This gym is located on UC's campus and I believe you must be affiliated with the University to be a…read moremember here, but I could be wrong. Like most gyms, it really depends on what time you come to decide if you can get in a solid work out or not. Not a lot of free weights, machines are placed together in a haphazard way; not conducive to sets unless leg and bicep day is on your workout schedule. Squat racks and smith machines are plenty, but usually taken by UC athletes who are deadlifting. Equipment is in okay shape. There are spray bottles and towels available to ensure things are sanitized - in theory, that is. Here is my challenge with this gym: there are numerous signs reminding obtuse college students to wash their hands, practice basic human hygiene, wear appropriate clothing and shoes etc. Do you think anyone adheres to these rules? No. This is the smelliest gym I have EVER been to. EVER. Students are barefoot, in flip flops, wearing jeans - which to me just screams lawsuit (and a yeast infection) waiting to happen. At the end of the day, if you are a student here, this is probably an awesome place to work out - athletic 20 year olds, decent equipment, and lots of signs you won't read. As a grown up spending real money to work out here - try and come in the middle of the morning as you will miss out on all the annoyances.

The Gerald Ratner Athletic Center stands out amongst the neo-Gothic architecture of the University…read moreof Chicago thanks to its impressive contemporary design by noted architect Cesar Pelli in collaboration with local architecture firm OWP/P (now Cannon Design). The curvy rooflines and the spiky structural steel masts make their mark upon the northwest corner of the U of C campus. The Ratner includes facilities for swimming, basketball, and assorted workout facilities. The central atrium holds a sports Hall of Fame that includes the first Heisman Trophy, won by Maroon football hero Jay Berwanger.

I don't live in the suburbs, and I don't even wish I did, but every so often you discover one of…read morethese amazing places . . . The Cermak Family Aquatic Center is awesome. A holy-grail destination for summer days with kids. They have a lazy river full of innertubes, and giant 2.5 foot deep pool with a play structure and various splashing items, plus a splash pad, and a junk food concession. It is neither a real swimming pool nor a water park. Not a real swimming pool because the deepest part of the pool is 2.5 feet deep. Not a water park because there's no actual waterslide, though there is a slide ... into the water -- if you grasp the distinction I'm making. But as a consequence this means that you can feel much more comfortable giving even young kids a decent amount of freedom (obviously not too much! be safe!) and generating the kind of wet, chlorinated, hot, happy, exhausted summer day that you may have grown up with as a kid. Chicago is a big city of rich amenities, so there are not a ton of things that I say are clearly worth a 45 minute drive from my house, but this is one of them.

Located inside Forest Preserve District of Cook County; Cermak Woods. Free parking for customers…read more Wonderful recreational area to enjoy with your family and friends. This is a well designed water recreational area. It has been changed, upgraded and redesigned throughout the years, but still here providing a great relaxing service to this community and visitors. You can grab a towel at the nearby Marshalls, and sunscreen as well. Plenty of grocery stores and restaurants nearby if you would like to enjoy a picnic with your family as well. Enjoy this wonderful experience.

I really like this location! I switched here from a previous gym, and I've been pretty happy I did…read more There are a ton of cardio machines from rows, to bikes, to treadmills. I've never had an issue of waiting for a treadmill like I have at other places, so I like that they have so many. I've never experienced any of the machines being broken either -- cardio or weightlifting. I like how many variations of each machine they have. For example, they have two variations of the leg extensions, two of leg curls, and about a million for bicep curls lol. The staff is pretty nice, and I've been satisfied with the conditions of the locker room/bathrooms. Parking is also free for the first 2 hours. Only down side is that it's too hot in here! No matter the time of the year, summer or winter, it's hot!

This place is located on the West side of Lake Park Ave between the Whole Foods and TJs. There is…read moreparking which I believe is just North of the gym. The gym is on the 3rd floor. I put in the instructions for the parking (see photos). I did not use it because I just walked from my hotel. The front desk people were friendly to me so I had no issues with that. The positives were that it was not crowded and they had the hip machine (see photos). The negatives were that they are considered a signature club so I had to pay $10 because my membership is basic. Also no basketball court and only 2 squat racks so that could be a problem if it gets crowded. Not bad overall.

We were visiting from California and checked this place out with our family who lives close to it…read more It was so much fun! The slides were great. Splash pad amazing. And the pool was so nice it was cushiony on the bottom. Deepest is about 5 feet.

Great place to hang out with family! Come here a lot. Very clean and well taken care of.read more

Gorgeous health club!! My friend belongs here and I joined her for dinner at the restaurant/grill…read more The food was tasty and excellent service. I was given a 90 minute pass for dinner and they seem strict on the time. My friend also gave me a tour. It's an impressive space!! About 450,000 square feet, spanning across 2 full city blocks and 5 levels. They have everything you can think of: pools (4 pools!), saunas, restaurants, tennis, golf, basketball, boxing, group glasses, weights, machines, pickleball, spa, hair and nail salon, indoor running track, co-working space, and so much more. Beautiful artwork, pristine locker rooms and restrooms. Wow! High ceilings and so much space overall. Nothing felt crowded. Beautiful design and layout. I was in awe and very impressed.

