Chicago’s Outdoor Adventures, NEMA-Style
The gleaming new NEMA Chicago tower looks out over the sweep of Lake Michigan, the city’s Downtown loop, and the sprawling green space of Grant Park. In addition to providing beautiful views, NEMA Chicago’s location, on the southwestern corner of Grant Park, gives residents of these Downtown Chicago rentals easy access to a host of outdoor activities and entertainment. Here are a few excursions for new NEMA residents eager to explore their surroundings.
See the City from a New Perspective: The Lake
There’s nothing quite like watching the sunset behind the Chicago skyline from the deck of a sailboat on Lake Michigan. Chicago’s premier private sailing charter company, which boards at Monroe Harbor along the Lakeside Trail, is just a 15-minute walk through the park from NEMA Chicago’s South Loop apartments and specializes in sunset cruises. Offering a variety of options, including day, night, and fireworks trips, Come Sailing is run by an experienced Coast Guard captain with a passion for the Great Lakes, and the fleet includes boats large enough for six passengers, complete with a below-deck saloon.
Daily Exercise on the Lakefront Trail
NEMA Chicago residents who prefer to appreciate the lake from dry land will love the nearby Lakefront Trail, an 18-mile separated bike and pedestrian path along the Lake Michigan waterfront. The trail is less than a 10-minute walk from NEMA’s front door, making it the perfect path for joggers, bikers, walkers, and wanderers who enjoy feeling a breeze while they exercise. To the north, the trail leads past the beautiful Buckingham Fountain and North Rose Garden, while traveling south on the trail will take residents past the Shedd Aquarium and Soldier Field.
Heading to the Gridiron
In less than a month, the Chicago Bears will open their season at Soldier Field with a game against the Green Bay Packers. Rivals since 1921, the two teams have played one another nearly 200 times, with the Bears maintaining a lead for decades before the Packers pulled into a narrow lead of 97-95 victories. The opening game on September 5th promises to continue this epic rivalry, as well as begin a redemption season for the Bears, who lost to the Eagles in last year’s Super Bowl. The stadium itself, which is highly accessible to NEMA Chicago, is a classic piece of Neoclassical architecture and features local food and beverage offerings, including multiple spots for burgers, BBQ, or bratwurst. And no game would be complete without a cold glass of local Goose Island Beer Co., available throughout the stadium. After enjoying a Bears victory, NEMA Chicago residents only have to take a brief stroll through the park back to their luxury home.