Australian tourists from Chicago have found fun things cheap to do with your family

In Chicago, our family appreciated world -class entertainment that did not dram our bank account.
Our tickets for comedy shows during the famous games of the second city and NBA and NHL were affordable.
Chicago’s free attractions, like the zoo, were worth it – not just time charges to reduce costs.

Take teens on vacation Maybe, but Chicago overturned the script on our expectations.

With four 18 -year -olds, my wife and I headed Australia to the Windy City last winter.

To our great joy, we discovered a big city that has always offered premium experiences without the premium price.

Here are some of the strengths.

We scored last minute tickets for professional games without breaking the bank.

Attending an NBA match was more profitable than what I expected.

Cendle Jurberg

Participation in live sporting events can destroy a vacation budget, but Chicago has offered us a pleasant surprise. During our trip, we obtained last minute seats at the NHL Blackhawks and NBA Bulls for less than $ 50 per ticket.

Despite the next level, we had a clear view of each match. The stadium atmosphere felt electric and the excitement was infectious with each visit.

The two teams won victories and treated the members of the crowd to hot dogs and free cookies – which makes the victories even milder for our group concerned about the budget.

It was amazing to see Comedy Gold for only $ 39 per ticket.

Seats arranged in front of the shelled from Red to Second City — We had fun watching a show in the second city.

Cendle Jurberg

The second city is a legendary comedy institution in Chicago where many famous actors have started.

After improving university and studied second city techniques, I knew its reputation well. However, I feared that live comedy could bored the children, who are more used to scrolling through the jokes of a minute on Tiktok.

However, for only $ 39 the ticket – less than bleeding seats on Broadway – I was ready to try my luck. We ended up securing a few points a few rows of the scene, and my concerns were evaporated when the first sketch started.

An exaggerated father constantly interrupting his teenager made them laugh so hard – they said it was a perfect parody of me!

Watching the stars of the comedy of tomorrow occur where legends like Bill Murray and Tina Fey have started their career made the experience even more remarkable.

The children even asked to see another show before leaving Chicago.

The city’s free activities were really worth our time.

Persons of ice in front of the chicago roofs — We appreciated the view behind the skating ribbon of the Maggie Daley park.

Cendle Jurberg

Chicago offers a legitimate value with its free attractions, which is not always the case in major cities.

Skating ribbon ice cream skating of the Maggie Daley seasonal park only cost skating rental costs, and we enjoyed sliding in front of a backdrop worthy of Instagram from the Chicago horizon.

The Chicago Fed Money Museum was also a fascinating free detour, with a souvenir bag of shredded money worth $ 342 – unfortunately unusable but a unique memory.

The Lincoln Park Zoo, unlike many zoos in major cities, does not charge any admission – and it is impressive, with 35 acres hundreds of animals.

In addition, the city’s architectural treasures proved to be engaging unexpectedly.

Tiffany Dome in Chicago — The Tiffany Dome of Chicago Cultural Center breathed us.

Raymond Boyd / Getty images

Chicago is renowned for its architecture, and we did not have to pay for visits to take advantage of it.

Our phones were constantly released to capture wonders like the Tiffany Dome massive stained at the Chicago Cultural Center and the Hobbies Orna Building Downtown.

Even the grand staircase of the Harold Washington library has become a photo place.

Public transport has made separation easy and affordable.

Station station above the floor in Chicago — We found it easy to get around Chicago on a budget.

Temporary archives / getty images

Although carpooling costs in large cities can quickly add up, the efficient public transport system of Chicago has maintained our in -failure travel budget.

Our rental in the proximity of Little Italy with a “L” train stopped that the downtown attractions were only a few minutes away – and a weekly $ 20 transport pass has become a key to the city for each of us.

We found that the simple transit cards and times were easy to follow, which gave teenagers unprecedented independence and more chances of pleasure.

They explored Michigan Avenue with confidence while my wife and I had coffee. One morning they liked to sleep while we started our day early.

This freedom to separate occasionally made the journey more pleasant for everyone.

Chicago broke our hypotheses on travel costs in major cities.

Chicago Theater — Chicago offered us an unexpected value, from its sports halls to its comedy clubs.

Cendle Jurberg

Before our trip, I was particularly worried that it would be difficult to find entertainment after dinner for 18-year-old Australians who can drink legally at home but not in the United States.

Instead, Chicago’s night energy has created perfect shared experiences that have not broken the bank.

Whether by applauding a game of Bulls or laughing together at Second City, everyone felt part of the city’s dynamic evening scene – and my wife and I could enjoy a cocktail without making it a focal point.

I was so pleasantly surprised that a metropolis benefiting from world -class architecture, professional sports and revolutionary comedy offered such experiences without inflating our credit card declarations.

Although the visit to big cities always has a cost, the value of Chicago has meant that we have spent more time living attractions and worrying about expenses.

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