Things to Do in Park Ridge

Proclaiming itself Chicago's only licensed jet-ski rental company, the outdoor enthusiasts at Windy City Watersports let visitors ride off into Lake Michigan from the tip of Montrose Beach. Every rental—which may be secured online or by flashing the lights atop the tallest nearby building in Morse code—includes life jackets, fuel, and storage for riders' possession.

During the four one-hour tennis lessons, you'll learn the basics of tennis from one of XS Tennis's instructors, each an experienced professional. Master the art of the backhand, draw power and sustenance from the strength of the serve, or unravel the allure of the mysterious drop shot, all while getting exercise that doesn't involve hitting a bag of potato chips with a hammer. The lessons are group lessons, giving students the chance to make new friends or potential athletic rivals between grunts and fault-fueled arguments. Customers can apply the value of this Groupon toward an upgrade to another XS Tennis class or lesson and just pay the difference directly to XS Tennis.

Founder Amanda Scotese, an avid traveler and freelance writer for Rick Steves's renowned travel guides, delegates sure-footed guides to lead sightseers to iconic landmarks and down the back alleys and lesser-known nooks of the Windy City. Tours probe the ins and outs of the Chicago's neighborhoods, such as the Loop, where they fill eyes with the sights of world-renowned architecture and minds with the secrets of the Pedway, an underground walkway that connects buildings throughout the business district with the Ninja Turtles' lair. Blues tours explore historic neighborhoods on the North and South sides, and include diversions such as harmonica lessons from a bona fide blues blower.

By recording the many people, inventions, and achievements of Silicon Valley, the Silicon Valley Historical Association forms a compelling argument that the Northern California–based tech movement is the Renaissance of our time. The association amasses commentary, interviews, and photographs from industry founders and experts to document Silicon Valley’s far-reaching impact on the world at large. Like Gutenberg’s printing press or the birth of the first carrier pigeon, the rise of the home computer has connected billions, marking a sea change in the primary ways people communicate.

The association’s research covers a multitude of subjects, from the invention of the microchip to the basic histories of some of the biggest names in the industry, such as Google, eBay, and Apple. Its documentary, Silicon Valley, condenses 20 years of the association’s work into a five-part series that discusses what makes for a successful company while recalling how many slices of pizza could fit into the earliest disk drives.

Six Taste co-owner Jeff Okita succinctly described his TripAdvisor Top 10 Pick tours to the Daily Trojan in 2011, calling them "a way for people to connect to different communities through an accessible medium, which is food." During four-hour excursions, in-the-know guides walk with fellow explorers through iconic Los Angeles–area neighborhoods—including Little Tokyo and the heart of downtown—stopping into gems to sample the eatery's cuisine and learn about the area. This cultural education is paramount for Jeff, who told the Christian Science Monitor in 2010 that "we choose the restaurants based on their story and what they add to the understanding of a neighborhood, its people and its history."

Guides currently lead more than 15 tours a week through eight different neighborhoods, with most tours meeting between 9:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. In addition to the regularly scheduled excursions, the staff also leads specialty outings that focus on more adventurous cuisines, including intensely spicy dishes in Thai Town and lost seafood recipes in Atlantis.