Adventure travel does not have to mean traveling to Patagonia or other parts on the other side of the globe. Some places can seem downright familiar — even a big city like Chicago can offer plenty of exciting opportunities for visitors.
Here are 5 thrilling travel options for the Windy City:
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1. Experience exhilarating heights at
Willis Tower: This tallest skyscraper in North America, once known as the Sears Tower, provides visitors looking for adventure travel a unique experience of Chicago.
While the Skydeck of the tower on the 103rd floor of the building has provided amazing views for years, a new Sky Ledge feature allows visitors to step into a glass box that shows them the view straight down from 1,353 feet up. The box extends four and a half feet out the side of the building.
2. Tours by bike at night: Take in the adventure of experiencing Chicago's lights by night on bike. Bobby’s Bike Hike features an eight-mile bike tour of the town, and includes a swing by the fireworks display at Navy Pier on Wednesday and Saturday nights. Cost is around $40 for adults and under $15 for kids.
The same company also offers bike tours of restaurants, neighborhoods, and a "gangster tour" which features a history of the Chicago mafia.
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3. Sailing: Chicago is home to a four-masted ship which gives adventure travel-lovers the opportunity to get an up-close-and-personal experience of Lake Michigan. The Tall Ship Windy of Chicago docks at Chicago’s Navy Pier. Tours of this 148-foot schooner are seasonal.
4. Fishing: Get out on Lake Michigan and get in some salmon fishing on a charter boat. The Windy City Salmon helps adventure travel-lovers spend the day searching for a big, delicious catch. The company offers charters of its 34-foot boat outfitted for 5, 6, or 8-hour fishing expeditions on Lake Michigan near Chicago.
5. Chicago Indoor Rock Climbing: There are many ways to enjoy rock climbing in the comfort of the indoors in the Chicago area. A place called Vertical Endeavors in Warrenville, Illinois, has an 18,000-square-foot climbing space that's large enough for up to 120 people to climb at one time. The facility is set up to accommodate both beginners and more experienced climbers, and weekday passes start at just $15.
Another place to try the indoor rock-climbing adventure travel experience is at Brooklyn Brothers, which opened in November 2014.
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