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Things to Do in Chicago, Illinois
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items Experience the vibrant heart of Chicago with a curated list of must-visit places and activities! 🌆🎉 Uncover the best of the city with #JenTheCounselor’s guide and make the most of your time in Chicago. 🏙️
Map
Sections
6
Outdoor Activities
Restaurants
Other Food & Drinks
Arts & Entertainment
Local Favorites
Near Chicago
Outdoor Activities
This is another wonderful nature observatory that houses a swan family! A great trail walk in the evening.
Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens
This place is such a little getaway from the city. There’s kayaking, fishing, and a great trail to walk on. It’s the perfect little retreat from the busy workday.
Tampier Lake
We have some great farmer's markets here. The one in downtown Tinley Park is open from June - October on Saturday mornings.
Farmers Market
This is a cash only farmer's market and has some great produce!
Orland Park Farmers Market
Located in Palos Heights, this trail has a lake, waterfalls, a beautiful trail, and even resident swans. The beautiful flowers that fill this lake is something worth stopping to see.
Lake Katherine Nature Center and Botanic Gardens
This is such an amazing place to visit! Located right off Kingery Highway, this trail goes on for miles and has the most beautiful landscapes…something out of a Thomas Kinkade painting.
Waterfall Glen Forest Preserve
If you’re looking for a good workout, check out the stairs at Swallow Cliff. :)
Swallow Cliff Woods - Forest Preserves of Cook County
My husband and I got engaged here! They have wonderful little shops, world famous Redamak’s, local wineries, and an outlet mall for shopping. It’s the perfect getaway for any weekend!
New Buffalo | Michigan
If you are looking to slow down, this is the place to visit. They have some little shops, but this is a place to mainly just relax. It’s super quiet and relaxing. Don’t forget to try Popeye’s (not the chicken place).
Lake Geneva Wisconsin | Visit Lake Geneva WI
This is one of our nature observatories, and in my opinion, the best one in the area. A great activity for the kids!
The Morton Arboretum
Restaurants
They have some of the best pizza around! Give this a try and you won’t be disappointed!
Lou Malnati's Pizzeria
This is another Chicago staple!
Giordano's
Located in Naperville, Morton’s has a great atmosphere and fantastic cuisine!
Morton's The Steakhouse
Gibson’s has a location in Oak Brook and downtown Chicago. Both locations are equally yummy and have a great Windy City cut!
Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse
They have great steaks and drinks for a hot summer day! What a great family restaurant!
Weber Grill Restaurant & Academy
If you’re looking for a dark, moody, romantic place to go, you should try Michael Jordan’s! Their food is incredible and atmosphere is unmatched!
Michael Jordan's Steak House Chicago
This is one of our finest steakhouses in Chicago. My husband and my favorite restaurant! If you are looking for amazing steaks, seafood, and wine, this is the place to be!
Mastro's Steakhouse
This is a Brazilian steakhouse that has servers walking around with skewers filled with amazing different meats. You also get unlimited sides at the salad bar. What an incredible experience!
Chama Gaucha Brazilian Steakhouse
Located in Tinley Park, this is a great bar and grill! They have the cutest patio to sit in on a cool night!
Hillgrove Tap
They have amazing food, great brews, and even cookie sundaes that are to die for!
BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse
This hibachi grill has some of the freshest seafood and best quality steaks I have ever had in my life. I am not just saying that either. I have been to hundreds of restaurants, including at least 50 steakhouses, and they by far have the freshest cut...
Fuji Japanese Steak House
The best Chinese in the area!
Mo's Chinese Kitchen | Orland Park & Chicago | Online Order
If you’re looking for Pad Thai in Illinois, this is the place to go! They have such great Thai food! The best around!
Pad Thai :: Best Asian in Tinley Park :: Order Online
If you want Carbon tacos or the best El Pastor around, go to El Gallo! They are open until 3 am! You won’t be disappointed!
