[Pixabay sound: downtown]
With a metro population exceeding 9 million and a skyline visible from the Lakefill, Chicago is a touted destination for Wildcat weekend fun.
But finding spots to eat?
[Pixabay “Ka-Ching” sound effect]
Traveling between different neighborhoods?
[Pixabay “Ka-Ching” sound effect]
Or shopping on Michigan Avenue?
They all seem so expensive. But what if they don’t have to be? I set out with 20 dollars, to explore Windy City attractions beyond The Bean that don’t blow your budget.
[nat sound: Lincoln Park]
Located in Chicago’s North Side, Lincoln Park offers a variety of affordable things to do.
To get to the neighborhood, which is also called Lincoln Park, simply hop on the “L” and get off at Fullerton. You can pay for a single ride, or purchase a five dollar day pass, offering unlimited rides aboard the Pace Bus system and CTA train and bus lines for 24 hours. In my case, I bought the pass to hop between Evanston, Lincoln Park, Logan Square and downtown without needing to constantly reload a Ventra card.
Once there, you’ll encounter a variety of diagonal streets, bustling pubs, a Wizard-of-Oz themed green space and the neighborhood’s biggest attraction, Lincoln Park.
[Sounds of Lincoln Park]
Rain, snow or shine, the park’s expansive groves offer a great place to sit down, make PB&Js and have a picnic. You may notice the Willis Tower while eating, soaring in the background. You may also notice people getting engaged, or even live music.
[nat sound: Peter Bartels]
That’s Peter Bartels, one of the park’s frequent buskers. Bartels cited the park’s proximity and social atmosphere as reasons he enjoys playing there.
PETER BARTELS: “It’s just a perfect bike ride, you know 10 miles here and 10 miles back. People are nice. Kids seem happy and it’s friendly, you know. It works.”
If you’re feeling in the mood for excitement, you also don’t have to travel far.
[Lion roars at Lincoln Park Zoo]
Located within the park, Lincoln Park Zoo offers a variety of free indoor and outdoor exhibits, showcasing biomes around the world.
DEVIN BARFIELD “My favorite exhibit is going to be the African Exhibit, because I like the giraffes and it’s warm inside of there, so I like going to keep warm.”
That’s Devin Barfield, a store director in the Lincoln Park Zoo. While the zoo itself is free, visitors can also purchase plush animals, apparel and other merchandise in their gift shop.
In addition to the African exhibit, officially titled the Regenstein African Journey, popular sights include African lions at the Pepper Family Wildlife Center and various otter species in the Regenstein Small Mammal-Reptile House.
Kellis Montgomery, a staff member at the zoo’s McCormick Bird House, also expressed enthusiasm for the zoo’s conservation efforts.
KELLIS MONTGOMERY: “The favorite bird that I like to care for at this zoo is the Guam Kingfisher. And the reason why they’re really important at the zoo is because we actually have [an] extinct population of that bird species. And so zoos are vital to actually, hopefully one day create a wild population, so it’s really cool that we actually do have a pair at the zoo.”
Although the zoo closes at five, budgeting a Chicago trip can also include evening activities. You can ride the 73 bus into Logan Square, checking out local bookstores, resteraunts and famous street art murals. You can take in the sunset on the Concrete Beach, located shortly south of Lincoln Park. You can even go downtown, taking in the downtown lights from the banks of the Chicago River on the Riverwalk.
For my windy city excursion, I spent 19 dollars — five on transportation, eight on sandwich ingredients and six for downtown Starbucks refreshments. So, while many of the city’s attractions consume cash, an affordable weekend getaway is in fact within reach.
Sipping a hot chocolate and braving the lake-effect cold, I’m Vidyuth Sridhar, WNUR News.
