguing architecture give you plenty to look at and talk about. To get the adrenaline pumping, go mountain biking on the trails located in the Swallow Cliffs or the Deer Grove, about an hour's drive from Chicago. In the winter the McCormick Tribune Ice Rink in Millenium Park offers an excellent opportunity for a long afternoon or night of ice skating. The rink is free and open to the public, and skate rental is available.
Educational Activities
A visit to Grant Park located along Lake Michigan can make for a perfect date with outdoor and cultural activities. The park is home to the Shedd Aquarium, the Adler Planetarium, the Field Museum and the Art Institute. For a "wildlife" experience, take turns testing your your knowledge of exotic animals at the Lincoln Park Zoo--one of the nation's oldest zoos, housing 1,200 animals and 230 species.
Unusual Dates
If you seriously want to stand out from the crowd, take your date on a hot air balloon ride that comes complete with champagne and a spectacular bird's-eye view of Chicago. At the end of the day, experience a thrill on a Weird Chicago Tour of the city's darkest spots, weirdest bars and most haunted pubs.
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