If holing up in a room is your definition of a getaway, the Hoxton, which opened in April, is not your hotel. Not because the industrial-lite rooms don’t have everything you need (including breakfast in a bag, delivered to your door). But because everything you ought to do — Chris Pandel’s Mediterranean restaurant Cira in … Read more
Every month or so, bunnies scamper among the mats during a 75-minute class, then linger for snuggles and selfies. They’re available for adoption — ask instructor Sue Coogan, who brought one home — and either way, your class fee supports the no-kill Red Door Animal Shelter. $25 per class. 7009 N. Glenwood Ave., Rogers Park, … Read more
Mood-shifting colored lights, pumped-up tunes, and upbeat instructors keep you smiling (or at least not wanting to barf) through uphill sprints on the treadmill and strength work on the floor. Classes shift regularly between hard and fast workouts, which ensures results. From $30 per class. 228 E. Illinois St., Streeterville, runawayfitness.com
This two-hour Chicago River trip works out more than your shoulders: Shedd Aquarium guides lead paddlers as they collect litter, observe flora and fauna, and gather data about aquatic life on the way to a man-made island planted with native flowers. $40. 1200 S. Lake Shore Dr., Museum Campus, sheddaquarium.org
It’s a perennial parental conundrum: Go stir-crazy at home or risk contracting coxsackievirus at an indoor play hell. The solution? This breezy storefront, owned by former HGTV producer Nina Makovski and her husband, where the toys are (mostly) made of wood, the coffee is delicious, and every surface is spotless. $12 day pass. 25 S. … Read more
Some of the health claims about this practice — which entails sitting in a room lined with blocks of salt — might make you raise an eyebrow (relief from allergies and psoriasis?). But a guided meditation session in a quiet room lit by an otherworldly blue glow will leave you craving more sodium-packed relaxation. $45 … Read more
Desperate for a nuanced way to teach your kids about gender fluidity while tricking them into sitting still? Muffy Fishbasket (pictured) and other local queens get it done. Free. Women & Children First, 5233 N. Clark St., Andersonville, womenandchildrenfirst.com
The restoration of the former Meigs Field brings preurbanization habitats back to life while offering grand views of the skyline. A saunter along the mile-long path through the nature area is both a respite from the chaos — with chances of coyote sightings — and a quintessential city experience. 1521 S. Linn White Dr., Near … Read more
Hour-plus classes sandwich three-minute rounds of jabs, uppercuts, and hooks between a warm-up and ab-burning core moves. Arrive early so a staff member can bind your hands in wrist-protecting wraps. From $35 per class. 2417 N. Clark St., Lincoln Park, titleboxingclub.com
Proclaiming itself a “do-ocracy,” this facility attracts people who like to make, break, and fix stuff. It boasts a 3D printer, wood shop, electronics workbench, and a community of knowledgeable DIYers standing by to lend advice or a helping hand (without well, actually–ing you) on projects as simple as a record stand or as complicated … Read more
