When life gives you a four day weekend, do you look forward to sitting on your ass catching up on favorite shows or do you pack a bag, gas up the car and drive to a new destination to explore? If TV shows and ass prints are what spark your interest, I’m sorry, this is not the blog for you. If you are excited about the later, stick around because we have an adventure for you.
Deep in the jungle that is Chicago, two lovebirds walked the streets to the heavy sound of car horns, chatter and wind. We bundled up in our winter jackets and held hands to share each others warmth and energy. Adam and I had spent a short time in Chicago before, but there was much we didn’t see, which called for our recent return.
What to do in Chicago
Chicago is filled with notable attractions that will please anyone of any age and background. During our first visit to Chicago, we spent three hours on the 103rd floor of the Sears Tower (Willis Tower); otherwise known as the skydeck. The skydeck provides a 360° view of Chicago from the comfort of solid walls or from the glass platforms that extend out of the tower leaving nothing to the imagination. I highly recommend visiting the Sears Tower as it is the tallest building in the western hemisphere and the view is spectacular.
Also, during our first visit, we explored the Shedd Aquarium, which filled up half our day. It’s a great place to take your kiddos, but I suggest purchasing your tickets ahead of time to save you and your family/friends the joys of standing in a long line outside for an hour.
During our recent trip, Adam and I decided to explore the additional tourist hot spots that we’ve heard so much about. Our first stop was the Navy Pier. Now, I didn’t delve into research about the pier before our visit, I only expected it to be the equivalent of a California pier with much to do and see. Boy was I disappointed. With the exception of the Children’s Museum, Garden and some shopping, the Navy Pier Ferris Wheel is pretty much the only notable thing to do on the pier. It costs $7/person to take a 5-7 minute ride with some commentary about the windy city.
Following the pier, we made our way to the John Hancock Building by foot. The walk was relaxing as we took the path along the lake shore leading us to the popular Magnificent Mile. The ticket desk for the John Hancock Building is located on the bottom floor attached to a small gift shop. From the shop, guests can walk down a narrow hallway to a set of elevators. Much like the Sears Tower, your ears will pop during the trip to the 94th floor to observe a “360°” view of the city 1,000 feet high. Advertising is false as guests are not given a 360° view of the city. More like a 270° view. The “tilt” is also on the 94th floor, which is an additional charge – so not worth it! Needless to say, if you walk the 94th floor of the John Hancock Building after visiting the Sears Tower you may be disappointed.
Since the John Hancock Building is one out of many tourist attractions on the Magnificent Mile, we continued to make our way down the mile. If you love food, shopping and architecture, walk the mile with some extra cash and a camera. We came across the historic old water house, fun shops, delicious food and much more.
Since the sun hadn’t given up on the day yet, we took advantage of the light and made our way to Grant Park where Adam and I made funny faces in The Bean (Cloud Gate). It’s amazing how such a simple structure can bring so much pleasure and attract so many, but it was successful in making us smile. We enjoyed our time checking out the beautiful reflection of the Chicago skyline. We returned the following day to enjoy our breakfast and morning java on the tables nearby. The sunrise on The Bean was just as beautiful as the sunset the day before.
Further into Grant Park, we found some interesting architecture and sculptures. Among them is the Buckingham Fountain, which looked dreary in the cold Spring day. The water wasn’t flowing allowing the few visitors to see its imperfections. It was unfortunate since we had the best view of Buckingham Fountain from our hotel room.
Where to Stay in Chicago
Since we have only visited Chicago twice, I do not have a long list of hotels to recommend to you. However, every hotel we have stayed in came highly recommended and we understand why. During our first visit to Chicago, we stayed at an inn within walking distance of the train station. I’m very sorry, I can’t remember the name of the inn. The cozy inn was stylish and elegant. The staff was very helpful. One of the best features of the inn is that it is a short walk to the train station and next door to a parking garage where we kept our car for the duration of our visit. During our second visit, we stayed at the Congress Hotel. It had an antique feel. The rooms were simple with a rustic feel. The best part about the hotel is the location. It sits adjacent to Grant Park only a five minute walk from Buckingham Fountain and 10-15 minutes from The Bean. Plenty of attractive restaurants are within walking distance as well. The parking situation at Congress Hotel wasn’t the best. The designated parking garage is next door to the hotel with a staff available to park your car. The staff is terrible! They are rude, impatient and drove our car like they were on a race to win a million dollars. Needless to say, the safety of our car was on our minds through the night. We complained, but the complaint wasn’t acknowledged. No bueno.
What to Eat in Chicago
Adam and I love trying new food. Unfortunately that requires more hours on the spin bike. It’s worth it. Chicago has an overwhelming amount of delicious venues to try. Any foodie would find themselves in heaven. However, in effort to help you out, let me suggest a couple places that you must try during your stay in Chicago.
You can’t visit Chicago without trying a deep dish pizza. I haven’t had one I do not like, but my favorite so far is from Giordano’s. There are many locations in Chicago, but we found our way to a location down the street from the Sears Tower. Another favorite is Lou Malnati’s. Like Giordano’s, they have multiple locations to choose from in the Chicago area. I highly recommend trying the malnati salad. Delicious! My only complaint is that the staff isn’t educated on the menu options. My husband had a challenging time communicating our order and we were told they don’t sell wine only to find that they have a full wine list available. We had to seek assistance from another waiter who was able to process our order and inform us that they do, in fact, sell wine.
If you’re in need of a quick coffee, sandwich or breakfast, check out Cosi on S Michigan Ave, across from Grant Park. Cosi is a short walk from our hotel (Congress Hotel) and since we were in a strange city, we decided to break away from our normal Starbucks craving and try a local treasure. Without hesitation, our coffee and breakfast wrap from Cosi was very delicious and I will recommend it over Starbucks any day.
For a quick snack, we recommend Garrett’s Popcorn. They have a good selection at a decent price. While my husband found the Garrett Mix to be tasty (caramel and cheddar), I bought a medium bag of caramel and white chocolate popcorn; delicious!
If you are from Chicago or travel there often and have more to add, please do. I would love to hear from you and your additional information will help my readers plan their Chicago vacation. It really is a cool city with much to do and see. Lucky are we to live only three hours from the windy city, but if you plan to fly into Chicago, at least stay for 4-5 days.