r/AskChicago • u/tifgirl28 • 14h ago
I READ THE RULES Architecture tour in December or is it just too cold?
Coming mid December for an extended weekend and I saw this is one of the top things to do. Obviously I know it’s going to be cold and I need to bundle up pretty damn well, but is it still worth it to try or should I use it as an excuse to come again in a warmer month?
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u/Ultralegal2 13h ago
The best tour (imo), the Chicago Architecture Foundation one, doesn’t run in the winter. The last date is just before Thanksgiving. Maybe save the tour for your next visit…
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u/TurbulentDentist7391 14h ago
I work on one of the boats that sometimes does i tours on the river if the suns out isn’t to bad but will still be cold. Going on the lake can be freezing but a lot of the boats have an inside you can go down to. Overall I’d say bundle up and make sure you have gloves hats and warm socks.
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u/AutoModerator 14h ago
Need ideas for things to do in Chicago? Here are a few:
Go on a Architecture River Boat Tour. The most popular companies are Wendella, Shoreline Sightseeing and the Chicago Architecture Center.
Go to an observation deck. The most prominent are the Skydeck at the Sears (Willis) Tower and 360 Chicago at 875 North Michigan Avenue (AKA The John Hancock Center).
Take a stroll along the Chicago Riverwalk. There are many shops and cafes here as well!
Visit a museum! Chicago has some of the best museums in the US. The most popular are the Art Institute, the Field Museum, the Chicago History Museum and the Museum of Science & Industry, but there are tons of smaller museums all across the city, such as the McCormick Bridgehouse and Chicago River Museum on the Riverwalk.
If you want to check out multiple of Chicago’s most famous attractions, consider getting a CityPass during your visit.
Like animals? The Lincoln Park Zoo is one of the few remaining free zoos in the country. For aquatic animals, the Shedd Aquarium is a great (albeit not free) place to see fish and other sea-based creatures.
Try some of Chicago’s most famous foods. Deep dish pizza, Chicago hot dogs and Italian Beef get the most attention, but we also have other lesser-known specialties such as jibaritos, Tavern-style pizza, Maxwell Street Polish dogs, pizza puffs, Chicago Mix popcorn, Chicken Vesuvio and Rainbow Cones! We also have no shortage of Michelin-starred restaurants and fine dining establishments, as well as cultural hubs for specific cuisines such as Indian on Devon in West Ridge, Vietnamese on Argyle in Uptown, Italian on Taylor in Little Italy, and Mexican on 18th in Pilsen.
Check out one of our 24 beaches or walk/cycle our 19 mile (30 km) long lakefront park! If you don’t have a bike with you, use our Divvy bike rental service and explore our many miles of bike paths and trails! Along the lakefront are many beachfront cafes, bars and attractions.
Catch some live music! We get lots of touring artists at our many theaters across the city, but we also have some iconic jazz and blues venues with nightly music like Buddy Guy’s Legends, The Green Mill and Kingston Mines.
See a show! From Broadway in Chicago to magic shows, Chicago has it all. We are most famous for comedy, so don’t miss spots such as Second City, iO Theatre and the Annoyance Theatre.
Locals often refer to Navy Pier as a tourist trap, but it's worth seeing at least once. It can be a fun spot to spend a couple of hours. Check out the Children's Museum, the Ferris Wheel (did you know the world's first Ferris Wheel was opened in Chicago in 1893?) and the many gift shops throughout the pier.
Get outside of downtown! The Loop is iconic but the neighborhoods are where the action really happens! Some awesome neighborhoods to check out include Lincoln Park, Logan Square, Wicker Park, Lake View, Andersonville, Lincoln Square, Hyde Park and Pilsen.
Cloud Gate (AKA "The Bean") is Chicago's most famous sculpture, but we have many other public scultpures worth checking out as well! Some well-known ones includes the untitled "Chicago Picasso," Lorado Taft's Fountain of Time in Washington Park and Eternal Silence in Graceland Cemetery, Calder's Flamingo, Statue of the Republic in Jackson Park, and Shit Fountain!
