Chicago is throwing down the winter welcome mat with a snow-covered lineup of outdoor activities. Despite the season's reputation for staying put indoors wrapped in a cozy blanket, Chicago is bustling with cold-weather activities for every breed of winter enthusiast.

For those looking to embrace the gale forces, a trek along the Lakefront Trail with breathtaking views of Lake Michigan might just be the best option. As reported by Time Out, the 18-mile stretch offers serene sights during winter, not to mention plenty of breathing space away from the crowds.

The city isn't just content to roll out icy pavements for its yearly winter aesthetic, it invites residents to get out and get going. Taking a cue from Block Club Chicago, the Dan Ryan Woods offers lighted sledding hills, making the nippy evening the right time to whisk down those inclines. Cross-country skiing is available at Sagawau Environmental Learning Center with its 'hypnotic' step-glide rhythm.

Ice skating aficionados aren't left out in the cold either. Chicago parks, according to Time Out, have transformed into winter wonderlands complete with skating rinks. The iconic Maggie Daley Park offers skating around its unique ribbon, while Wrigley Field opens up for a uniquely Chicago experience on the ice. 

When the snow starts coming down, Chicago ups its game with downhill thrills. A few hours' drive lands you at spots offering everything from bunny hills for beginners to black diamond slopes at places like Chestnut Mountain Resort in Galena, as Block Club Chicago unveiled.

If you thought ZooLights was the only way to hang with animals during colder temps, think again. A winter visit to the Lincoln Park Zoo offers a more intimate encounter with some 1,100 animals and fewer humans, said Time Out. And for those looking to keep their vertical momentum, sledding hills galore await in various city neighborhoods – Soldier Field even supplements its hills with machine-made snow when Mother Nature isn't quite up to par.