by Mollie Millington | Jan 24, 2018 | Kilimanjaro, product review, travel
I am really starting to get excited about my upcoming holidays. The ski slopes of Verbier are getting dumped with powder, more women are signing up for our Kilimanjaro climb, and I am pretty sure I want to scuba dive in Thailand. There are so many adventures to be had and not enough time to plan them all.
Turns out when you travel to tropical places (which is something my husband and I rarely do), you need to do a bit of research and planning to make sure you are prepared with adequate vaccinations and medications. With my trips to Tanzania, Thailand, and Cambodia coming up, I contacted the Walk-In Clinic to see what jabs I would need to be safe.
You may remember that I had a wellwoman physical with the Walk-In clinic over the summer. I found utilizing a private practice gave me the luxury of time. I could talk to the doctor in depth without feeling pressured to fit all my questions in within the 15 minute time slot. Luckily for me, the clinic was able to book me in for to their travel clinic service with in a week. The clinic offers a consultation appointment, where you speak to someone to review what you will need, or simply request a vaccine that is unavailable at your local GP. They also have regional packages destinations such as Africa, India and South & Central America.
When I booked in, I was warned that I would need a consultation first and then a follow up appointment for my jabs. I took the this to mean a 15 minute conversation during which we would order my jabs and then a needle sticking session on another day. I couldn’t have been more wrong. I had an entire hour to go through the travel advice website, NaTHNaC, line by line for my different destinations. My doctor and I discussed the benefits and possible side effects, plus what I have had in the past. We looked at all three countries, made a list and then reviewed the vaccine schedule for each as some require several doses at different time points to be effective.
My big tip, no matter where you are headed, is to book a travel clinic appointment six to eight weeks ahead of time in case your vaccine needs to be ordered, requires several doses, or it takes a while build immunity. In addition, you should know what vaccines you have had previously and when. Some vaccines will last your entire life while others need periodic updating.
For my Kilimanjaro trip, there is also a malaria risk below 1800 meters. My doctor was able to discuss the different medications available and what would suit me. The side effects of some can be scary, including depression and hallucinations. As I am already on a SSRI, this ruled out Lariam, which you only have to take once a week. We agree upon the antibiotic doxycycline, which is in the tetracycline family. In high school, I had horrible acne and was on tetracycline for a while. I don’t remember any unbearable physical side effects (aside from being prone to sunburn) so I am very comfortable with the choice. The downside is remembering to take it every day and I have to keep taking it up for four weeks after my return. Our destinations in Thailand (Bangkok and Phuket) are ‘low to no risk’ which do not require malaria prophylaxis.
The last thing I wanted to discuss was altitude sickness. Out of everything that could possibly impact my trip, I am most worried about this. It seems to be very unpredictable as to who is affected. Fit, fat, skinny, strong, young, old- there is no way to know. Anecdotally, I have heard low blood pressure makes you more susceptible as well as not acclimatizing properly. People report feeling severely hungover with a bad headache, nausea, vomiting, and being really tired. For all the energy and planning I have put into this trip, it would be a shame not to see the sunrise at 5895 meters (19,341 feet). Unfortunately, the doctor didn’t know much about the condition and could not recommend whether I should carry the medicine, let alone take it prophylactically. Crowd sourced side effects from my Adventure Queens Facebook group include pins and needles feeling and having to pee a lot. Since I am not good at peeing outside, this is a worry for me. My doctor was going to do a bit more research before my next appointment in two weeks time so we can talk about it again.
On this visit, I got Hepatitis A, a rabies booster, and cholera vaccinations. I would have got Hepatitis B too, but there is a global shortage of the vaccine. The cholera will require another dose at my next visit (which is just an effervescent drink) and meningitis. At the same time, I will pick up my prescriptions for my anti-malaria pills and altitude sickness tablets. Because most of my Kilimanjaro trip will be on the side of a mountain, we took greater precautions with more vaccines which will also cover my trip to Thailand and Cambodia. Remember though, it is up to you and your doctor to discuss and agree what is right for you.
If you have any experience with climbing and/or altitude sickness, please leave me a comment below with your experience. I am eager to learn as much as I can before the trip.
