Stadiums Arenas & Athletic Fields in Chicago, Illinois

Lil' Kickers provides soccer fields, soccer classes and leagues for children ages 18 months to 9 years. Lil' Kickers offers beginning, intermediate and advanced classes, as well as parent/child classes. Lil' Kickers also hosts soccer parties for children ages 2-6. For the league schedule, the class schedule or for party hosting details, visit its website. 

YMCA is a leading nonprofit dedicated to community youth, health and social responsibility. The Lake View YMCA features an expansive fitness center with modern cardio and weight equipment, a personal training center, racquetball and squash courts and a full size pool. Adult-only locker rooms feature saunas, hot tubs and steam rooms. It offers more than 250 different programs and classes, including licensed after-school and preschool care, summer day camps, free Friday family night activities, teen nights, and various activities, contests and events. The Y is also a popular and convenient location for birthday parties with many different theme options. Membership privileges extend to all metropolitan Chicago YMCA facilities.

The second-oldest major league ballpark in the country, Wrigley Field has seen a lot of history play out in front of its ivy-covered brick outfield wall. But the home of the Chicago Bears isn't stuck in the past. A renovation completed in 2015 has brought the vintage ballpark into the 21st century, with a brand-new jumbo-sized video board to complement the old-school, hand-turned scoreboard that fans love. The surrounding neighborhoods of Wrigleyville and Lakeview welcome post-game throngs with a lively sports-bar scene.

Wrigley Field parking
Parking is scarce in Wrigleyville. Most residential streets in the area are permit parking only, and the main Cubs lot at 1126 W. Grace St. fills up fast. During night and weekend games, the stadium also runs shuttles to a remote lot with free parking at 3900 North Rockwell Ave. If you still insist on driving, your best bet may be to rent a parking space from a Wrigleyville resident through ParkWhiz.

Hotels near Wrigley Field
If you're traveling in a group, the 4- to 9-person suites at The Inn at Wrigley Field are a great deal. Otherwise, you'd be well-advised to look further south for accommodations, particularly in hotel-rich River North, a quick El ride away. Though pricey, the Courtyard Marriott and the Westin Chicago River North are both good bets.

Seating at Wrigley Field
If you can't shell out for Club Box seats, go for the next best thing—seats with unobstructed views set between the bases. Field Box Sections 111-131 or Upper Deck Box Sections 411-430 offer surprisingly good views. You can also watch the game from outside the stadium, thanks to companies like Wrigleyville Rooftops that set up bleachers on the roofs of nearby buildings.

Food at Wrigley Field
Most vendors serve standard ballpark fare such as Vienna Beef hot dogs, brats, and nachos. If you're feeling fancy, grab a slice of stuffed pizza at Giordano's (Section 306), or head to the Decade Diner (Section 137-140) for bison hot dogs and other gourmet items.

Beer at Wrigley Field
A small draft beer at Wrigley costs an average of around $8. Budweiser and Bud Light flow most plentifully, but craft beers from local Chicago brewery Goose Island are available as well. Old Style, the classic Milwaukee brew, has been served in the Friendly Confines since 1950, but you won't find vendors hawking it in the aisles. Due to the Cubs' exclusive marketing deal with Anheuser-Busch, thirsty Old Style fans will have to head to brick-and-mortar concession areas instead.

Parking Alternatives to Wrigley Field
Public transportation is your best option for getting to Wrigley Field. The Addison Red Line El stop is right next door to the stadium, as is a Divvy bike share station. If you're staying outside of the city, Pace also runs express buses to the north and northwest suburbs for less than $10 round trip.

Author's bio: Nathalie Lagerfeld is a writer and editor based in Chicago, IL.

One of the oldest major sports venues in the nation, Soldier Field is home to the NFL's Chicago Bears. Situated between Lake Shore Drive and Lake Michigan, the 61,000-seat stadium is also a popular venue for college and high school football, soccer and concerts. While Soldier Field underwent major renovations in the early 2000s, it still holds some of its historic charm with the colonades on the east and west sides of the stadium.

Soldier Field Parking 
Parking options are available around Soldier Field, but be prepared for traffic and hefty prices. The main lots (North Lot, Waldron Garage, South Garage and the Alder Planetarium Lot) fill up fast, so be sure to get there several hours in advance. The cost to park in the stadium lots runs $30 or higher. Alternatively, third-party lots are a few dollars cheaper, but require a much longer walk to get to the stadium. For Bears games, both single-game and season passes are available.

Hotels near Soldier Field
Due to its proximity to downtown Chicago, there are numerous hotel options available near Soldier Field. The best options are the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place or the Hilton Chicago, but both of those will typically cost $150 or higher per night. For a cheaper alternative, look for the variety of hotels around O'Hare or Midway airports, in addition to suburbs like Evanston or Oak Park.

Seating at Soldier Field
With the recent renovations, most of the sight lines in Soldier Field are fairly good. For the better deals, try the 200-level or 300-level seats, as they offer more reasonable pricing without getting too far from the action. There are no specific family-friendly sections, but fans in sideline seats are usually less rowdy.

Food at Soldier Field
Soldier Field's food selection consists of typical stadium food (burgers, brats, etc.) from local companies like Vienna Beef and Bobak's. Soft pretzels, nachos, pizza and popcorn are also available. For the best food, try Robinson's Ribs (near Section 122) or the DMK Burger Bar (multiple locations).

Beer at Soldier Field
Beer options are plentiful at Soldier Field. Among the brands on stock include Miller, Blue Moon and Leinenkugel's, but it will cost you $9-12. Wine and Mai Tais are also available. For the shortest lines, try the upper-level (300-level and 400-level) carts and stands.

Parking Alternatives at Soldier Field
Though the stadium lots are available, public transportation is the easiest way to get to Soldier Field. Multiple CTA lines take you a couple blocks from the stadium, while PACE express buses run from remote lots to drop-off points by the stadium.

What to Bring to Soldier Field
During football season, plan on bringing anything from a light jacket (August and September) to a heavy coat and multiple layers (November and December), as winds from Lake Michigan makes temperatures very cold. For summer events, the layout of the stadium provides plenty of shade in the lower sections, but individuals in the 400-level should plan on applying sunscreen.

Insider Tip for Soldier Field
Because traffic is such a mess around the stadium during events, do your research on public transportation options. The PACE buses offer the best deal ($8-10 roundtrip per person) for getting to and from the stadium during Bears games and run through multiple suburbs.

Author's bio: Michael Benson is a life-long Illinois resident and an avid traveler throughout the Midwest.