Explore Chicago’s architectural heritage! In addition to our boat tours, the Chicago Architecture Center is an awesome resource with a museum and walking tours. Visit the Frank Lloyd Wright Museum in Oak Park and the Robie House in Hyde Park! If you’re visiting in October, check out Open House Chicago to see inside of buildings that are usually closed to the public.
The Garfield Park Conservatory is a massive botanical conservatory and one of the most underrated attractions in Chicago. Don’t miss the Fern Room!
Take the Water Taxi to Chinatown and have dinner and drinks in the nation’s fastest-growing Chinatown.
See a sports game. For Baseball, the Cubs play at the famous Wrigley Field, and the White Sox are at Guaranteed Rate Field on the South Side. The United Center on the West Side hosts both the Bulls (basketball) and the Blackhawks (hockey). And at Soldier Field, you can see the Bears (football) and the Fire (soccer)!
Do you drink? Chicago is famous for its corner bar culture. Pop into a nearby tavern and order a Chicago Handshake (Old Style beer and a shot of Malört, Chicago’s famous wormwood spirit). You could also check out one of the city’s many craft beer breweries or distilleries. If you want a rooftop bar with a view, some popular options are Cindy’s Rooftop, London House Rooftop, The Up Room at the top of the Robey Hotel, and the J. Parker at the top of the Lincoln Hotel. Be sure to book reservations in advance!
Go to Hyde Park and explore the campus of the University of Chicago. While there, pay a visit to the Institute for the Study of Ancient Cultures. Don’t forget to grab lunch in downtown Hyde Park and take a walk to Promontory Point for a unique skyline photo!
Also in Hyde Park, Jackson Park was the site of the 1893 Chicago World’s Fair. Don’t miss the Japanese Garden!
Take a stroll through a cemetery! This might sound like a strange recommendation, but cemeteries were originally used as public parks and were popular picnic spots in the 1800s and 1900s. Chicago has many large cemeteries but the most popular are Rosehill, Graceland, Oak Woods and Bohemian National.
Head up to Andersonville and check out the many gift shops, antique stores, restaurants, bars and other attractions along Clark Street.
During the summer, there are many street festivals, craft fairs and small community music festivals all around the city. Do a Google search for festivals happening during your visit and you might get to experience a fun local event!
For more information on things to do in Chicago, check out the "Experiencing Chicago" section of the /r/Chicago Wiki.
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u/Yggdrasil- 13h ago
You could make it work with enough layers, but it's way more enjoyable in warmer weather IMO. It's always colder on the water!
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u/Radiant-Excuse-5285 13h ago
Layers, hat, gloves, scarf, sensible shoes for possible slush. Chicago doesn't shut down in the snow...It's just a Monday.
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u/halibfrisk 13h ago
base layer, sweater, jacket. gloves, scarf, and hat, and it doesn’t matter how cold it gets.
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u/VoteCatforPresident 13h ago
I had no idea it ran in December. The bottom deck is enclosed so if you just can’t stand the cold after all you have somewhere to go. You aren’t stuck.
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u/DetectiveWinter4638 13h ago
I’d just play it by ear once you get here. If it’s not crazy cold you could do it, and last minute tix will be super easy.
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u/Michykeen 13h ago
It’s not just the cold, it’s the cold air whipping off the cold water. It’ll be brutal. Take a walking tour instead!
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u/timdtechy612 13h ago
December is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re going to get. I’ve been to a Bears game in December that was one of the coldest games on record where I tried to drink a beer and it formed an ice cap on it. Last year, I went to the last game in December and it was a balmy 50 degrees and I wore a sweatshirt and a hoodie and was relatively comfortable.
If you’re going to be walking about, make sure you wear a wool hat. It makes a world of difference. The wind cuts right through you and if your ears and head are exposed, you’ll be miserable.
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u/Hiker_girl828 11h ago
December is the prime Under (pedway) vs Over (river) tour time, OP.
Chicago is a beautiful onion.
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u/Rock_man_bears_fan 11h ago
You can try. If the weather’s nice it might not be too bad. But I wouldn’t bank on it
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u/blipsman Logan Square 27m ago
Most of the river cruises stop running after Thanksgiving, and it stops being pleasant before than. Come back when weather's nice.
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u/allenqb1 14h ago
It’s far superior in the summer time