It was upon driving to Lincoln Park with my sister that I realized there was a problem. “Where are we?” she asked, as we were snaking through traffic on North Clark Street, searching for a parking space. This astonished me, seeing as we had lived in the Chicagoland area our whole lives.

But I soon realized that it was not just my sister who hasn’t ventured into the unknown: the neighborhoods of Chicago. A lot of kids travel the world, but have not even tasted a cupcake from Molly’s in Lincoln Park or seen a show at Second City in Old Town.

We’ve become sheltered in this one town and seldom seek to venture out and see the neighborhoods that make up our city. I can safely assume that most people have been to the Loop, shopped down Michigan Avenue, ate at nice restaurants and rode the Ferris Wheel at Navy Pier. But there is so much more to discover in Chicago.

A few of my favorites include Wicker Park, Lincoln Square, Lincoln Park, and Old Town. What I love about these places is that they are so diverse, and there is something to do on every corner. Restaurants, walk-ups, historic homes, high rises and stores line the streets. In Glenview, you have to travel a fair amount to get to the Glen or the Dairy Bar, but in Wicker Park, you have exciting places up and down North Avenue.

If you have been to Wilson or Glencoe beach, you haven’t seen anything yet because it doesn’t even come close to North Avenue beach in Lincoln Park. I have been going there since I was young, and it’s the best beach in the city, equipped with a giant boat-turned-restaurant on the shore, and a big stretch of sand and water, perfect for summer.

Lincoln Park and Wicker Park are pretty close to the Loop, but if you can’t make the trek down there, Lincoln Square is a neighborhood closer to the North Side. If I were you I would grab some lunch at the Daily Bar and Grill, and then stop for some dessert at Yogurt Square. It’s nice to just walk around and take in the scenery.

Last, but not least, is Old Town. I would definitely make a point of seeing a comedy show there since the comedic sensation, Tina Fey, started her career at Second City. Old Town also has a lot of really beautiful architecture. Two of my favorite places to go when I’m there are Twisted Sister Bakery for breakfast (and most likely later on for a cupcake because I cannot help myself) and O’Brien’s, if you are a steak person such as myself.

The main tourist hub is the Loop, and people get so caught up in there that they often forget to venture farther North or South than the Mag Mile.

Ferris Bueller could not have said it better, “Life moves pretty fast- if you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” I think it is really important to take advantage of this wonderful city we live so close to. In Glenview, we see few things over and over again inside the Northshore bubble.

We need to break through the barriers and see what is out there. You don’t have to travel the world to see and experience different things. If you’ve got the car one afternoon, turn a boring day into an eventful one; make a day of exploring a neighborhood in Chicago, and I promise you will love it as much as I do.