Trekking around Chicago during the day can wear you out with so many attractions to offer. Make sure to save up some energy though and see the city at night. Not only is there plenty to do, but you can also get a workout and enhance your cultural sensibilities with a visit to one of the city's many museums. The city has a beautiful skyline, and while you are enjoying your time outside, make sure to see the skyline lit up.
Pick a Neighborhood
Chicago is a city full of neighborhoods. Pick one to walk around in and you'll get completely different views of the same city, along with a pretty good workout. At night, bars, restaurants and coffee shops will be full and you can stop in to any of them along your walk. Start out in Wrigleyville and see historic Wrigley Field and the surrounding bars and souvenir shops. There may be a party or two outside if the Cubs have a night game. Then you can walk about two miles south to see Lincoln Park. DePaul University is in this neighborhood, along with the comedy club Second City and the Lincoln Park Zoo. Next you can go into the Loop, the downtown district of Chicago and get a taste of tall buildings, shops and busy streets. Visit Wicker Park which is one of the hippest parts of the city, and these neighborhoods are only the beginning. You can venture further South, West and North by foot, or easily hop on the train, called the El.
Millennium Park
After a long day shopping or taking in the sights in Chicago, you can head for a quiet night in Millennium and Grant Parks. Get a view of Millennium Park's Crown Fountain which turns on its lights at night while continuing to show the faces of Chicago residents on its monitors. Finally look into Cloud Gate, or "The Bean" as dubbed by Chicagoans reflecting the city lights of the Chicago skyline. You will get views of both Lake Michigan and downtown Chicago, which will be lit up as the sun goes down. There are over three miles of trails to walk on in Grant Park, and tennis courts along with baseball fields will also be open.
Exercise Along the Lake
If you've spent all day visiting museums or you have chosen to tan on the beach, an evening run along the paths behind the city's beaches will be a good workout to end the night. Chicago's summers can get hot, so with the sun down some of the heat will be gone, too. With Lake Michigan bordering Chicago, you can run from the northern suburbs down through downtown Chicago all the way to the southern part of the city. There are also basketball courts where there might be a game to join.
Culture
Many of Chicago's museums are open late one night per week. This allows you to exercise your mind and get some culture while you are at it. Every Thursday night, see paintings like American Gothic at the Art Institute of Chicago for free from 5 to 8 p.m. The Museum of Contemporary Art leaves its doors open until 8 p.m. Its collection includes works from Andy Warhol and Jasper Johns, among others. Every Thursday evening, the Chicago Children's Museum is open until 8 p.m. Admission is free from 5 to 8 p.m. and children can learn about a wide variety of topics ranging from safety to gardening. Special for visitors aged 21 and over, the Adler Planetarium offers "Adler After Dark" every third Thursday. This event features appetizers, drinks and a skyshow.
Yoga
During the summer every Wednesday in Oz Park in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago, Lululemon Athletica hosts a free yoga session at 7 p.m. Mats will be provided but you can also bring your own. The best part is these classes are free. Bikram Yoga in the City was voted the best yoga studio in Chicago by Citysearch.com in 2006 and 2008 and offers nighttime classes throughout the week and weekend. Drop-ins are welcome and each class costs $15, though there are multiple class deals as well. The classes last for 90 minutes.
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