Many thanks to the Walk-In Clinic for their support of my trek to Kilimanjaro. Services provided were complimentary, but all opinions and views are my own. Please speak to your GP about your travel plans rather than follow my advice and experiences. I am not a medical professional, just a biology nerd.
by thinkmarsh | Jan 24, 2018 | Kilimanjaro, product review, travel
I am really starting to get excited about my upcoming holidays. The ski slopes of Verbier are getting dumped with powder, more women are signing up for our Kilimanjaro climb, and I am pretty sure I want to scuba dive in Thailand. There are so many adventures to be had and not enough time to plan them all.
Turns out when you travel to tropical places (which is something my husband and I rarely do), you need to do a bit of research and planning to make sure you are prepared with adequate vaccinations and medications. With my trips to Tanzania, Thailand, and Cambodia coming up, I contacted the Walk-In Clinic to see what jabs I would need to be safe.
You may remember that I had a wellwoman physical with the Walk-In clinic over the summer. I found utilizing a private practice gave me the luxury of time. I could talk to the doctor in depth without feeling pressured to fit all my questions in within the 15 minute time slot. Luckily for me, the clinic was able to book me in for to their travel clinic service with in a week. The clinic offers a consultation appointment, where you speak to someone to review what you will need, or simply request a vaccine that is unavailable at your local GP. They also have regional packages destinations such as Africa, India and South & Central America.
When I booked in, I was warned that I would need a consultation first and then a follow up appointment for my jabs. I took the this to mean a 15 minute conversation during which we would order my jabs and then a needle sticking session on another day. I couldn’t have been more wrong. I had an entire hour to go through the travel advice website, NaTHNaC, line by line for my different destinations. My doctor and I discussed the benefits and possible side effects, plus what I have had in the past. We looked at all three countries, made a list and then reviewed the vaccine schedule for each as some require several doses at different time points to be effective.
My big tip, no matter where you are headed, is to book a travel clinic appointment six to eight weeks ahead of time in case your vaccine needs to be ordered, requires several doses, or it takes a while build immunity. In addition, you should know what vaccines you have had previously and when. Some vaccines will last your entire life while others need periodic updating.
For my Kilimanjaro trip, there is also a malaria risk below 1800 meters. My doctor was able to discuss the different medications available and what would suit me. The side effects of some can be scary, including depression and hallucinations. As I am already on a SSRI, this ruled out Lariam, which you only have to take once a week. We agree upon the antibiotic doxycycline, which is in the tetracycline family. In high school, I had horrible acne and was on tetracycline for a while. I don’t remember any unbearable physical side effects (aside from being prone to sunburn) so I am very comfortable with the choice. The downside is remembering to take it every day and I have to keep taking it up for four weeks after my return. Our destinations in Thailand (Bangkok and Phuket) are ‘low to no risk’ which do not require malaria prophylaxis.
The last thing I wanted to discuss was altitude sickness. Out of everything that could possibly impact my trip, I am most worried about this. It seems to be very unpredictable as to who is affected. Fit, fat, skinny, strong, young, old- there is no way to know. Anecdotally, I have heard low blood pressure makes you more susceptible as well as not acclimatizing properly. People report feeling severely hungover with a bad headache, nausea, vomiting, and being really tired. For all the energy and planning I have put into this trip, it would be a shame not to see the sunrise at 5895 meters (19,341 feet). Unfortunately, the doctor didn’t know much about the condition and could not recommend whether I should carry the medicine, let alone take it prophylactically. Crowd sourced side effects from my Adventure Queens Facebook group include pins and needles feeling and having to pee a lot. Since I am not good at peeing outside, this is a worry for me. My doctor was going to do a bit more research before my next appointment in two weeks time so we can talk about it again.
On this visit, I got Hepatitis A, a rabies booster, and cholera vaccinations. I would have got Hepatitis B too, but there is a global shortage of the vaccine. The cholera will require another dose at my next visit (which is just an effervescent drink) and meningitis. At the same time, I will pick up my prescriptions for my anti-malaria pills and altitude sickness tablets. Because most of my Kilimanjaro trip will be on the side of a mountain, we took greater precautions with more vaccines which will also cover my trip to Thailand and Cambodia. Remember though, it is up to you and your doctor to discuss and agree what is right for you.
If you have any experience with climbing and/or altitude sickness, please leave me a comment below with your experience. I am eager to learn as much as I can before the trip.
