Summer in Chicago photo courtesy of “http://cheekychicago.com”

Now that the intense cold of an endless winter is officially over—it’s time to finally enjoy an amazing summer in the windy city! Chicago is filled with endless possibilities for fun in the sun and I’m so grateful to be spending my summer semester here. There are a couple perks I am especially excited about, though.

Running in Chicago photo courtesy of “http://luthermemorialchicago.org”

Firstly, Chicago is notorious for housing a population of generally healthy and “fit” people (who you will see running everywhere—always). Because of this, there are so many amazing trails/paths/boardwalks and even sidewalks that you can enjoy for any type of exercise you prefer. Whether it’s simply going for a walk with a friend, training for a marathon, or renting a Divvy bike—the options are endless! This may seem like such a silly thing to be excited about, but the weather is finally beautiful! And I can’t wait to get out of the house and shake up my work-out routine. Many cities don’t provide a welcoming and accommodating atmosphere for people to freely exercise in such a safe and inviting environment. I’m excited to explore and discover new trails and routes within my city!

Osaka Garden photo courtesy of “http://www.chicagoarchitecture.org”

Secondly, along with this idea of finally soaking up the sun its important to remember—we live by a giant beautiful lake! It is truly such a joy to live so closely to the water and enjoy all of its benefits. Not to mention the beautiful beaches we can escape to throughout the summer. It’s going to be a busy time of the year, but that doesn’t mean we CAN’T do our work outside in a swim suit does it?? I plan on making the most of the fantastic nature that this big city has to offer. There are many great sites where one can travel to enjoy nature while still being in the city. Some of the sites I personally plan to escape to are Osaka Garden and the Chicago Botanical Gardens.

Chicago Festivals photo courtesy of “http://www.chicagomag.com”

Thirdly, there are so many awesome festivals and events in the summer! These include anything from neighborhood music, art and dance festivals—to taco festivals. There are countless events that take place every week, and the awesome part is—they are typically FREE! So being the penny pinching graduate student that I am, I can’t imagine a greater place to celebrate culture and the arts other than in this amazingly diverse city. I am personally very excited for Summer Dance, Wells Street Art Festival, and Chicago Summerfest. Time to finally go out and enjoy this beautiful weather!