A nine-hour drive or a quick flight from Chicago gets you the summer getaway you’re looking for. The Northeast Tennessee mountains await with miles of rivers and the Appalachian Trail.

Every April, I talk about moving to a warmer climate, as our winters in Chicago seem to last forever. But when May hits, the birds start chirping again, the trees start to fill in and the memorable smells of summer return – and we fall in love all over again. Here are our favorite ways to enjoy Chicago in the summer.