Here are reviews of some of the attractions we’ve experienced in Chicago recently. Chicago is great for all kinds of activities and events.
And check out my history of Illinois and Chicago for some fun facts and insight.
Have fun!
Rosewood Beach
Great escape from the heat
I used to go to Rosewood Beach in Highland Park with my mom. Lake Michigan was always colder than I thought!
Still, there’s plenty of beach to lounge at. And most days there’s enough parking.
We enjoyed the vistas and the clean sand.
Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island
Be careful in your seat selection
Like other outdoor venues, the Huntington Bank Pavilion at Northerly Island’s main seating sections in front of the stage are all on the same level. So, if you are midway back or farther, you probably won’t see the performers. Instead you’ll see the large screens.
Since it is an outdoor arena, prepare for the weather. We brought rain suits for our concert, and it rained while in line before the concert and a bit before the performance. There are some sections of the venue that have an awning for some protection. If you don’t want to get wet, you’ll need to bring a rain suit or choose your seat carefully.
They do not allow umbrellas in the venue. If you bring one, they’ll ask you to put it aside at the entrance. Miraculously our umbrella was collected with hundreds of others. All the patrons selected only their umbrellas, so we didn’t lose ours. Avoid the hassle and leave yours at home or your hotel.
The sound was very good. There were plenty of bathrooms and food and drink vendors.
Getting there also requires a bit of planning. The venue is on Northerly Island, the former site of Meigs Field. The airport was bulldozed and turned into a park and concert venue.
You can walk there, but you need to find a nearby underpass to cross Lake Shore Drive. And the only place to cross onto the island is Solidarity Drive. Even if you take a taxi, you’ll need to walk a good bit. We stayed at a local hotel and walked 1.5 miles each way.
No venue is perfect, but this one seemed disorganized. For an 8 PM concert (albeit with rain), they did not let patrons in until 7:45. The concert didn’t start until 9:15. It’s hard to know why this was, but you’ll get a chance to wait in the rain while people scurry around wondering when or if the concert will start.
Be careful of your seat selection, plan transportation to and from the venue and enjoy your concert.