The frozen season may never be a Chicagoan’s favorite, but it has a way of bringing into focus the city’s less obvious charms. Wood-paneled taverns are cozier, snow-dusted skyscrapers more picture-worthy, outdoor activities more invigorating. And with this cheat sheet of the very best things to do this winter, both inside and out, you have absolutely no excuse to miss out on any of them.

What do you want to do?

Get Outdoors

Where to ski, sled, tube, skate, cross-country ski at night, and more

Frolic Indoors

Where to eat, drink, cavort, gawk, read, and jolly it up

Photography: (Jackson Hole) Jackson Hole Mountain Resort; (stew) Dan Goldberg