Many thanks to the Walk-In Clinic for their support of my trek to Kilimanjaro. Services provided were complimentary, but all opinions and views are my own. Please speak to your GP about your travel plans rather than follow my advice and experiences. I am not a medical professional, just a biology nerd.
by Mollie Millington | Nov 24, 2017 | race review, running, travel, WMM
|
| Kit lay before the race. Thanks to my husband for the card. |
This year was the 40th anniversary race of the Chicago Marathon who took part in the first weekend of October. There was a big opening ceremony with the press as the expo opened, featuring some of the more famous participants of the race over the years. I met one of the eight men (pictured below) who has run them all, who said to start off slow. While waiting in the start pen, I learned there was a lot of security because of the recent Las Vegas shooting which was a bit sad to think about- how we live in a day and age where that needs to be a consideration.
 |
| The eight gentlemen who have ran every Chicago Marathon. |
Race entry and fees: There is a ballot entry, along with charity places, legacy finishers and time qualifier (good for age). In 2018, it will be $195 for US residents and $220 for non-US residents. I feel very lucky to have won a ballot for my first and third World Marathon Majors (WMM) so far. Direct flights to Chicago are mid-price. As I added a stop in Houston to my trip, mine were a bit more. I also was lucky enough to stay with friends in the suburbs which allowed me to save a lot of money during my one week stay in Chicago. There are hostels local to the start line though if you plan ahead (or wait till the week before the race for people to cancel, we learned). I arrived Wednesday to allow my body to adjust to the time difference but it didn’t seem to be too much of a problem.
 |
| Obligatory bib shot at the expo |
Course and bogs: The course travels through 29 neighbourhoods in 26 miles of the race. I really enjoyed Mexican part of town as it was one big party with lots of fun music. There were lots of bands long the way too with varying genres of music. The portal loos were deserted at 6:30am in the morning but as my pen time approached at 8|:30am, the line was probably the longest I have ever waited in for a race. Along the way, loos were available at some of the drink stations but I only used them once (big improvement from Berlin) There were 20 aid stations long the way, some with medical tents and/or Gatorade. I was pleased to find the aid stations were not bottlenecks along the race route. They were so long, as well as on both side of the road, that I was able to keep a constant pace. To compensate for the warmer temps, wet sponges were distributed at a few points, along with fire trucks and sprinklers offering mist across the road for runners to cool down.
 |
| 6|:30am portaloos without a line |
 |
| Come start time, the lines were the longest I have every been in |
Location: Throughout the “Windy City” in the midwest of the United States. The city is easily accessible by most major airlines.
 |
| Such a cool display to get the runners going in the early morning. |
Atmosphere: I love Americans. They are excited to be there and cheer for the runners. There was rarely a lull in spectators along the course. Signs were in abundance and made me chuckle. Favourites included ‘You are running better than our government” and “Make America chaff again”. People were also handing out candy, donuts, pretzels and beer. I even heard someone say “Who shows up to watch a marathon for four hours and doesn’t bring beer?”
 |
| Custom sign from my friend, Pattie, who flew in from Atlanta for the weekend |
Race bling and goody bags: I might be a bit biased, but the medal is pretty cool as it means I am 1/2 way through my WMM quest. Goody bags had various drinks and snacks. Everyone got a free Goose Island beer too at the finish. Unfortunately, I don’t drink beer but I took one to share with friends or fellow finishers. No one was up for it though so I ended up throwing it away.
 |
| So happy to be done |
Tips if you want to take part next time: I did a lot of research before the race to look for other tips. The best one I read was that the GPS get confused in the city because of the tall buildings. The suggestion was to keep track of miles as “laps” for your mile splits. I found this a good distraction tool but did miss the mile marker a few times. As I have found for many of these big races, there isn’t a need to carry water as the aid stations are so frequent. I decided to wear my Osprey Duro rucksack to keep a small amount of water on hand in the heat. I sipped it along the way and took Gatorade on board at the aid sessions where I could.
 |
| Halfway there! |
I highly recommend you to do the 5k the day before the marathon. It was a lot of fun and can be something to do with your friends and family who are in Chicago with you but not taking part in the marathon. After the race, there is an awkward/stiff walk to the park where you can get a free massage at the after party. If you tend to be stiff after a race, let me warn you that the walk is long to get there. It is worth it though as you walk by the picturesque fountain and there was hardly a wait line. Plus the massage feels so good after your efforts on the course. I didn’t stay for the party in the park because we had dinner plans but it didn’t seem too busy.
 |
| Line to enter the massage tent |
Finally, the weather is unpredictable for that time of year so be prepared to give up a PB (PR) if it is hot outside. I know it sucks, but you need to take care of you.
