A winter wonderland in Illinois

An Illinois winter is brimming with festive activities and events, promising a go-to destination for the quintessential winter wonderland experience.

The holiday season takes center stage in late December, while outdoors, meet the Bald Eagles of Illinois in January, and catch a show at one of Chicago’s illustrious theaters in February.

DECEMBER

There’s a storybook magic to Chicago in the winter. The Chicago winter wonderland offers ice skating and festive shopping along the famed Magnificent Mile.

Lace up your skates at Maggie Daley Park for a unique winter experience across this winding, ice-covered path, with the city skyline as a backdrop.

Make sure to try a Chicago-style deep dish pizza at Lou Malnati’s, then visit Millennium Park for ice skating and a selfie with the City of Chicago Christmas Tree.

Go sledding and snowshoeing on the parkland surrounding historic Soldier Field, home to the Chicago Bears.

Travel beyond Chicago to take advantage of the Illinois’ top winter attractions.

Villa Olivia Country Club Ski Area offers a public snow area with seven runs, quad chair lift and rope tows for snow tubing, skiing, and snowboarding. With the holiday lighting, you can extend mountain time until 10pm.

Chestnut Mountain Resort is conveniently located near historic Galena. Nestled neatly in the hills overlooking the Mississippi, the resort features over 220 rolling acres and is home to nineteen ski and snowboarding trails and a seven-acre terrain park.

Head to The Forge: Lemont Quarries to ice skate under twinkling lights and then warm up in a climate-controlled Forgefire globe, a cozy spot to dine.

JANUARY

January is a great time for outdoor winter activities and Lake County, a one-hour drive from Chicago, features winter pursuits, nature trails, local wineries and boutique shopping.

Warm up inside with a visit to local craft distilleries along the Lake County Libation Trail, featuring beer, wine and whiskey makers.

With more wintering American Bald Eagles than any state outside Alaska, Illinois delivers some of the best eagle watching in the country.

Quad Cities Bald Eagle Days Environmental Fair and Wildlife Art Show takes place January 5 to 7 in Rock Island, and boasts more than 200 informative programs and exhibits over three days. This event is billed as the largest Bald Eagle event in the Midwest. Enjoy eagle viewing, live bird of prey shows, and the wildlife art show.

Celebrate the beginning of the eagle-watching season on January 7 at a free family-friendly event at Alton-Audubon Eagle Ice Festival.

Witness six pairs of eagles and their offspring on the 44-thousand-acre refuge at Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge in Marion.

Chicago Restaurant Week offers dining deals across the city of Chicago and surrounding suburbs with hundreds of restaurants featuring special prix fixe menus from January 19 to February 3. This is the ideal opportunity to delve into Chicago’s culinary diversity.

FEBRUARY

In February, the winter fun continues in Chicago with something to suit all interests.

Chicago Theatre Week runs from February 8 to 18. Now in its 12^th year, this highly anticipated event allows visitors to sample the extraordinary range of theatrical offerings throughout the Chicago area, and see iconic theater shows, for $15 – $30.

The Chicago Auto Show, the largest auto show in the North America, takes place in Chicago from February 10 to 19. First staged in 1901, 2024 will be the 116^th edition, boasting hundreds of different vehicles and numerous automotive exhibits. This is an ideal starting point for those embarking on a road trip along the iconic Mother Road on Illinois Route 66.