I just found out that Spring Break in Illinois is from March 23 to 27... well, it already passed recently haha. But for those planning for upcoming vacations, Chicago is the destination everyone chooses. The Shedd Aquarium, the zoo with free admission, Millennium Park with that famous sculpture... everything is great. What no one tells you is that the weather in Chicago at that time of year is quite unpredictable. We're talking temperatures between 3 and 12 degrees, rain, sometimes snow. Not the best time if you're looking for the beach.

The advantage is that since Illinois moves its break a week later than Texas and Florida, by the time you arrive, the crowds are gone. Hotels have more availability, and prices drop. That said, if you want real heat, from O'Hare you can connect directly to Miami or Cancun. Interestingly, it's estimated that 171 million people will travel during that period, so if you wait a week, you avoid the chaos. For those living in neighborhoods like Pilsen or La Villita, it's the week everyone takes advantage of for something. The only thing: check with the universities because they set their own dates; not all of them align with the schools.