• Menu
  • Skip to right header navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary navigation
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

College Magazine

College Life, Dating, Career & Campus Advice

  • Colleges
    • College Guides
    • College Rankings
    • Campus Life
      • Academics
      • Dating
      • Freshman Year
      • Health
      • Social Change
      • Party
  • Majors
    • All Majors
    • Most Popular Majors
    • Choosing a Major
  • Intern
    • Internship Directory
    • How to Get an Internship
    • How to Write a Resume
    • How to Write a Cover Letter
    • How to Interview
    • How to Network
    • Career 101
    • Find Your Passion Career
  • Money
    • How to Make Money
    • How to Save Money
    • How to Get a Job
    • Credit Cards 101
    • FAFSA
    • Ramen Project
  • Travel
    • Study Abroad
    • College Spring Break
    • How to Travel Cheap
    • Things to Do
  • Shop
    • Writer Course
    • College Magazine Shop
    • Gift Guides
    • College Packing List
  • Find your college or university
  • Colleges
    • College Guides
    • College Rankings
    • Campus Life
      • Academics
      • Dating
      • Freshman Year
      • Health
      • Social Change
      • Party
  • Majors
    • All Majors
    • Most Popular Majors
    • Choosing a Major
  • Intern
    • Internship Directory
    • How to Get an Internship
    • How to Write a Resume
    • How to Write a Cover Letter
    • How to Interview
    • How to Network
    • Career 101
    • Find Your Passion Career
  • Money
    • How to Make Money
    • How to Save Money
    • How to Get a Job
    • Credit Cards 101
    • FAFSA
    • Ramen Project
  • Travel
    • Study Abroad
    • College Spring Break
    • How to Travel Cheap
    • Things to Do
  • Shop
    • Writer Course
    • College Magazine Shop
    • Gift Guides
    • College Packing List
  • Find your college or university
  • About Us
  • Team
  • Write
  • Apply
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sign Up
  • Advertise
  • My Account
  • Cart

You are here: Home / Student Travel / 10 Things To Do in the Windy City: COVID-19 Edition

10 Things To Do in the Windy City: COVID-19 Edition

September 3, 2020 //  by Amy Coval

FacebookTweet

Chicago: tired of staying in the house? Need a change of pace? Although local and state officials still recommend staying home as much as possible to maintain social distance, many businesses have opened and have begun operating under new COVID-safe guidelines.

If you want to get out of the house for a socially responsible and safe venture, check out CM’s COVID-19 city guide to the Windy City.

1. Offshore

File:Navy pier.jpg - Wikimedia Commons
commons.wikimedia.org

Chicago has plenty of roof-top and city view bars, but have you ever wanted to see a rooftop view from Lake Michigan? Navy Pier recently opened its first open-air bar, Offshore.  The bar actually advertises as “the nation’s largest rooftop venue.” “The atmosphere was really fun and people were dressed up for a nice summer dinner! It was nice to be outside during COVID, and the weather was so beautiful! The view was the best part too from Navy Pier,” Northwestern sophomore Tyce Christian said. Right at the end of the pier, you can sit here and watch the cityscape as the sun falls behind it. The bar currently runs under social distancing guidelines and requires a mask for entry until you reach your seat. For an insider tip: try going early afternoon for mimosas and their brunch menu for some tasty avocado toast or overnight oats.

2. London House Chicago

white and brown city buildings during daytime
unsplash.com

This rooftop bar sits right in River North. If you want the emphasis on the rooftop, look no further. This bar has sweeping 360-degree views of the Windy City. “The rooftop bar at London House was a great opportunity for me to get downtown and enjoy the city while being able to practice social distancing measures and stay outside,” Northwestern sophomore John Blumenthal said. Insider tips: Reservations on the weekend are currently quite hard to come by and backed up as of now. Try going for dusk/night time on a weekday for a chance to snag a spot. The drinks here can run up a bill, so consider eating at one of Chicago’s various COVID-safe restaurants before heading on up for a nightcap.

