Alexis Bittar

The Willis Tower, previously known as the Sears Tower, is in downtown Chicago. Completed in 1974, it is a 108-story building that held the title of the tallest building in the world for nearly 25 years. It remains the tallest building in the United States. The Skydeck, located on the 103rd floor, is the building's observation deck, approximately 1,353 feet above the ground. It is one of Chicago's most popular tourist attractions, welcoming about 1.3 million visitors annually. Recently, renovations have introduced new glass balconies with floors extending four feet over the street. The balcony provides stunning views of Illinois, Lake Michigan, and neighboring states Indiana, Michigan, and Wisconsin on a clear day.

Celebrate the holiday season with the nationally televised Chicago Thanksgiving Parade, which has been ranked the second-best Thanksgiving Parade in the country by Time Out Magazine. Witness the excitement as talented marching bands, majestic equestrian units, national celebrities, and spectacular performance groups march through downtown Chicago. Why settle for watching a parade meander through New York City on TV when you can see giant cartoon-character balloons, marching bands, and dancers on the streets of Chicago? If you are in the city on Thanksgiving, you can catch the annual procession before indulging in your turkey. The Parade moves down State Street between Ida B. Wells Drive and Randolph Street and ends by 11 am, providing you with ample time to return home and assist with the cooking. The event commemorates Thanksgiving with a three-hour procession of giant balloons, marching bands, dancers, and more.

Hawthorne Race Course is a venue that offers both live racing and simulcasting. It is a thoroughbred horse racetrack with a one-mile dirt oval and a seven-furlong turf oval. The homestretch on the main track is 1,320 feet long, making it one of the longest in the country. Founded in 1891, Hawthorne Race Course is the oldest sporting venue in Illinois for horse racing, considered America's original sport. The business is family-owned and operated, now in its 4th generation, and has been hosting racing events on the City's border for over a century. The track is famously known as "Chicago's hometown track." Hawthorne is also the only race course in the nation that hosts both Thoroughbred and Standardbred racing. Additionally, they have the largest network of off-track betting bars in Illinois and offer two PointsBet Sportsbooks and a sportsbook at the track.

If you're looking for a fun and challenging water adventure, consider trying stand-up paddleboarding or SUP, which are available at Chicago SUP. They offer rentals, lessons, yoga, fitness classes, expeditions, and group activities for fun in the sun. SUP is a hybrid of surfing and kayaking, where you stand on an oversized surfboard and paddle with a single-bladed paddle. It's a sport that anyone can enjoy and offers a unique and fun way to exercise. SUP is a family-friendly activity that provides an unparalleled full-body workout. Many professional athletes even use SUP during their off-season training routines. So why not give it a try and supplement your workout regime?