As adults, it can seem hard to find time for ourselves, especially when commitments and responsibilities start to hem in on all sides. Gone are the days when school breaks meant that you had all the time in the world to do as you like. However, like most anything else, setting your mind to doing something does make a lot of difference, and you’ll want to remember that your well-being is directly tied to how much quality time you spend on yourself.
Admittedly, it can still be hard to find enough time for a good, long break. The great news though, is that you don’t necessarily need a long getaway to truly reap the benefits of proper rest and relaxation. If you’ve not considered day trips before, you might want to start since summer is just around the corner, and we’ve got some great suggestions for you right here:
Certain summer activities do take more planning and organizing, so a great idea for a day trip would be an overnight camping trip. As long as you have a tent, a sleeping bag, and a backpack, all you’ll need to do is drive to your intended camping ground. Of course, if you’re lacking certain food supplies or other necessities, you can always stop off at a store on the way to stock up.
Suggestion: Camp Bullfrog Lake
Location: 9600 Wolf Rd, Willow Springs, IL 60480
Even if the weather is sublime outdoors, you might still prefer to spend the day indoors, and that’s perfectly alright. Museum admissions are usually free or kept to a minimum, and with the many interesting displays on show, it isn’t hard to imagine spending the entire day in cool air conditioning.
Suggestion: Museum of Science and Industry
Location: 5700 S Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60637
Opening Hours: 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. (for extended hours and exceptions, do refer to the website)
Website: https://www.msichicago.org/
Just get a good pair of sturdy shoes with a strong grip and you’re ready to go. Of course, you should also bring along enough water as well as some light snacks to munch on when you take a break. For those who are unsure about hiking alone (especially with little to no experience), you should always attempt a hike with someone else who can help guide you along the way.
Suggestion: Rock Creek Trail @ Kankakee River State Park
Distance: 3 miles
Other than visiting the beach, there’s also your local water park. As summer activities go, it’s a pretty inexpensive one, and you’ll get access to lots of different water slides and other water amusements. However, if playing in the water doesn’t get you excited, you can still spend the day here reading a good book and soaking in some lovely warm sun.
Suggestion: Raging Waves
Location: 4000 N Bridge St, Yorkville, IL 60560
Website: https://www.ragingwaves.com/
Spending your time outdoors during the summer is a great way to experience and enjoy the season. That’s why summer outdoor concerts have always been popular. There’s usually plenty of free ones you can attend, so just pack a picnic basket, invite all your friends along and get ready to have a blast under the night sky with the performing artists.
Suggestion: Lollapalooza @ Grant Park
Location: 337 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60601
Website: https://www.lollapalooza.com/
Have you ever literally enjoyed the fruits of your harvest? Well, come summer, you can make a date with a local pick-your-own farm to fully experience the joy of consuming fruits and vegetable right from the farm with your own hands. Although you can obviously get what you need at the supermarket, there’s something truly satisfying and rewarding about being able to eat your own produce (or at least, pick them).
Suggestion: Stade's Farm and Market
Location: 3709 Miller Rd, McHenry, IL 60051
Opening Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (do check the website for more info)
Website: https://stadesfarmandmarket.com/
Visiting the zoo doesn’t mean you’ll need to have young excited children in tow. It’s a great place to relax, explore and learn more about the animals we live with on this planet. Although food prices can be a little steep, during the summer, this is one day trip that will be worth it.
Suggestion: Lincoln Park Zoo
Location: 2001 N Clark St, Chicago, IL 60614
Opening Hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Weekdays), 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. (Weekends & Holidays)
Website: https://www.lpzoo.org/
Thinking about enjoying a good read? Well, if it’s been ages since you’ve visited a public library, you can always pay them a visit in summer to also enjoy some free air conditioning. Even if reading isn’t your thing, you can also take advantage of audiobooks, DVDs and other free programs prepared by the library.
Suggestion: Harold Washington Library Center
Location: 400 S. State Street, Chicago IL 60605
Opening Hours: 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. (Mon to Thurs), 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (Fri & Sat), 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. (Sun)
Drinking wine indoors and outdoors produces a very different feeling, and since summer is almost at your doorstep, you can always head over to the nearest winery to enjoy a glass or two in the sun. Some wineries also offer free wine tasting sessions, so if you know that’s what you’ll enjoy doing on your break, you’ll want to call them up and start marking down dates in your calendar.
Suggestion: Wild Blossom Meadery and Winery
Location: 9030 S Hermitage Ave, Chicago, IL 60620
Website: http://www.wildblossommeadery.com/
To truly enjoy your upcoming summer, you’ll want to leave the driving to our Chicago limo service specialists. Just let us know where you’ll like to go and when and our reliable chauffeurs will do their best to ensure that your ride experience is one of utter comfort and safety. Just give us a call or book our Chicago car service online to start enjoying today.
Posted on Jun 12 2019
