Christmastime in Chicago without a trip to Christkindlmarket is like a string quartet without violins. Inspired by German traditions, this unique Christmas holiday market offers one-of-a-kind German crafts, decorations and food for sale. But Christmastime is also a terrific occasion to acquire new skills and gain physical strength. In between your Christmas shopping and the Yuletide banquets, add fuel to the fire by getting actively involved in physical or educational activities.
ZooLights
For an extraordinary learning experience, head over to Lincoln Park Zoo, a gigantic wildlife playground featuring multiple thematic self-guided tours, or "Zoo Tracks,",that can assist you on your stroll through the park and provide background information about the zoo's exotic animals. The Regenstein Center, a 29,000-square-foot indoor and outdoor living space for the zoo's great apes, is a must-see. In December, the zoo puts on radiant light displays and musical shows and features live ice carving, photo opportunities and Christmas rides. Get a shot of Santa apace with life-like jungle creatures, hop on the Holiday Express train or get startlingly close to "wild animals" on the African Safari simulation ride.
Skiing
Rent a car and head west to Villa Olivia Ski Resort, a family-friendly skiing area with 12 downhill runs that stay open day and night. Located about half an hour from O'Hare Airport, Villa Olivia is the most popular and most professionally run ski resort in the Chicago area. Snowboard in the resort's thrilling terrain park, rejoice in snow tubing in a secluded area of the mountain or sign up for a quick lesson with the Chicago Tribune Ski School, which is aimed at beginner and intermediate skiers and snowboarders. On Christmas Day, Villa Olivia features a phenomenal Yuletide buffet with nutritious vegetarian food options.
Winter Wonderland
Each Christmas season, Navy Pier turns into a gigantic winter wonderland with 750,000 twinkling lights, hundreds of brightly decorated trees, an indoor ice skating rink, climbing walls and outdoor rides like the Ferris Wheel, Kringle Carousel and Winter Wind Glider. Get your heart pumping on inflatable slides and then catch your breath on the Reindeer Express trackless train. If you are looking for extreme physical endeavor, climb the Snowy Summit Climbing Walls or sign up for an Extreme Ice Trail Ropes crash course.
Learn to Cook
Brush up on your cooking skills at the Wooden Spoon, a state-of-the-art cooking school. Learn to make a killer whole-grain crust and fill it with cherries and ricotta cheese, seasonal fruit, low-fat custard and apples or chocolate-yogurt mousse. In preparation for a healthy Christmas dinner, learn to make home-made sushi from the Wooden Spoon's trained sushi chefs. Roll your way through the ancient principles behind the art of making fresh-fish and vegetable sushi and get the scoop on where to get the freshest fish in the winter.
Learn to Tango
If you are sick of making Christmas cupcakes and singing along to traditional Christmas carols, leave the traditions behind and pick up a new skill with your loved ones. Sign up for tango classes at May I Have This Dance's brand new studio on Elston. Originating in Montevideo, Uruguay and Buenos Aires, Argentina, tango dance is a kind of rhythmic walking to the speed and emotion of tango music and relies heavily on improvisation. May I Have This Dance accepts beginners and experienced dancers. No partner is needed. You rotate.
Member Comments