3. Lakefront Path

File:Lake front bike5.JPG - Wikimedia Commons
commons.wikimedia.org

The lakefront path officially opened June 22 after the stay-at-home order lifted in Illinois. Right now, all along the lakefront, tennis courts, parks, playgrounds and walking/biking paths have opened to the public. “The lakefront in Evanston has been a great place to exercise throughout the past couple of months. People are very good about social distancing and wearing masks and I have felt safe on my runs. It’s been great to still enjoy the outdoors and be able to see the Chicago skyline while I work out,” Northwestern Sophomore Colin Chase said. Take advantage of these fun ways to get out of the house and explore all that Chicago’s lakefront trail has to offer. Social distancing guidelines stay strictly enforced all along the route. Get your fix of Lake Michigan and the outdoors with the lakefront path.

4. Kayaking in the Chicago River

File:A Gaggle Of Kayakers (114025219).jpeg
commons.wikimedia.org

Want to go to the city but stay outside? Go kayaking in the Chicago River. Multiple places along the riverfront offer social distanced and COVID-19 safe rentals with enhanced cleaning protocols and mask requirements everywhere but the kayak itself. Check out these vendors–Water Riders or Kayak Chicago–for price and time comparison to get your fill of the city from the river.

5. Grant Park

Cloudgate, Chicago
unsplash.com

If you don’t need to structure as to what you want to do but know you want to spend time outside, try one of Chicago’s many parks. Currently, Grant Park stays open to the public under new guidelines. Social distancing is enforced daily by park staff by patrolling and using clickers to watch capacities. Bring food from home to have a picnic, support local businesses, do COVID-safe take-out or simply admire the cityscape from the Loop at Grant Park.

6. Drive-in Movie Theatre

File:DriveIn-ScreenDuskMichele.jpg - Wikimedia Commons
commons.wikimedia.org

Yes, you can tell your parents the drive-in has come back. Drive-in movie theaters have begun to pop up all over the greater Chicagoland area. Each has its own COVID-19 protocols, admission rates and capacities, so check with your nearest drive-in for their own policies. ChiTown Futbol currently offers movies for $33 per car up to five people. They also include their own ChiTown Grille which delivers hot food to your car during the film. For more information on ChiTown Movies go to this link. Lincoln Yards holds showings Thursday-Sunday at 8:30 p.m. To ensure social distancing, only 30 cars can get in per show. Make sure to get there early and secure your spot. For more information on Lincoln Yards click here. Perfect for social distancing, patrons and households remain in their cars and can tune their radios to get the movie’s sound.  

7. Aba

Aba dining room | Aba | Chicago | 09/16/18 Lou Stejskal Twit… | Flickr
flickr.com

This Mediterranean gem located right in the Fulton River District means another great outdoor seating option to allow you to maintain distance. Being to the west of the city, you get a more outside-looking-in view than you would a restaurant located in River North or the Loop. Stay for the full dinner menu or order drinks and small plates for something lighter like their kebabs or house-made hummus platter–this place has it all.

8. Happy Camper

people holding drinks during day
unsplash.com

Looking for something out of the ordinary? The decor at Happy Camper will surely impress all who enter. This bar has a lot of spacious patio seating with a full drink menu of housemade and specialty cocktails like their ‘Matcha Mama’ or their ‘Pink Flamingo’–all house recipes. Although a 21+ establishment, Happy Camper has a second reputation for some delicious pizza. You surely must see the neon decor and kitchen accessories in person, so take a trip down to Old Town for some change of atmosphere.

9. Pizzeria Portofino

person picking sliced pizza
unsplash.com

If you want a spot right on the Chicago River, this is the spot. The pizzeria has plenty of ample patio seating, perfect for any COVID-safe lunch or dinner. The pizza comes hand-tossed and they also have an extensive selection of seafood. This place runs on the pricier side, making it great for a date night or celebratory meal of any kind. For those of you with a boat, Pizzeria Portofino offers docking at the Downtown Docks. More information about this can be found on their website here.