El Gallo Tapatio II - 13640 Cicero Ave, Crestwood, Illinois
Although Maggiano’s is a chain restaurant, they have some of the greatest Italian food! We have a location in Oak Brook!
Maggiano's Little Italy
Francesca’s is also another chain, but boy oh boy do they have some great selections! Try their profiteroles at the Frankfort location!
Francesca's Fortunato
If you are looking for a local Italian staple, give Osteria Ottimo a try! They have piping hot Italian delicacies that will leave you wanting more!
Ottimo
If you haven’t been to Bavette’s, you haven’t experienced steak. They offer one of the greatest steaks in Chicago. Period. And their hidden, underground speakeasy transports you to the 1920s.
Bavette's Steakhouse
If you are in Chicago during the holidays, GO TO CHICAGO CUT. They have one of the greatest steaks in Chicago, and their holiday decor is unmatched.
Chicago Cut Steakhouse
Other Food & Drinks
This is one of our local coffee shops, located in downtown Tinley Park. They do not only serve coffee, but they also host tea parties, which are the absolute cutest!
Pekoe & Bean
Bonefish has some of the best seafood in the Midwest. We aren’t so lucky to have seafood at our fingertips like Florida or Maine, but Bonefish will do! Their cocktails are completely unmatched. I don’t consider myself a martini person unless I am at ...
Bonefish Grill
This is a great bar and grill and has the cutest patio to sit in on a cool night!
Hillgrove Tap
This bakery has some of the best pastries in town. You would be missing out if you did not visit this bakery when you come over here!
Doughs Guys Bakery | Palos Heights IL
Orland Park now has a rainbow cone!
The Original Rainbow Cone - Orland Park
I mean, who can beat an old fashioned ice cream shop! If you have never had Oberweis, you need to go NOW!
Oberweis Ice Cream and Dairy Store
We have a Stan’s!!! Located in Orland Park, they have the famous cronut that is to die for! Try their holiday cronut during the holidays and you won’t regret it!
Stan's Donuts & Coffee
If you are looking for the best almond croissants you’ve ever tasted, go here!
Beauty and The BAKER
This is one of our staple bakeries in the south suburbs. They have incredible sweets and are known for their atomic cake!
Orland Park Bakery
If you want Italian subs, pasta to make at home, or Italian candies, shop at Rubino’s! You won’t be sorry to order a rare roast beef sandwich!
Rubino's Italian Imports
Guinness just opened up their Open Gate Brewery in the West Loop of Chicago, Illinois. It is definitely worth the trip!
Guinness Open Gate Brewery – West Loop
Arts & Entertainment
If you are looking for history exhibits and learning about the prehistoric ages, come to The Field Museum!
Field Museum
Our iconic Cubbie field is a historical landmark here in Chicago. Even if you aren't a Cubs fan, it is a great experience! We are one of the only stadiums in the nation who have not changed their name.
Wrigley Field
Home of the White Sox!
Guaranteed Rate Field
Home of the Chicago Bears!
Soldier Field
This is one of our great zoos in the area.
Brookfield Zoo
Local Favorites
Lumina Hair Salon is owned by one of my dearest friends. If you want to look like a celebrity, get your hair done here!
Lumina Hair Salon I: Home
I have been a member of Hand & Stone since 2023, and I won’t go anywhere else for massage or facial. Their program is awesome because you get FREE massage or facial with their reward points program. Tell them Jennifer Chicoine recommended you, an...
Hand and Stone Massage and Facial Spa
They offer an INCREDIBLE massage!
Heavenly Massage & Spa
My husband, and I truly enjoy going to Barnes & Noble, grabbing a Starbucks, and sitting in their lounge areas to read new books! A low cost, fun experience!
Barnes & Noble
Near Chicago
Whenever my husband and I have a moment to spare, we spend time in Grand Rapids, MI and stay at Amway Grand Plaza Curio Collection by Hilton. They are our home away from home and have shops, restaurants, bars, and so much more! Run don’t walk to Amwa...
Amway Grand Plaza Hotel in Grand Rapids, MI by Curio