Things to Do in Palos Heights

What looks like a crimson-hulled pirate ship glides into view from behind Shedd Aquarium. The wind picks up, surging into the schooner's 77-foot gaff-rigged topsails and speeding the vessel along Lake Shore Drive at 10 knots. Those on shore can just make out the boat's name, Red Witch, and what appear to be passengers raising a drink to the Chicago skyline.

Docked in Burnham Harbor, the Red Witch tall ship is one three vessels in Tall Ship Adventures of Chicago's fleet. Designed by naval architect John G. Alden and named after the book Wake of the Red Witch—the same story that inspired the film starring John Wayne and Gail Russell—the Coast Guard–licensed ship accommodates up to 49 passengers within its mahogany-over-oak frame. Having sailed waters off Maui and San Diego, the boat is now under the stewardship of Captain Andrew Sadock and his crew, which leads tour cruises, coordinates charter adventures, and autographs cannonballs for each passenger.

In addition to being a current member of the American Sail Training Association, the Red Witch finished among the finalists for Best Boat/Cruise Service Provider in the 2010 Illinois Meetings + Events Readers' Choice Best of Awards.

Thanks to the innumerable breweries strewn throughout its iconic neighborhoods, Chicago has grown into a craft beer hot spot. During the 2nd annual Chicago Craft Beer Festival, the metropolis’s brews shine alongside regional and national beers beloved for their unorthodox flavor notes, subtle malt flavors, and Brooklyn accents. As participants traverse the grounds of St. Michael’s Parish—accompanied by live music from performers such as Tyrone Wells and Marcia Ball—they can sample more than 75 distinct beers, comparing ales, pilsners, and Belgian-style suds.

Skydeck Chicago whisks visitors up to the 103rd floor of Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower), the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere, for incredible views from 1,353 feet above the city. On the way up, interactive touchscreens and a nine-minute movie about Chicago architecture fill noggins with cloud-scratching trivia and inside info about the historic tower. From the deck, ocular orbs can spy city landmarks such as Soldier Field, the Shedd Aquarium, and the John Hancock Center. Far-sighted pupils can glimpse up to four states or spot sailboats playing badminton near the marina on Lake Michigan. The Ledge—a transparent glass box that extends more than four feet from the tower—offers brave visitors unobstructed views of the city streets directly below, as well as the spine-shivering sensation of walking on air. Visitors descend back to earth armed with unique snapshots of magnificent views, renewed appreciation for the building's 80 miles of elevator cable, and any loose pieces of masonry they pry off the building’s exterior.

A 30-foot sailboat floats across Lake Michigan. It churns through water twinkling with reflections of moonlight, stars, and the Chicago skyline. Suddenly, fireworks shoot into the air, painting the sky above Navy Pier in blooms of red and blue. The USCG–licensed and certified captains at 3rd Coast Cruising create moments like these during private charters and sightseeing tours. They also spend their days leading hands-on lessons that let sailors discover keelboarding or tackle more advanced conditions such as heavy-weather sailing. Launching from the giant wine bottles in DuSable Harbor, 3rd Coast Cruising's fleet also beckons potential captains to compete in sailboat races.

On Wednesday, October 3, independent distillers set up shop at the Warehouse at Carmichael's Chicago Steak House to display and sample their small-batch, artisanal wares for the second annual Independent Spirits Expo. The exhibitors come from all over the country, from Breckenridge Distillery in the Rockies to Ravenswood’s own Koval. Koval will showcase their smooth and organic spirits, including single-barrel oat and millet whiskeys, New Holland—taking a break from beer brewing— will also show off their small-batch whiskeys, and Templeton Rye struts its stuff with its eponymous spirit.

In the Corridor of Confusion, one of Amazing Chicago's Funhouse Maze’s brain-teasing attractions, decoy doorways send participants in loops around the true path to the maze’s next stage. The entire maze totals 4,000 square feet of strobe lights, puzzles, and minor scares. Meanwhile, narration and interactive games give navigators a peek into unusual corners of Chicago’s history, such as its system of underground tunnels built between the home of every mayor and City Hall.

At their own pace, guests navigate through a classic mirror maze and down tunnels of spinning and dancing lights. Elsewhere, they step into a plunging elevator and brave the Big Squeeze, an intensely narrow hallway whose walls are all desperately trying to hug you. A recreation of the Great Chicago Fire gives visitors the opportunity to stomp out the flames themselves, while a simulated fireworks show concludes the journey with a bang. Located on Navy Pier, the critically-acclaimed indoor maze is open year-round.