With spring break coming up next week, many college students are looking for fun things to do with their friends. Whilst researching for plans with my own friends, I found a few things I felt were worth sharing.
- Visit a museum or aquarium
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Chicago is a beautiful cultural hub with much to offer in terms of museums and aquariums. Many offer free days/nights or free admission for Illinois residents. I know museums have the reputation of being boring, but with the right people this can be the highlight of your day. It’s great for photo ops and learning something new!
- Venture out into a city neighborhood
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Downtown is a fun place with a lot to offer, but it can get repetitive. Find a neighborhood you’ve never been to/don’t visit often and see what new places you can explore. I recently went to Wicker Park with my friend to visit a photobooth studio and we spent the rest of the time walking around and visiting nearby shops and restaurants.
- Visit Chinatown
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Another classic, but one that can get boring if you’re not careful. Chinatown is one of my favorite parts of the city, but I do recommend also visiting the surrounding area rather than focusing on the square. For food, I highly recommend Qing Xiang Yuan Dumplings or trying one of the food stalls in the lower level (it’s in the basement of the King KTV building!)
- Take a Day/Weekend Trip
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While I do love and adore the city, I strongly encourage those who are able to visit somewhere far for a day or two. I went on a day trip with my family to Wisconsin a few months ago and it is still one of my favorite places I’ve visited.
For those who aren’t fond of going out of state, there’s many beautiful places in Illinois that are worth the trek. Galena is one of my favorites and notoriously haunted for those who are into the supernatural.
I hope this list was able to give some ideas to fill up your spring break or inspired you to curate your own plans. I encourage you to make the most of this spring break and explore somewhere new—you never know what memories you could create.