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Chicago Spring Activities: Things to Do in Chicago in the Spring

Chicago is your ideal outdoor playground to celebrate the changing seasons as winter’s chill fades into the warmth of spring. Whether you're a local looking to rediscover your city or a visitor eager to explore, there are an abundance of things to do in Chicago in spring.

Go Kayaking

Find your scene—kayaking scene, that is. Choose from a diverse range of settings to enjoy a guided kayak tour or rent your own. Kayak tours in Chicago are a popular and unique way to see some of the city’s famous architecture. Glide over the water of the Chicago River and view the infamous “Corn Cob” towers, sprawling Merchandise Mart and other well-known sites. Kayaking on Lake Michigan also offers premium city vistas with the added benefit of being able to cruise between beaches (think beachside picnic!). Or journey outside the Windy City to paddle along the peaceful lagoons on the Skokie River where you might see deer and even bald eagles.

Kayaking is one of the best things to do in Chicago in Spring

Take an Architecture Boat Tour

If you wish to see the city from the water but don’t want to paddle your way along the waterways, then a Chicago architecture boat tour is for you! Journey through all three branches of the Chicago River with Shoreline Sightseeing and enjoy amazing views of more than 40 Chicago landmarks. This 60-minute architecture boat tour is the perfect way to dip into Chicago’s fascinating architectural history as their knowledgeable guides reveal the captivating stories behind the legendary builds.

Boat tour in the Chicago spring

Stop & Smell the Flowers

Spring breathes new life into the landscapes in and around Chicago. Although there are numerous flowers blooming throughout the city, four locations are well-known for their springtime blooms and are worth a visit. The Magnificent Mile tulips add a fresh wave of color to this popular area as thousands of flowers bloom along Michigan Avenue. The Lincoln Park Conservatory and the Garfield Park Conservatory both offer a dazzling array of flora to discover and are a wonderful way to spend time during springtime showers. Visiting Jackson Park at the end of spring is a must-do experience to see the park’s shoreline colored pink by the nearly two hundred cherry trees in bloom.

Flowers during the Chicago spring

Lean into Springtime on TILT

To kick off your spring adventures, enjoy a bird’s eye view of the city at 360 CHICAGO, located on the 94th floor of the former John Hancock Building. Here you can step into a one-of-a-kind thrill ride on TILT, which slowly leans you outward at a 30-degree angle with nothing to block your face-first view of Chicago's skyline. Then you can toast the warmer days with a new favorite cocktail at CloudBar–Chicago’s highest bar!

TILT at 360 CHICAGO

Catch a Ballgame

You can’t talk about spring in Chicago without mentioning baseball. Chicago holds the distinction of being the only city to have had more than one MLB team every year since the league’s founding in 1901. Will you cheer on the White Sox or the Cubs–or perhaps both? Get your tickets, don your jersey, and join locals at either Wrigley Field or Rate Field for an unforgettable day at the ballpark.

Wrigley Field in spring in Chicago

Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day

If you’re planning on visiting Chicago in March, consider arranging your travel plans around Chicago’s St. Patrick’s Day celebration. The city’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade is one of the largest in the country and turns Columbus Drive into a magnet for all things green with festive attendees and colorful floats. In honor of the day, the Chicago River is dyed green, which makes for an even more memorable boat tour! There are other parades in addition to the main one down Columbus Drive. There are also numerous opportunities to toast St. Patrick in bars and restaurants across the city.

St. Patrick's Day in Chicago in spring

Stroll (or Run or Bike) the Lakefront Trail

Few things feel as wonderful as being outside on a warm spring day, especially after a long and cold winter. As the weather brightens, the foot traffic increases along the popular Lakefront Trail, which is an 18.5-mile-long paved trail that links beaches and four major parks along Lake Michigan’s western shore. Enjoy a walk to one of the parks and/or beaches, or bike the length of the trail for an exhilarating day along the shoreline. The Navy Pier and the Museum of Science and Industry are just two attractions that are easily accessed from the trail if you're looking for even more things to do in Chicago in the spring.

Stroll on the Lakefront Trail

Experience Art on the Mart

Since its founding in 2018, Art on the Mart has been a pioneer in digital art. Beginning in the spring, this cutting-edge art platform transforms the country’s largest privately held commercial building—The Mart—into its digital canvas. People come from all over to sit at the Riverwalk and see contemporary moving-image art projected onto the 2.5-acre facade. Work by national and international artists is featured during the event.

Experience Art on the Mart

Attend Expo Chicago

In addition to experiencing Art on the Mart, art lovers should take the opportunity to attend EXPO CHICAGO—an event that highlights the local contemporary art community alongside internationally renowned artists. Located at the Navy Pier, the expo offers multiple galleries and ambitious installations to explore, in addition to panels and forums.

Expo Chicago in spring

Visit Lincoln Park Zoo

One of the oldest zoos in North America, the Lincoln Park Zoo is home to over 1,000 animals representing nearly 200 species. Spend a sunny Chicago spring afternoon visiting the polar bears, penguins, gorillas, and more as you stroll through the zoo’s 35 acres that have been thoughtfully landscaped, providing an inviting backdrop to explore. This zoo is also one of the few in the United States that’s completely free to visit!

Lincoln Park Zoo

Explore Millennium Park

If you’ve scrolled through pictures of Chicago, you’ve most likely seen images of the Cloud Gate statue (nicknamed “The Bean”). The famous structure is located in Millennium Park, along with other popular attractions that are worth visiting on a pleasant spring day. The award-winning Lurie Garden features native perennials and bulbs that attract a wide variety of birds. Kids can tackle climbing walls, suspension bridges, and tube slides at Maggie Daley Park, along with a mini golf course and roller skating area. The larger park is also home to restaurants and art exhibits. Be sure to check out their calendar for upcoming events!

Explore Millennium Park in Chicago spring

See the Tulip Fields

No words can properly prepare you for what it’s like to wander among what feels like an endless sea of tulips in full bloom. But thankfully, you can experience this awe-inspiring sight for yourself at Richardson Farm where more than 900,000 bulbs are planted, in addition to tens of thousands of daffodils, for your viewing pleasure. Visit their website to check on the timing for the upcoming season, but typically the flowers are in bloom from mid-April to mid-May.

Tulip fields during the Chicago spring

From the blooming gardens and sparkling lakefront to exciting outdoor activities and the thrilling TILT ride, there are just so many things to do in Chicago in Spring - there's something for everyone. Start planning your spring vacation in Chicago today!

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