 |
| Start of the 5K with friends |
I want to say thank you to my friends, Pattie, Lisa and Mel who came to Chiacago for the weekend. Also, big thanks to Christian, Leigh, Mia and Moo for allowing me to move in for week and for a fabulous celebratory dinner. It was so good to be back in my homeland. I was lucky enough to earn three medals and a belt buckle in eight days in two different states. It is a trip I will never forget.
by thinkmarsh | Nov 24, 2017 | race review, running, travel, WMM
|
| Kit lay before the race. Thanks to my husband for the card. |
This year was the 40th anniversary race of the Chicago Marathon who took part in the first weekend of October. There was a big opening ceremony with the press as the expo opened, featuring some of the more famous participants of the race over the years. I met one of the eight men (pictured below) who has run them all, who said to start off slow. While waiting in the start pen, I learned there was a lot of security because of the recent Las Vegas shooting which was a bit sad to think about- how we live in a day and age where that needs to be a consideration.
|
| The eight gentlemen who have ran every Chicago Marathon. |
Race entry and fees: There is a ballot entry, along with charity places, legacy finishers and time qualifier (good for age). In 2018, it will be $195 for US residents and $220 for non-US residents. I feel very lucky to have won a ballot for my first and third World Marathon Majors (WMM) so far. Direct flights to Chicago are mid-price. As I added a stop in Houston to my trip, mine were a bit more. I also was lucky enough to stay with friends in the suburbs which allowed me to save a lot of money during my one week stay in Chicago. There are hostels local to the start line though if you plan ahead (or wait till the week before the race for people to cancel, we learned). I arrived Wednesday to allow my body to adjust to the time difference but it didn’t seem to be too much of a problem.
|
| Obligatory bib shot at the expo |
Course and bogs: The course travels through 29 neighbourhoods in 26 miles of the race. I really enjoyed Mexican part of town as it was one big party with lots of fun music. There were lots of bands long the way too with varying genres of music. The portal loos were deserted at 6:30am in the morning but as my pen time approached at 8|:30am, the line was probably the longest I have ever waited in for a race. Along the way, loos were available at some of the drink stations but I only used them once (big improvement from Berlin) There were 20 aid stations long the way, some with medical tents and/or Gatorade. I was pleased to find the aid stations were not bottlenecks along the race route. They were so long, as well as on both side of the road, that I was able to keep a constant pace. To compensate for the warmer temps, wet sponges were distributed at a few points, along with fire trucks and sprinklers offering mist across the road for runners to cool down.
|
| 6|:30am portaloos without a line |
|
| Come start time, the lines were the longest I have every been in |
Location: Throughout the “Windy City” in the midwest of the United States. The city is easily accessible by most major airlines.
|
| Such a cool display to get the runners going in the early morning. |
Atmosphere: I love Americans. They are excited to be there and cheer for the runners. There was rarely a lull in spectators along the course. Signs were in abundance and made me chuckle. Favourites included ‘You are running better than our government” and “Make America chaff again”. People were also handing out candy, donuts, pretzels and beer. I even heard someone say “Who shows up to watch a marathon for four hours and doesn’t bring beer?”
|
| Custom sign from my friend, Pattie, who flew in from Atlanta for the weekend |
Race bling and goody bags: I might be a bit biased, but the medal is pretty cool as it means I am 1/2 way through my WMM quest. Goody bags had various drinks and snacks. Everyone got a free Goose Island beer too at the finish. Unfortunately, I don’t drink beer but I took one to share with friends or fellow finishers. No one was up for it though so I ended up throwing it away.
|
| So happy to be done |
Tips if you want to take part next time: I did a lot of research before the race to look for other tips. The best one I read was that the GPS get confused in the city because of the tall buildings. The suggestion was to keep track of miles as “laps” for your mile splits. I found this a good distraction tool but did miss the mile marker a few times. As I have found for many of these big races, there isn’t a need to carry water as the aid stations are so frequent. I decided to wear my Osprey Duro rucksack to keep a small amount of water on hand in the heat. I sipped it along the way and took Gatorade on board at the aid sessions where I could.
|
| Halfway there! |
I highly recommend you to do the 5k the day before the marathon. It was a lot of fun and can be something to do with your friends and family who are in Chicago with you but not taking part in the marathon. After the race, there is an awkward/stiff walk to the park where you can get a free massage at the after party. If you tend to be stiff after a race, let me warn you that the walk is long to get there. It is worth it though as you walk by the picturesque fountain and there was hardly a wait line. Plus the massage feels so good after your efforts on the course. I didn’t stay for the party in the park because we had dinner plans but it didn’t seem too busy.
