Chicago Maven

Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series of weekend guides to cities where Maven employees live.  Our own Chicago Maven, Ann Marie Arquilla, is kicking off the series, starting with a quick trip to her home city of Chicago. Stay tuned for more exciting travel adventures!

Summer time in the “Windy City” offers amazing weather and an abundance of activities to keep you busy! Since the warm weather won’t be around for long, when considering “where to go” and “what to do”, Lake Michigan is a great starting point.  The second largest Great Lake more closely resembles an ocean with it’s sheer size and the stretches of sandy beach that line it. Here are just a few tips for making the most of your visit:

1. Visit Oak Street Beach or North Avenue Beach. Oak Street is right off Michigan Avenue and has a more laid-back atmosphere compared to the lively North Avenue beach where you can visit the famous Castaways for a cocktail and people watching.

2. Get on a boat! If you are with a large group, there are several options for renting or chartering your own private tour of the lake. Otherwise, architectural tours, leaving either from Navy Pier or the Chicago River, are super informative ways to learn more about Chicago.

3. Speaking of architecture, Chicago is home to the great American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. His buildings, including his home and studio are all within the great city of Chicago. Wright was a true Maven and pioneer of the architecture industry, and summer is a great time to tour his prairie style homes, which were designed to compliment the Chicago landscape. You can also learn more about him and his eccentric life in the book “Loving Frank” by Nancy Horan. This novel will tour you through his Frank’s complicated in and around Chicago.

4. Another famous Maven to come from Chicago was Walt Disney! If you are traveling with the kids, The Museum of Science and Industry is home to the exhibit “Treasures of the Walt Disney Archives”. If the summer heat is wearing you out, be sure to check out the original costumes and drawings that brought to life characters like Mickey Mouse and Captain Jack Sparrow.

If you happen to stumble into Chicago this summer, enjoy the weather, sites and food — and while you’re vacationing, don’t forget to outsource your work to Maven, or take a Consultation or two to earn some spending money!