First time going to Chicago and these are my recommendations from the time I was there! July 2026 road trip !
Map
If you’re a Sanrio lover, this is the place to go! Perfect place for photos, treats, souvenirs and memories !
Hello Kitty Cafe
Best place to be creative with your souvenir ! You get to choose your hat and patches to add on !! Staff is so nice and patient with you !
Alice & Wonder
A place not to miss if you’re a book lover ! Has a beautiful interior and exterior and was two stories ! Loved it !
Barnes & Noble
Chicago is one of the two locations that have a jellycat store besides New York City! Highly recommend if you’re a huge stuff toy lover ! It’s located in a mall right next to a Nordstrom ! Close to a lot of restaurants and stores !
Jellycat opens second U.S. shop-in-shop in downtown Chicago
If you want something a bit different, recommend the architecture board tour to wind down and learn the history of its most iconic buildings! I would recommend going in sunset so you don’t get all the UV rays !
Chicago River Boat Architecture Tours
Want actual authentic deep crust and the best pasta you’ll ever had? This is the spot ! Went for my one year anniversary with seven others, and they loved it. The serving sizes were the best had to take a few boxes home !
Labriola Ristorante - Chicago
What a sweet American breakfast, this place has it ! I got the coconut almond pancakes! Can’t go wrong with adding bacon !
Cozy Corner Restaurant and Pancake House
Want to see the first ever found human and a real t-rex bones ! Had a food court as well and it was honestly one of the best museums i’ve been to !
Field Museum
This is no ordinary aquarium, if you want dolphins, sea otters, and belugas, you know where to find them !
Shedd Aquarium
This is one of the coolest museums I’ve been to, it’s shows different cars, boats, and technology from decades and decades ago !
Griffin Museum of Science and Industry
If you’re a huge boba lover as I am and would like Chinese cuisine and Asian stores !! I recommend !!
Chinatown
If you plan on going to the bean, go early in the morning or in the late afternoon so you don’t catch any uv rays and crowds !
Cloud Park -The Bean
If you’re a huge architectural nerd like me, Frank Lloyd Wright was the architect behind the gothic target !
TimeOut Chicago: A Brief History of Goth Target, TikTok's Favorite ...
Pizza lovers !! This one of the best pizza I’ve had while my time in Chicago !! It was so good hot and cold !!
