With its myriad of outdoor activities and engaging cultural institutions, Chicago is a quintessentially American city. Acres of parkland, miles of beachfront and hundreds of miles of bike trails make this metropolis on the shores of Lake Michigan a place where people of all ages can exercise their bodies and their minds.
Kayaking
The Lincoln Park Boat Club has offered kayaking, rowing and sculling lessons on Lake Michigan since 1910. Classes are available to members and non-members alike, and the staff members who teach the lessons have certification from the American Canoe Association. Safety is the number one priority, and the club provides all equipment.
Kitesurfing
Chicago Kitesurfing offers beginning and advanced kitesurfing instruction on the shores of Lake Michigan. Students learn about safety, "wind windows," rigging, gauging conditions and flying techniques. Advanced courses include a survey of body dragging, water-relaunching, and specialty riding techniques. An instructor accompanies you on a jet-ski.
Mountain Biking
Greater Chicago is home to several great mountain biking trails, many of which are located just a few minutes outside the city limits. The Deer Grove Trail in Palatine is a paved trail through a forest preserve that's great for young children and beginner cyclists. Nearby St. Charles is home to the Great Western Trail, which is a 36-mile rural off-road trail that's perfect for more advanced riders.
Scuba Diving
Underwater Safaris Chicago offers introductory diving instruction and scuba explorations of Lake Michigan shipwrecks. Travel from the East Chicago Marina to the waters above sunken ships like the David Dows and Material Service. It's estimated that lake waters off Chicago are home to more shipwrecks than the rest of the Great Lakes combined.
Skydiving
If the view from Chicago's famed Willis Tower isn't high enough for you, take a skydiving trip with the Chicago Skydiving School. First-time jumpers get lessons in safety and strategy. Jumps take place from over 18,000 feet--an altitude at which you can see the entire city.
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