Spend the day at Lake Michigan, and bask in the vastness of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore -- a day when you can never have enough of the grandeur of nature. The unique features of this 25-mile long shore on Lake Michigan are wetlands, woodlands, dunes, parks, and beaches. Paddle along with your date or comb West Beach, the only beach with lifeguards. The beach also boasts of places where you can picnic, a bathhouse where you can take a hot shower, and many restaurants that offer discounts and great food. You can clamber up onto a dune or skip flat stones on the smooth surface of Lake Michigan. The park also has 45 miles of trails where you can enjoy horseback riding, hiking, cross country skiing, or cycling.
Crystal Mountain Resort is one of Chicago’s favorites, since it appeals to all: families, couples, or a group of friends. The keyword is togetherness, and importance is given to it. Families and friends can ski on their own trails, yet be together as they meet at the end of the trail. Loki and Thor, are the steepest runs, yet the Crystal Mountains are considered tame by the masters of the trade. Despite its remote location, the resort is selected to take part in the Alpine and the Nordon Premier Ski Programs of L. L. Bean. Another unique feature of the resort is that it caters to the beginners of the game. The Cheers run has a double chair lift that moves at a slow pace. With a vertical drop of 375 ft. and ten lifts, the resort has full snow boarding facilities. At the end of a hard day of skiing, try a massage at the fitness center, or relax and ease your muscles in the hot tub, and then dine at the Alpine for a complete finish to the fantastic weekend.
Spend the day at Lake Michigan, and bask in the vastness of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore -- a day when you can never have enough of the grandeur of nature. The unique features of this 25-mile long shore on Lake Michigan are wetlands, woodlands, dunes, parks, and beaches. Paddle along with your date or comb West Beach, the only beach with lifeguards. The beach also boasts of places where you can picnic, a bathhouse where you can take a hot shower, and many restaurants that offer discounts and great food. You can clamber up onto a dune or skip flat stones on the smooth surface of Lake Michigan. The park also has 45 miles of trails where you can enjoy horseback riding, hiking, cross country skiing, or cycling.
Enjoy a date with a long drive and delicious food. One of the best romantic spots and an ideal place to take your special date is the Tallgrass Restaurant-one of the ten best restaurants in the Chicago area. Located in Lockport, about sixty miles from Chicago, the long drive gives you time to get to know your date better .Follow the drive with fantastic food at the Tallgrass Restaurant, an ideal spot for lovers of contemporary food and excellent wine.
Situated twenty miles north of Milwaukee, Cedar Creek Winery is a small unit that produces award-winning wines. More than a dozen different varieties of wine are produced here. Some of the favorites are Cabernet, Syrah, Riesling, Chardonnay, and Cranberry Blush. An added attraction is the wine tasting. An informative visit to the underground cellars and the tasting room is well worth the $3 that you pay. You can shop at the boutiques, or follow your visit to the winery with lunch at one of the restaurants at the Cedar Creek Settlement.
6. Millennium Park
Millennium Park
Located at the northwest corner of Chicago's Grant Park, Millennium Park is a 24-acre tribute to the 21st century. The centerpiece of the park is dedicated to illustrating the works of superstar architect Frank Gehry. Just as he did in Bilbao, Spain, and downtown Los Angeles, Gehry filled the park with his one-of-a-kind steel creations. In one area of the park Gehry framed an outdoor stage in ribbons of titanium. However, the design that gets the most stares is Gehry's space age fountain, which includes changing video images. Millennium Park is also home to beautiful flower gardens and a 300-seat cafe opposite an ice skating rink.
7. Lincoln Park Zoo
Lincoln Park Zoo
Lincoln Park Zoo is an exceptional piece of property that gives you a spectacular view of Chicago's skyline. It's located on the north end of the city and is one of the last major cultural attractions in the United States that's free. The zoo is oozing with romance with features like its old shade trees and lagoons filled with swans and flamingos. The animals are not bad either. Clear barriers in many exhibits make you feel like you can reach out and touch the amazing creatures that call this zoo home.
8. Concrete Beach
Concrete Beach
"Concrete Beach" is a nickname for one of Chicago's most popular date spots. Its real name is Oak Street Beach, and it's located just north of the city's Magnificent Mile. While there is a sandy area for sunbathers and beach volleyball courts, the beach is dominated by large concrete areas, which have become havens for inline skaters and cyclists. There are also long stretches of concrete that serve as breakwaters on the north and south ends and Lake Shore Drive to the west. What else makes this beach so unique is the fact that while you are dipping your toes into cool Lake Michigan you can view the city's dramatic skyline stacked up behind you, including the John Hancock Building, Palmolive Building, the Drake Hotel and other Chicago landmarks. End your day at the south end of the beach. That's where you'll find "Oak Street Beachstro," which serves a delicious variety of steaks, pastas, seafood, salads and sandwiches.
