Work And Wellness: Where To Find Calm And Relaxation In Chicago

17.10.2023 - 12:07 / forbes.com / Frank Gehry

There are many reasons to love Chicago, the nation’s third largest city sitting on Lake Michigan and beloved for its iconic skyline, deep dish pizza, Italian beef and top-notch museums. These days however, with more travelers feeling stressed, lonely, and anxious (a recent World Travel Protection survey noted only one third of business travelers are happy traveling for work), finding relaxing activities and sleeping well has never been more important.

If you’re in the Windy City looking for a quiet reflection, you’re in luck. From leafy parks to manicured walking trails, spa and bath treaments, and a renovated hotel with a wellness concept, take a deep breath and find out below where to find calm in Chicago.

When it opened in 1908, the Garfield Park Conservatory, was hailed as one of the largest in the world. Start inside landscape architect Jens Jensen’s Fern Room, a lush glass structure a channeling what Illinois might have looked like millions of years ago and hosting a lagoon, waterfalls, and as its name suggests, various ferns. Elsewhere, you’ll find over 600 species spread over the conservatory’s two acres, and a children's garden hosts climbable sculptures and a slide that twists and turns through trees. Twice a year, flower shows celebrate the beginning of winter and spring.

Dubbed the “front lawn” of downtown Chicago, enjoy the 319-acres of Millennium Park known for its Anish Kapoor’s iconic Cloud Gate sculpture ("The Bean"), Jaume Plensa’s Crown Fountain, and Frank Gehry-designed Pritzker Pavilion whose summer concerts and winter ice-skating are requisite. Meanwhile, the sprawling Lincoln Park has manicured gardens, a hidden lily pond and trails for quiet strolls — alongside optional stops at the Lincoln Park Zoo, Lincoln Park Conservatory and Lincoln Park Cultural Center. On the city’s eastern edge, the Lakefront Trail is a paved 18-mile path following Lake Michigan’s shoreline; and making a great place to stroll, jog or nab a Divvy bike rental and cruise along stellar beach and skyline views.

On the cusp of the West Loop, Aire Ancient Baths (who also has a Tribeca, NY location) leans into the ancient practice of Roman, Greek and Ottoman bath houses. Housed in a restored factory, the dim, candle-lit space features indoor and outdoor baths with hot and cold temperatures (ranging from a toasty 102 degrees to a chill-inducing 50 degrees) and using a combination of steam, jets and salts. Max your relaxation with a 75-minute Argan oil massage, used by the Berber woman for centuries, or opt for antioxidant-rich wine bath with Spanish Ribera del Duero red grapes.

A 2021 Journal of Positive Psychology study reported consuming art helps reduce stress and combat loneliness. The Art Institute of