(Kari's Rating 7.5/10)…read more TLDR -Up-to-Date equipment -Work from home spaces -Convenient Healthy Market Came with a friend to hang out on a Wednesday around 5:30pm to see what East Bank Club is all about. After seeing all the crazy amenities which were super cool with a ton of variety, I think the thing that surprised me the most is how up-to-date all of the equipment was and the variety of activities they had for people to enjoy. If you're looking for an all encompassing workout/work space, this is it! They have everything from full-size tennis courts, to a golf simulator-like set up,except you get to hit into an inflatable pillow! They also had plenty of Pickleball courts, and they offer so many different workout group classes.both a wet and dry, sauna, and tons of treadmills and free weights. I was also really impressed that they also had a physical training area. So think something that was my personal favorite and the best thing for Chicago Summers is a beautiful rooftop pool and lounge area. Not only did they have two outdoor pools (one for adults and one for kids) but they also have an indoor pool as well for winter as well as an indoor hot tub! They also had a common area workspace where people can come to take meetings and do their work from home gigs. You could practically move in here haha! As of right now, it is a $750 new membership fee as well as $295 a month, which is a pretty hefty chunk of change if you ask me considering most of the high rises around, have some kind of rooftop pool and workout area. It is cheaper if you join with a domestic partner or if you're between the ages of 16 and 29-see pic for current pricing. They also sometimes host social events which is super fun to meet everyone else in the club, but at the same time I think it is more of an investment in your future and your future health if you can afford it! I will not be joining at the moment, but hey-that could change anytime if I decide I should be on a health kick.

What a great hotel gym! I was lucky enough to be staying at…read morethe Hilton Chicago last month and get a workout at their fabulous fitness facility. Amenities include: Indoor running track Indoor lap swimming pool with three lanes Jacuzzi Free weights up to 100 lbs Treadmills Elliptical machines Stationary bikes Stair climbers Smith Machine Rowing machine LifeFitness strength machines Dry sauna Most hotel gyms have one treadmill, one stationary bike, and some free weights, so this one definitely blew my mind. I cannot wait to return to take advantage of this offering the next time I'm in Chicago.

I'm not used to indoor pools. I was surprised at the…read morestrength of chlorine. We could smell it getting off the elevator. It would have been nice if they left the doors to the sun deck open, but apparently there are lots of spiders and insects that will fly in. Other than that, the rest of facilities are really nice. Great indoor track. I didn't use the machines, but they looked very clean and there were quite a few of them.

We love this park! It has a little bit of everything. Lots of grassy areas like baseball and soccer…read morefields, a rubber track, and a large playground for the kiddos. The park is great for picnics, people-watching, or walking the track. We typically come here to play on the swings though! They have baby swings which is perfect for my 9-month old. The playground is large with activities great for children of all ages that I know my baby will grow into along the way. On the weekends it can be busy, but adults and kids have always been respectful when playing. It's a great park, and we are so happy/lucky to live close by!

The turf project is finished and is a great new asset to the neighborhood!…read more Now if they could get around to opening the play lot that would be great.

Great facility open year around BUT CLOSED FOR SCHOOL…read moreHOLIDAYS! Spa and sauna are super nice. The rec app says there is a Pilates reformer but no classes to sign up. Testing to find out if true.

**UIC Swim Classes: A Budget-Friendly Option for Kids**…read more We enrolled in UIC Swim Classes for our 1.5-year-old and found it to be a solid, budget-friendly option. At $22 per session, the classes offer structured swim lessons at a more affordable rate compared to other local options. There is a chill vibe that works great for a 1st learner, but the level of rigor is lower than Goldfish so we switched there once we got off their wait list. Classes are sold in 5 week packages, and reschedules are not typically allowed. The class structure follows a set sequence of exercises. Instructors are friendly, but engagement is inconsistent. While they guide kids through various activities, the level of encouragement and feedback varies, with some instructors mentally checking out after providing initial directions. The UIC facility itself is quite nice - The water is comfortably warm and there are changing areas. Parking is available but paid for a few dollars. Note that your access is restricted to within 15 minutes of class time, so don't go too early. Though there are fewer opportunities for underwater practice and confidence-building dips, the parent/tot classes are primary about getting your kid comfortable in water. Overall, UIC Swim Classes deliver decent value for the price, though parents seeking a more intensive training that will get kids swimming faster may want to explore Goldfish.

I've been a member of Life Time Fitness for several years now and I have to say this location is…read more.. interesting. Located on the 9th floor of the One Chicago building near Magnificent Mile. To gain access into the club you can either walk in from the main lobby floor of One Chicago and take the elevator up to the 9th floor and that's where the club entrance is. There's only two elevators, during rush hour times there is often a line just to go up or down. You could take the stairs but who wants to climb 9 levels? That alone is a workout! Once you're inside the club there's 2 floor levels. The first floor has the check-in lobby, cafe, bar, locker rooms, rooftop pool and spa. The second level has all the workout equipment, cardio, and studio rooms for workout classes. I wasn't a big fan of the layout, it's kind of all over the place. Got a chance to take a Warrior Sculpt class with Taylor and it was awesome! One of the best sculpt classes I've ever had. I've seen some reviews complain about issues with the staff being rude but I honestly did not encounter any of that. Everyone was very friendly and welcoming. Oh and one last thing! This Life Time is open 24 hours! That's something I've never seen before, not even in NYC. That's a major win.

I've been teaching as an instructor here for the past year and love the facilities, the members,…read moreand my 5 year old loves the kids academy and free parents night out parties! Great for all ages, fitness levels, and interests.