Five Local Excursions to Beat the Winter Blues

Baby, it’s cold outside! This time of year always feels transitional – the holidays are over with quite a bit of winter weather still ahead of us, we’re all working hard to stick to New Year’s resolutions, and it doesn’t help that the city is covered in complete darkness by 5 p.m. Good news, though! The sunlight is becoming more plentiful each day, and I have five fun recommendations to keep that pep in your step all the way in to spring:

1. Get Outside! - Yes, you read that correctly. Sometimes a little good old-fashioned fresh air is exactly what the doctor ordered to beat the winter doldrums. Make plans for Polar Adventure Days which bring snowshoe tours, live animal encounters and seasonally-inspired crafting stations to Northerly Island.

2. Go Green - With a 100-year history and more than 2 acres of gorgeous greenery under glass, there’s something for everyone at the Garfield Park Conservatory. They’ve assembled a solid lineup of winter programing with options ranging from casual drop-in yoga classes to in-depth explorations of buzzy topics like beekeeping.

3. Do Good - With the help of 22,163 volunteers, The Chicago Food Depository distributed nearly 70 million pounds of food to hungry people last year. Check out their calendar of upcoming opportunities, grab some friends, and have some fun while making a difference!

4. Hit “The Beach” - Created by New York-based designers, Snarkitecture, The Beach Chicago is an immersive art installation featuring an open room filled with more than a million antimicrobial and recyclable plastic balls all decked out with everything you can imagine to mimic the sensation of a day in the sun. Private and semi-private event bookings are also available through Feb. 3!

5. Culture Vulture - With acts ranging from Paw Patrol to Interpol, The Chicago Theatre’s Q1 calendar is jam-packed with talent appealing to all ages. Their Marquee Tour is also one of my personal favorites because it encompasses both historical and architectural highlights of the legendary auditorium, allowing guests to immerse themselves in the grand lobby, selfie on the stage and sneak a peek at the infamous artist signatures scrawled on the dressing room walls.