Chicago is the place to be during Christmas--if you can live with the cold winter wind. In December, the place is full of life despite the extreme cold temperatures. It is active with lights, celebration, festivity as well as special entertainment. People are buying presents, spending time with family and in short having a good time. There are many activities you can indulge in during the picturesque holiday season.
Go to the Park
If you are visiting Chicago during Christmas put down Millennium Park or Grant Park in your list of places to visit. This is a park complex in downtown and offers ice skating during Christmas which is free of cost. You can enjoy the scenic beauty of the Chicago skyline while enjoying skating in the ice ring. You can also take a walk across the BP Bridge from where you can see the skyline of Chicago covered with snow with the added bonus of a great view of Lake of Michigan.
Visit Zoo
You should also include in your must-see list, the amazing Lincoln Park Zoo which has its annual Zoo-Lights celebration. During this period, there are more than 1.5 million lights decorating the zoo. The area offers the complete festivity of Christmas with Santa, live ice-carvings and carousel rides. You can witness some special animals which are on display during this period.
You should also go to the Brookfield Zoo which offers the Holiday Magic. During this holiday season, the zoo is lit with scores of lights, making it a wonderland complete with a laser light show, carolers and storytellers.
Exhibitions
With most museums in the same district the best way to see them is walking. Start with the Museum of Science and Industry which showcases Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light. During Christmas, you can witness over 50 Christmas trees decorated by various communities in Chicago. The most prominent and wondrous exhibit of the museum is the 45-foot Christmas tree with scores of penguins at the base.
The Museum of Contemporary Art also has an exhibition every year that is open on Christmas day. The exhibitions are for families and cater to a blend of culture, music and society of the time.
Navy Pier
Though temperatures are below freezing you should not miss a trip to the Pier. At the Navy Pier in Chicago, a Winter Wonder Fest is held at night and the Navy Pier gets converted to a wonderland of lights which amounts to about 75,000 lights, 25,000 ornaments and hundreds of decorated Christmas trees. It is open on Christmas day.
Shoppin
Shopping during Christmas makes the festive day even more special as you can indulge in giving and taking gifts to your near and dear ones. There are outlet malls with sales that will make it worth your while. Go on Christmas day and you will get super discounts as last minute shoppers get down to business.
Chicago Botanic Gardens
Christmas Day can get overwhelming if you do not get out of the house for a while. So if you are looking for something to do as a family try the Botanic Gardens. There are plenty of holiday features like the miniature train exhibit. The garden is decorated with more than 750,000 lights and the park is open till sunset with free admission and parking.
Morton Arboretum
For the more adventurous there is the arboretum's 1,700 acres that has open hiking trails from 7 a.m. till sunset on Christmas day. While the Visitor Center may be closed just a quiet walk in the wilds may help everyone to relax.
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