Chicago is a fun and exciting city in the summer. From neighborhood street festivals to outdoor concerts to relaxing at the beach, there’s plenty of ways to enjoy yourself. Sometimes you just want to getaway for a weekend though. Fortunately for us, there are many great options for nearby weekend getaways. Below are some of our favorites.
The historic town of Galena, Illinois, is full of excellent restaurants, shops and wineries. Located just a few miles from the Mississippi River, there’s plenty of outdoor activities nearby as well. Lodging options include many luxury resorts, so you can really pamper yourself for the weekend.
Galena is about three hours west of Chicago. Learn more at visitgalena.org.
If you just need a change of scenery and want to explore another city, Milwaukee is a great pick for a weekend getaway from Chicago. The Milwaukee Art Museum is a beautiful structure located right on Lake Michigan. You can easily spend a majority of a day there. They named their baseball team the Brewers. If you like taking brewery tours, Milwaukee is a great place to visit. If you’re a music fan, plan your getaway around Summerfest to take in some of the best live music available. This year’s fest included The Rolling Stones, Stevie Wonder, Keith Urban and hundreds of other artists.
Milwaukee is only about 1.5 hours from Chicago. Visit visitmilwaukee.org to plan your Milwaukee getaway.
If you’re craving some good hiking, Starved Rock is a great choice. Less than two hours away from Chicago, Starved Rock has 13 miles of hiking trails, sandstone bluff canyons, waterfalls and some great views. You can rent a cabin at the state park, stay in the lodge or camp. Located in Oglesby, Illinois, the town has some nice restaurants, gift shops and antique markets as well.
Learn more at starvedrockstatepark.org.
>Many Chicagoans are already familiar with these getaway spots. Saugatuck and Douglas, Michigan are only about two hours away from Chicago. Saugatuck is the larger town, with the smaller Douglas just to the south of it. Enjoy a relaxing weekend on the beach, explore the local galleries and shops or hit up a nearby vineyard or brewery. There are many bed and breakfasts to stay at, or you can opt for one of the inns along the beach.
Learn more about Saugatuck and Douglas at saugatuck.com.