10. Want to stay in?

woman holding red phone
unsplash.com

Check out the sweet, secret spots Chi-town houses. @bored_in_chicago is a Tik Tok account that provides viewers with new and hidden spots all throughout Chicago. You can discover gems like public art and lesser-known restaurants. For example, there is a yellow-brick road street that leads to the house where the Wizard of Oz was written. For those that simply do not want to leave the house under any circumstances, the account gives a new way to see the city. Watch them to get excited for when you’re ready for your next outing.

*The state of Illinois has required people to wear masks in stores and other places where social distancing is not possible. All state and local ordinances should be followed in the visiting of any of the spaces above.

FacebookTweet

Filed Under: Student Travel

About Amy Coval

You May Also Like

Lisbon, Wine, and Nazi Hunters, Oh My!

college road trip

College Road Trip: 10 Tips to Stay Amused and Alert on the Road

10 COVID-19 Safe Things to Do in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Ye Old London

21 Ways to Explore London: The COVID-19 Pandemic Edition

24 Things to Do in 24 Hours in Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

The Döner Project: My Berlin Budget as a College Student

land's end

The Ultimate San Francisco Nature Guide Perfect for Social Distancing

Covid movies

10 COVID-19 Safe Things to Do in Philadelphia, PA

CM’s 24 Hour Guide to a COVID-19 Safe Jacksonville Trip

bookstore

10 Must-See Bookstores to Make a Pit-Stop at While Studying Abroad

yale photography cover

Top 10 Photo Spots at Yale to Match Your Fav Fictitious Alumni

Hark Upon the Trail: Top 10 Road Trips to Escape William and Mary

Get Out of Town: 10 Road Trip Ideas to Get You Out of That Dorm Room

10 Wonderfully Quirky Wonders You’ll Find in Paris, France

Explore Brew City: 24 Things to Do in Milwaukee in 24 Hours

10 Road Trips from UC Berkeley to Spice Up Zoom University

10 Overlooked COVID-19 Safe Spots to Hit Up in NYC

10 COVID-19 Safe Road Trips from Drake University

UCF

Fun for Knights: 10 Essential Road Trips from UCF

Bay Area

10 Pandemic-Proof Ways to Spend Quarantine in the Bay Area

Pinterest.com

10 LGBTQ+ Friendly Cities to Consider Calling Home

10 Things To Do in the Windy City: COVID-19 Edition

Egyptian pyramid with people riding camels at sunset

Studying Abroad: The Education of Experience

A Reason to Go to Manchester

Previous Post: «women studying 10 Ways to Jumpstart Your Political Career
Next Post: Chomp, Charge, Choose: 10 Ways the Swamp Beats the Bounce House uf vs ucf»

Primary Sidebar



Trending Posts

70

Top 10 Weird Scholarships You Can’t Miss

60

24 Ways My 2020 Survival Guide Turned into 2021 Lifestyle Habits

55

The Ultimate Auburn University Bucket List: 21 Things to Do Before Graduating

best classes
24

10 Best Classes You Need to Take at Drake University

cover photo sju si
10

Top 10 Best Resources Offered at St. John’s University-Staten Island

Featured Chapter: St. John’s University

Footer

logo

College Magazine is the national daily guide to campus life. Our articles for college students feature university rankings of U.S. colleges, college guides, academic advice, college prep, career advice, student health and collegiate dating tips.

Written by students for students, by a team of journalists from universities nationwide, we’re on the pulse of the college experience.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

Colleges

  • College Guides
  • College Rankings
  • Campus life
  • Academics
  • Dating
  • Freshmen Year
  • Health
  • Party

Majors

  • All College Majors
  • Most Popular Majors
  • Choosing a Major

Intern

  • Internships Directory
  • How to Write a Resume
  • How to Write a Cover Letter
  • How to Interview
  • How to Get an Internship
  • How to Network

Money

  • How to Make Money
  • How to Save Money
  • How to Get a Job
  • Credit Cards 101
  • College Loans

Travel

  • Study Abroad
  • College Spring Break
  • How to Travel Cheap
  • Things to Do

Shop

  • College Packing List
  • Gift Guides
  • About Us
  • Team
  • Write
  • Apply
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sign Up
  • Advertise
  • My Account
  • Cart

Copyright © 2021 College Magazine · All Rights Reserved · Powered by BizBudding Inc.