Chicago has professional teams in all the major American sports. There are two baseball teams – the Chicago Cubs (www.cubs.mlb.com), who play at the Wrigley Field (tel: (800) THE CUBS or 843 2827), and the Chicago White Sox (tel: (312) 831 1SOX or 1769); www.whitesox.mlb.com), who play at US Cellular Field (formerly Comisky Park). During the season (April-September), a unique experience is attending a Cub game at the ivy-clad Wrigley Field and singing the traditional Take me out to the Ball Game during the seventh inning.

The NFL Chicago Bears (tel: (847) 295 6600; www.chicagobears.com), whose season runs from early September to the end of December, play at Soldier Field. The stadium looks quite strange from the outside, but state-of-the-art improvements have made the inside quite the athletic field. The Chicago Fire (tel: (888) 657 3473; www.chicago-fire.com) soccer team is also based there.

Because of former basketball player, Michael Jordan, the Chicago Bulls (www.nba.com/bulls) is perhaps the most internationally known of the Chicago teams. They play their games at the United Center (1901 W Madison; tel: (312) 455 4000). The neighbourhood is not all that safe, so be careful in and around the centre.

The United Center is also home to the NHL ice hockey team, the Chicago Blackhawks (tel: (312) 943 7000; www.chicagoblackhawks.com), while the Chicago Wolves (tel: (800) THE WOLVES or 843 9658 or (847) 724 4625; www.chicagowolves.com) the IHL ice hockey team, play at Allstate Arena, located in Rosemont near O'Hare Airport at 10550 Lunt Avenue.

The best place for purchasing tickets to sporting events, other than the venue itself, is Ticketmaster (tel: (312) 559 1212; www.ticketmaster.com). Tickets for Bears and Cubs games are often sold out but are available from a broker for a hefty fee.

Biking: The Lakefront Trail has 29km (18 miles) of cycling paths, the area between Monroe Street and Wacker Drive being the most scenic. Keep in mind that walkers, joggers and in-line skaters also use these paths, so they often get very crowded during rush hours and weekends. Many of the city streets have bike lanes, but visitors should take extreme caution should they decide to use them because drivers often use them as car lanes. For biking information, contact The Chicago Park District (tel: (312) 742 BIKE or 2453), Millennium Park (tel: (888) BIKE WAY or 245 3929), or the Chicagoland Bicycle Federation (tel: (312) 427 3325; www.chibikefed.org). To obtain a Chicago Bike Map, telephone (312) 742 2453 or e-mail: cdotbikemaps@cityofchicago.org.

Bike Chicago, at the Navy Pier (tel: (312) 595 9600 or (800) 915 BIKE or 2453; www.bikechicago.com), Millennium Park (tel: (888) BIKE WAY or 245 3929) or at North Avenue Beach (tel: (773) 327 2706) has a good range of bicycles and blades for hire from 30 April to 31 October. Rates vary between US$9.95 (minimum four days) to US$40 per day, including helmet, lock and map. Cycling tours are also available at Bike Chicago. They will guide you through Lincoln Park, Grant Park and Chinatown. From late May through early September they offer free tours of the lakefront and the Japanese Garden.

Fitness Centres: Though most fitness clubs are for members only (although guests are welcome when accompanied by a member), many hotels have their own facilities or associate membership arrangements with nearby gyms. For US$15, a fitness facility day pass is available at any one of the city's YMCAs, (tel: 312.932.1200; www.ymcachgo.org) or download a free pass at: www.ymcachgo.org/images/ymca/sites/ymcachgo/guestpass.pdf

Golf: There are several nine-hole and 18-hole public golf courses scattered around the metropolitan area. Some of the courses that are operated by the Chicago Park District (tel: (312) 245 0909; www.cpdgolf.com) include Robert Black on the north side, 2045 West Pratt Boulevard (tel: (312) 742 7931) Jackson Park on the south side, 63rd Street and Lakeshore Drive (tel: (773) 667 0524) and west at Columbus Park, 5701 West Jackson Boulevard (tel: (312) 746 5573).

The Forest Preserve District of Cook County (tel: (800) 460 0010; www.fpdcc.com) also has several courses, including Edgebrook, 5900 North Central Chicago (tel: (773) 763 8320) and Indian Boundary, 8600 Forest Preserve Drive (tel: (773) 625 9630). Harborside International Port & Starboard Courses, 11001 South Doty Avenue (tel: (312) 782 7837; www.harborsidegolf.com), has two courses. Prices vary from about $US13.60-28 (nine holes) and US$22-92 depending on the course, the day of the week and the season.

Ice Skating: November to March, depending on the weather, Chicago Park District offers several outdoor ice skating venues (tel; (312) 742 7529; www.chicagoparkdistrict.com). The primo one is Millennium Park, 55 North Michigan Avenue (tel: (312) 742 1168; www.millenniumpark.org). It is free. Available skate rentals are US$7.

Swimming: Lake Michigan's 31 beaches are maintained by the Chicago Park District (tel: (312) 742 7529; www.chicagoparkdistrict.com). The beaches are opened from Memorial Day (the last weekend in May) to Labor Day (the first weekend in September). Lifeguards are on duty 0900-2100. Many hotels have indoor pools as well as health clubs.

Tennis: The Chicago Park District (see above) also maintains outdoor tennis courts throughout the city. Most are free. Public school outdoor courts are also available after school hours. There are 12 lighted courts at the Daley Bicentennial Plaza, 337 East Randolph Street (tel: (312) 742 7648), but they must reserved at least 24 hours in advance. US$7 per hour per person. Most indoor clubs are private.