Chicago, IL

If you are a Chicago Cubs fan, or are planning a visit to Chicago and want to see some interesting history, you should consider a behind-the-scenes tour of Wrigley Field, the home of the Cubs. Although the Cubs have been having a rough go of it lately, they are a team of historical significance and their stadium has a special place in history, as it was built in 1914.

The tour being offered by the Cubs allows you to go on the field, to the pressbox, the dugouts, and the visitors’ clubhouse. It last 90 minutes and tickets cost $25. For more information, or to purchase tickets, visit the Cubs website.

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If you are looking for a new location to run, walk, bicycle, or perhaps a great place to have a family picnic, consider the Busse Woods Forest Preserve, also called the Ned Brown Forest Preserve. The preserve covers 2700 acres in Northwest Cook County. There are 11.2 miles of winding trails that are suitable for cycling, as well as running and walking. There is a bridge that connects the two sides of the preserve, and crosses over Higgins Road.

Throughout the preserve are meadows, trees, plant life, and a 590 acre lake that make for beautiful scenery. There are even a few spots that are great for fishing.



One added bonus of the forest preserve is that there is an Elk Herd, which is appropriately located in Elk Grove Village. You can’t find that in the city!

The preserve is easily accessible from the city via I-290. There is plenty of parking at several areas throughout the preserve. Click here for a map of the preserve or here for more information on the preserve.

Please Note: Unfortunately, according to signs at the preserve, the path will be under construction starting at the end of July and running through most of August, so be sure to keep that in mind when scheduling your visit.

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Looking for a meaningful way to spend Mother’s Day with your mom or honor the memory of your mother? Consider walking or running in the Y-Me Breast Cancer Organization 5k. The event will begin at Grant Park at 9:00 a.m. on Mother’s Day, May 13. This event is always exciting and uplifting with thousands of runners and walkers participating. Last year saw more than 3000 men, women, and children showing support for a great cause. Entrants are asked to raise money for breast cancer research in the form of pledges.

You can register online until Friday May 11th or one at one of the packet pick-up locations. You can also register on race day prior to the event. For more information about the event visit the Y-Me website.

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The city and suburbs of Chicago are filled with miles of wonderful paths and trails for runners, walkers, and cyclists. The most well-known, and the most popular, is the Chicago Lake Front Path, which is maintained by the Chicago Park District. It extends from Bryn Mawr Avenue on the north side south to Jackson Park on the south side. The length of the trail is 18 miles and there are markers each mile. In addition to the “official” path, there are a series of other paths along the way that travel further inland from Lake Michigan.
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Every year for one Sunday morning, Lake Shore Drive is closed to car traffic. What is normally a busy expressway filled with loud car noises, becomes peacefully quiet, except for the whirring of bicycles. It is quite a sight to behold and it is an extremely fun event to participate in.

The ride starts at Columbus and Balbo, bright and early at 5:30 a.m. Riders can choose to go north to Bryn Mawr Avenue or south to the Museum of Science and Industry. After the riders return back to Columbus and Balbo, they can then go in the opposite direction, time permitting. The full ride is 30 miles (15 miles in each direction). Lake Shore Drive re-opens to car traffic at approximately 10:30 a.m. Riders who are still out on the road at that time will be moved onto the lake front path to continue their ride. The event ends with a post-ride festival, which includes breakfast. For more information on Bike the Drive, or to register visit the official website.

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