|
| Line to enter the massage tent |
Finally, the weather is unpredictable for that time of year so be prepared to give up a PB (PR) if it is hot outside. I know it sucks, but you need to take care of you.
|
| Start of the 5K with friends |
I want to say thank you to my friends, Pattie, Lisa and Mel who came to Chiacago for the weekend. Also, big thanks to Christian, Leigh, Mia and Moo for allowing me to move in for week and for a fabulous celebratory dinner. It was so good to be back in my homeland. I was lucky enough to earn three medals and a belt buckle in eight days in two different states. It is a trip I will never forget.
by thinkmarsh | Oct 20, 2017 | class review, cycling, dancing, exercise, fitness, travel, water sports
When travelling, I love to use my free time to prioritise fitness and try new things. I spent a lot of time researching different fitness trends in Chicago that were not commonly seen in the United Kingdom. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to try them all. Here is what I suggest you do next time you visit The Windy City.
AIR® class in River North
This studio offers beginner/foundation to advanced aerial exercise classes, such as Flow and Core. The fabric, called a hammock, hangs from the ceiling and can be twisted together for additional strength or extended to fully suspend your entire body. Don’t worry, it really is strong enough to support you while laying horizontal a few feet off of the ground. Alexis taught my class and was very good at explaining which ways we were to flip our bodies up and around in the fabric. The two other women in the class had been to the studio before and were much more confident with their ability, while I had never done anything like this. (I did a cocoon class at Gymbox once but that was just for relaxation). Within the first few minutes of class, I was already hanging upside-down during the warm up. It was such a strange sensation to feel the pressure of the hammock on my lower back as the blood started to rush to my head. It took me some time to learn to trust the hammock and relax into each movement. Alexis, a former dancer, taught us a few separate sequences to build a one minute routine, which we tried at the end of our 50 minute class (click here to watch a video of Alexis demonstrating). Unfortunately, my lack of upper body strength hindered my ability to do several of the moves. I was sweating profusely throughout the class, had to take a few breaks, and definitely felt the session in my arms the next day. Classes can hold up to 22 people at the River North location. The studio has recently launched Floor Lab too, which is a barre-inspired workout session that covers plyometrics, planks, and push ups.
 |
| My most advanced move |
AquaMermaid
 |
| Lovely mermaids before we plunged in the pool |
 |
| Learning to float |
What woman didn’t dream of being a mermaid when she was a little girl (or even now)? Splash was one of my favourite movies growing up. I used to swim like Madison in all my friends’ pools. When I saw I could do this as an adult with a real tail, I knew I had to try it. AquaMermaid Chicago offers classes on Sunday mornings at UIC Sports and Fitness Center. The classes can also be arranged for birthday or bachelorette parties. I roped two of my good friends, Lisa and Pattie, to try it out with me at the Hilton Chicago pool. All I can say is that I was smiling from ear to ear from the moment the tails were pulled out of the bag. Our swim instructor, Cora, was very friendly and patient as she taught us how to float with the tails on, swim from one end of the pool to the other, and how to do a somersault. She also tried to teach us how to do a dolphin circle (not sure if that is exactly what is was called. We had to do a backwards somersault while keeping our legs straight) towards the end of our session. But by this point, we were getting tired and water kept going up our noses. A few moves were challenging for us to do because we only had one lane of the lap pool available to move about. We made it work though, as you can see from the photos. We all got a few foot cramps from the monofin so make sure you eat a banana earlier in the day and take the time to warm up before the class. Overall, this was an absolute blast!
Explore the 606
Unfortunately, I didn’t make it to The 606 but I absolutely love the idea of it. It is an abandoned railway line that now provide 2.7 miles of trails for walkers, runners, and cyclists. Along the way there are art installations and green space. You can have a look at all the maps here.
Divvy, Chicago’s version of Boris Bikes
OK, yes you can rent bikes in London, but I didn’t realize Chicago offered this too until my last few days. I would have much rather ridden a bike around town that taking the subway. You can see things from a pace riding through neighbourhoods rather than from the train line. Prices start at about $10/day (or $99 for the year), where a one way ticket on the L train is $2.25 and a one day L pass is $10. In Oak Park, the suburb where I was staying, I saw several commuting cyclist and numerous cycle lanes. The only downside to the bike rentals is there isn’t a helmet included, but you could probably rent one of those too from a local bike shop. If you are confident on a bike and up for exploration, I highly recommend trying these out.
