31. Sports Monster
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (773) 866-2955
Address: 4237 N. Western Ave.
Description: This Chicago outpost of the 15-city-strong company features a range of sports leagues including basketball, broomball, bowling, ultimate Frisbee, soccer, and volleyball, as well as classes and clinics for activities such as running, rock climbing, and dancing. Consider yourself more of a Muppet than a monster? No worries. All levels are welcome. Plus, Sports Monster promotes individual registration as much as team registration. Fees vary per sport and event; membership fee too.
32. Windy City Fieldhouse
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (773) 486-7421
Address: 2367 W. Logan Blvd.
Description: In addition to hosting outside companies’ league events, this huge, multipurpose, warehouse-size facility runs some of its own, both recreational and competitive, and at all levels. Join as an individual or round up the crew for a team. Fees vary.
33. Diversey Driving Range
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (312) 742-7929
Address: 141 W. Diversey Pkwy.
Description: Convenient to downtown and right off Lake Shore Drive, this dual-level driving range is located on a scenic stretch of Lincoln Park within sight of Lake Michigan. It’s open no matter the weather, and when the weather’s right for wimpy golfers, it’s packed. It’s fairly no-frills, though it has been improved over the years and boasts heating lamps and has a parking lot. Club rental and lessons are available. Buckets $9 for 50 balls and $14 for 100. The $25 Advantage Card takes $1 off each bucket.
34. Diversey Miniature Golf
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (312) 742-7929
Address: 141 W. Diversey Pkwy.
Description: Practice your putts at this popular 18-hole mini golf course associated with and adjacent to the Diversey Driving Range. It’s not super-fancy, but it’s clean family fun and has a couple of challenging moments (as well as the oft-errant wood chip from the surrounding park). Admission $8 (with Advantage Card $7); seniors and children 17 and under $6. Open daily.
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Parks & Recreation
Address: 6401 S. Richards Dr.
36. Robert A. Black Golf Course
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (312) 742-7931
Address: 2045 W. Pratt Blvd.
Description: Up north and tucked away a bit, this 9-hole, par-33 course presents a perfect outing for groups and golfers working on their game. It plays at a medium speed, with wide fairways and fairly flat terrain; no water, but sand bunkers offer extra challenge. Course rates are $19 weekdays, $14 with Advantage Card; seniors and juniors rate (with Advantage Card only) $10; weekends $21, $16 with Advantage Card; seniors and juniors (with Advantage Card only) $16. Open daily.
37. Sydney R. Marovitz
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (312) 742-7930
Address: 3600 N. Recreation Dr.
Insider Pick:
Description: The lake breeze can be a lovely thing or a challenging factor of this par-36 course—call it the Waveland course if you want to sound like a local—that parallels Lake Michigan for 3,240 yards. Tee up early (we’re talking before sunrise) and you’ll get in your 9 holes within a couple of hours; after that, it often gets frustratingly slow on warm days. But it still remains a favorite. A ladies’ league forms during the summer. Course rates are $23 weekdays, $18 with Advantage Card; seniors and juniors rate (with Advantage Card only) $11; weekends $26; $21 for all with Advantage Card. Open daily.
38. Chicago Park District Courts
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Parks & Recreation
Description: Under the Chicago Park District umbrella are dozens of outdoor tennis courts. They vary in number and quality, but they are a treat for all levels of players. Some popular spots include Athletic Field Park (at Lake Shore Drive and Addison Street, 773-478-2889), McFetridge Sports Center (California near Irving Park Drive, 773-478-2609), and downtown’s Daley Bicentennial Plaza (Randolph Street and Columbus Drive, 312-742-7648). Rates vary from free on up.
39. Chitown Tennis League
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Parks & Recreation
Description: Didn’t quite make it to Wimbledon this year? That’s OK. You can be the winner of your local tourney on a ChiTown tennis league. Just join online and ChiTown hooks you up with like-minded players, and coordinates schedules and playoff season on local courts from spring through summer. Not so much into the competitive aspect? Join the Partner Program and you’ll be connected with up to 20 players who match your skill level and are close enough to you to meet up. You can even request doubles. With such service—and annual donations from the company based on a percentage of profits to the Cancer Research Institute—what’s not to, ahem, love? $16 to $35 to join, depending on the program.
Name: no value!
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Parks & Recreation
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Parks & Recreation
Address: 2020 W. Fullerton Ave.
42. Chicago River Canoe & Kayak
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: Chicago: (773) 704-2663; Skoki
Description: Rentals, guided paddles, canoe and kayak lessons, and even 4-week cardio kayak workout classes are organized by this established outfit. City sightseeing trips take you on a semi-strenuous 6-mile kayak trip through the skyscraper “canyon” of downtown, while the easier Moonlight Dinner Paddle guides participants up to a riverfront park for a pleasant picnic meal. Other tours start from the Skokie Lagoons and traverse this scenic wildlife waterway. Rentals are $15 an hour for a single, $20 per hour for a tandem. Lessons and tour prices vary; cardio classes $80 for first-time joiners, $50 for returning. Generally running from late Apr through early Oct.
43. Chicago Sailing
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (773) 871-7245
Address: 3526 N. Recreation Dr.
Description: This enthusiastic, 20-plus-year-old company helps start beginning skippers on their sailing journey, and helps more advanced sailors polish up their rusty skills. Mix and mingle with your fellow mateys at the floating Club Sail events held several times a week, including Tuesday night’s cookout; or book a luxury charter for a laid-back personal cruise. For those who’ve already got the nautical know-how, you can also rent from among the fleet. Prices vary.
44. Chicago Yacht Club
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: Sailing School: (773) 477-4952
Address: 400 E. Monroe St.
Description: Founded in 1875, the Chicago Yacht Club now ranks as one of the oldest and definitely one of the best regarded yacht clubs in the world. Besides more than 100 races, social events, and club activities that it runs, there’s a top-notch sailing school, which provides lessons throughout the summer for juniors and adults. Pricing varies.
45. Kayak Chicago
City: Chicago, IL
Category: Parks & Recreation
Telephone: (630) 336-7245
Description: With more than 20 years of kayaking experience and even more as an avid outdoorsman, Dave Olson sets the right course for kayak tours and lessons. Get out on a Fireworks Paddle to ooh and ahh at Navy Pier’s weekly summer pyrotechnics from the quiet of the Chicago River. The Architectural Tour gives you a little history for your efforts, and the Lake Paddle gets you offshore with views of the skyline. For something a little different, try out paddleboarding. Rent recreational kayaks with no prior experience, or sea or surf kayaks if you’ve already passed the appropriate classes. Pricing varies.