National Bike Month: Cycling Through Chicago

To celebrate National Bike Month we’ve teamed up with Divvy to bring you the most popular bike rental spots around Chicago. Explore these wheelie great locations with surrounding delicious eats, tasty libations and fun sites to see! Cycle your way through the city one sweet spot at a time.

1. Streeter Dr. & Grand Ave. (Navy Pier) Live like a tourist in your own city and check out the hidden gems of Chicago’s #1 tourist destination – Navy Pier. Rock out in Festival Hall B with the Exhibitionism: The Rolling Stones open through July 30^th. Cool off from the heat with some shaved ice at Snow Dragon Shavery or a tasty treat from the newly opened Brown Sugar Bakery! Or truly get that out-of-towner experience and ride on the Navy Pier Ferris Wheel after enjoying a Cheezborger at Billy Goat Tavern.

2. Lake Shore Dr. & Monroe St. If you’ve biked here, you’re surely headed to Montrose Harbor for some sailing on the high sea. Kayak Chicago has hourly rentals for some fun in the sun or for those land-dwelling, bird-watchers, the Montrose Point Bird Sanctuary is a must-see.  Word on the street is Montrose Beach is the best Pokestop around town! Finish your outdoor, active day off with some healthy Vegan eats at Loving Heart.

3. Theater on the Lake (Fullerton Beach) Spend a Chicago summer day at the free Lincoln Park Zoo, then spend some time at the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool – one of the most beautiful spots in the city! Have a delicious late lunch with top notch service at North Pond, being sure to ask for a table by the window! Then head to Theater on the Lake, celebrating 65 years of theater community this season. Check the Chicago Park District site for the upcoming schedule of shows.

4. Lake Shore Dr. & North Blvd. The city’s most well-known beach, North Avenue Beach can be found at this Divvy station. Right on the beach, seasonally open Castaways Bar & Grill is the place to be seen when grabbing a drink and burger. Not one for getting sand between your toes? No worries, as the Chicago History Museum and International Museum of Surgical Science are located nearby for more scholarly Yelpers.

5. Clinton St. & Washington Blvd. (Ogilvie Station) This Divvy Station is all about the French Market! Get your hands on a delicious boba tea from B.I. Tea, a macaroon from Vanille Patisserie, doughnut from Beavers Donuts and some fries from Frietkoten Belgian Fries & Beer…pretty much all the makings of a calorie-ridden but incredibly delectable eating fest. If you insist on being a bit more healthy and want to be part of one of the biggest food trends right now, devour a poke bowl from Aloha Poke!

6. Michigan Ave. & Oak St. Catch some rays along the Oak Street Beach, before heading onto Oak Street – one of the fanciest places in the city for all your luxury shopping needs. Jimmy Choo, Hermès, Christian Louboutin and Prada are among the shops on Oak Street! Keep up with the high-class experience and indulge yourself in a meal from Café Spiaggia or Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House.

7. Millennium Park Chicago’s rich culture is abundant at the Millennium Park Divvy Station! The Art Institute of Chicago (free Thurs 5-8pm for IL residents), Jay Pritzker Pavilion with their summer movies in the park, Harris Theater, The Cloud Gate (aka The Bean) and Maggie Daley Park are all right within reach from this station. Surrounded by food and drink spots, you can’t go wrong with anything in the Chicago Athletic Association – from cheap eats at Shake Shack to pricey but exceptionally unique cocktails at Milk Room to drunch with a view at Cindy’s.

8. Canal St. & Adams St. (Union Station) Just rode into Union Station and need a drink before pedaling off into the sunset? Stop at appropriately named The Junction for a casual brewski. Nearby Lou Mitchell’s is a classic diner that every Chicagoans needs to have breakfast at in some point in their lives. Al’s Beef is another city staple conveniently close to the Union Station Divvy Station. Looking for some great happy hour specials and a bountiful burger? Head to close by Boston Blackie’s along the riverfront.

This blog was researched and written by Yelp Community Director Alex S and Yelp Intern Sarah S!

About our Partner: Divvy is Chicagoland’s bike share system, with 6,000 bikes available at 580+ stations across Chicago, Evanston and Oak Park. Divvy provides residents and visitors with a convenient, fun and affordable transportation option for getting from Point A to Point B. Divvy is available for use 24 hours/day, 7 days/week, 365 days/year, and riders have access to all bikes and stations across the system.