There were many more things I wanted to try, like a kayak architecture tour and indoor surfing class, but I just ran out of time. If you have a suggestion on other active travel for Chicago, please leave a comment below.
by Mollie Millington | Oct 20, 2017 | class review, cycling, dancing, exercise, fitness, travel, water sports
When travelling, I love to use my free time to prioritise fitness and try new things. I spent a lot of time researching different fitness trends in Chicago that were not commonly seen in the United Kingdom. Unfortunately, I didn’t have time to try them all. Here is what I suggest you do next time you visit The Windy City.
AIR® class in River North
This studio offers beginner/foundation to advanced aerial exercise classes, such as Flow and Core. The fabric, called a hammock, hangs from the ceiling and can be twisted together for additional strength or extended to fully suspend your entire body. Don’t worry, it really is strong enough to support you while laying horizontal a few feet off of the ground. Alexis taught my class and was very good at explaining which ways we were to flip our bodies up and around in the fabric. The two other women in the class had been to the studio before and were much more confident with their ability, while I had never done anything like this. (I did a cocoon class at Gymbox once but that was just for relaxation). Within the first few minutes of class, I was already hanging upside-down during the warm up. It was such a strange sensation to feel the pressure of the hammock on my lower back as the blood started to rush to my head. It took me some time to learn to trust the hammock and relax into each movement. Alexis, a former dancer, taught us a few separate sequences to build a one minute routine, which we tried at the end of our 50 minute class (click here to watch a video of Alexis demonstrating). Unfortunately, my lack of upper body strength hindered my ability to do several of the moves. I was sweating profusely throughout the class, had to take a few breaks, and definitely felt the session in my arms the next day. Classes can hold up to 22 people at the River North location. The studio has recently launched Floor Lab too, which is a barre-inspired workout session that covers plyometrics, planks, and push ups.
|
| My most advanced move |
AquaMermaid
|
| Lovely mermaids before we plunged in the pool |
|
| Learning to float |
What woman didn’t dream of being a mermaid when she was a little girl (or even now)? Splash was one of my favourite movies growing up. I used to swim like Madison in all my friends’ pools. When I saw I could do this as an adult with a real tail, I knew I had to try it. AquaMermaid Chicago offers classes on Sunday mornings at UIC Sports and Fitness Center. The classes can also be arranged for birthday or bachelorette parties. I roped two of my good friends, Lisa and Pattie, to try it out with me at the Hilton Chicago pool. All I can say is that I was smiling from ear to ear from the moment the tails were pulled out of the bag. Our swim instructor, Cora, was very friendly and patient as she taught us how to float with the tails on, swim from one end of the pool to the other, and how to do a somersault. She also tried to teach us how to do a dolphin circle (not sure if that is exactly what is was called. We had to do a backwards somersault while keeping our legs straight) towards the end of our session. But by this point, we were getting tired and water kept going up our noses. A few moves were challenging for us to do because we only had one lane of the lap pool available to move about. We made it work though, as you can see from the photos. We all got a few foot cramps from the monofin so make sure you eat a banana earlier in the day and take the time to warm up before the class. Overall, this was an absolute blast!
Explore the 606
Unfortunately, I didn’t make it to The 606 but I absolutely love the idea of it. It is an abandoned railway line that now provide 2.7 miles of trails for walkers, runners, and cyclists. Along the way there are art installations and green space. You can have a look at all the maps here.
Divvy, Chicago’s version of Boris Bikes
OK, yes you can rent bikes in London, but I didn’t realize Chicago offered this too until my last few days. I would have much rather ridden a bike around town that taking the subway. You can see things from a pace riding through neighbourhoods rather than from the train line. Prices start at about $10/day (or $99 for the year), where a one way ticket on the L train is $2.25 and a one day L pass is $10. In Oak Park, the suburb where I was staying, I saw several commuting cyclist and numerous cycle lanes. The only downside to the bike rentals is there isn’t a helmet included, but you could probably rent one of those too from a local bike shop. If you are confident on a bike and up for exploration, I highly recommend trying these out.
There were many more things I wanted to try, like a kayak architecture tour and indoor surfing class, but I just ran out of time. If you have a suggestion on other active travel for Chicago, please leave a comment below.
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