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Chicago isn’t a backdrop. It’s a conversation.
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items I enjoy Chicago is only a 2-3 hour adventure from my base. It’s the travel for some adventure and always something new to see or try at the local restaurants. Plenty of coffee stops and the Chicago Tribune is my newpaper of course 📰.
Chicago isn’t ...
Sections
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Good food places
Activity oriented places
Good food places
They have a pizza challenge here and world’s biggest slices! If you want to see a challenge go to YouTube : https://youtu.be/ub732XcVnXw?si=iDsolekSt9VwWewR Beard meets food does this Challenge and notes you get a t shirt 👕 if completed in proper ti...
Nonna's GoodLife Pizza · La Grange, Illinois
Great place for breakfast outside of a 🏨Go before 9 am to avoid a line.
People say this brunch restaurant serves delicious pancakes, skillets, and French toast, with generous portions and a wide variety of options.
They highlight the reasonable ...
Wildberry Pancakes & Cafe · Chicago, Illinois
Deep dish pizza, 🍕 heads-up it takes 40 minutes to prepare once ordered so prepare for the waiting for food with some appetizers to go with it. Russo deep dish pizza a popular choice.
Labriola Ristorante - Chicago · Chicago, Illinois
You know you’re in Chicago when every other area has a Starbucks in each building in some areas. This is must see at some point as it’s a different experience than just getting your coffee. ☕️
What it is:
A unique, multi‑floor coffee experience and ...
Starbucks Reserve Roastery · Chicago, Illinois
Great coffee provided here along with other trending ideas by artists. I enjoy everything about this place and the coffee is delicious and delightful together with support locally sourced. • Dark Matter Coffee - The Mothership – One of the flagship ...
Dark Matter Coffee - The Mothership · Chicago, Illinois
A great spot to find something good to eat
• Yummy Yummy Noodles – A local favorite in Chinatown serving authentic Chinese noodles, soups, stir-fried dishes, and hearty comfort food. Visitors love the generous portions, classic Cantonese noodle sou...
Yummy Yummy Noodles · Chicago, Illinois
Sweet toothed people this is the ice cream shop for you. A fan favorite is sure to be on the menu.
Xurro (Armitage & Hamlin) – Popular location serving classic churros and sweet desserts with ice cream menu items like sundaes and scoops, plus ch...
Xurro · Chicago, Illinois
A fantastic opportunity to see cultural diversity and great food locations and places to shop and visit along this area.
Chinatown · Chicago, Illinois
This is a great place to grab a pizza at!
🍕 Pizza & Vibes in Chicago
• Happy Camper Pizza – Classic Chicago pizza bar in Old Town with a vibrant atmosphere, creative tavern-style pizzas (thin & crispy), gluten-free options, and a mix of co...
Happy Camper Pizza · Chicago, Illinois
For the fun of saying the name get some great pizza to accompany.
A unique and fun pizza spot in Chicago known for sourdough pizzas and creative, flavorful pies. It’s more than just pizza — the team also does private dining and catering, and is know...
Nude Dude Food Pizza · Chicago, Illinois
At $32 dollars this Muesum is your gateway to a pool of sprinkle and fun interactions with displays that vary in theme but also offer exciting opportunities.
🍦 What It Is
• A fun, interactive experience built around ice cream — think colorful inst...
MUSEUM OF ICE CREAM · Chicago, Illinois
Heads up no reservations and weekdays are best for quicker turnaround on service. They pack some nights really well and it’s a fan favorite of the area.
Little Bad Wolf is a popular New American restaurant and bar in Chicago’s Edgewater/Andersonvill...
Little Bad Wolf · Chicago, Illinois
The Berghoff Restaurant is one of Chicago’s most historic and iconic restaurants — famed as a classic German-American dining institution.
🥨 A Chicago Landmark
• Founded: 1898 by Herman Joseph Berghoff, a German immigrant, making it one of the olde...
The Berghoff Restaurant · Chicago, Illinois
Activity oriented places
Chicago has so much to offer in such a large fashion.
I need a week here to explore all the art inside.
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📍 Insider Tips
Before You Go (this matters)
• Enter via the Modern Wing (Monroe St.) if you can
It’s quieter, brighter, and sets the tone better than Michigan Ave.
• Eat first or plan a late lu...
The Art Institute of Chicago · Chicago, Illinois
📍 What It Is
A historic, full-service hotel and convention center on South Michigan Avenue — across from Grant Park and very close to major downtown attractions like the Art Institute, Millennium Park, and the Museum Campus. 
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🏨 Atmosphere &a...
The Congress Plaza Hotel & Convention Center · Chicago, Illinois
Must get an iconic photo with the reflections.
☁️ Cloud Gate (The Bean) — Chicago
📍 Location
• Millennium Park, 201 E. Randolph St., Chicago, IL 60602
• Free to visit, open daily (park hours vary slightly by season).
✨ What It Is
• Designed by...
Cloud Gate · Chicago, Illinois
This looks like a day of fun and photo ops!
Museum of Illusions Chicago — a mind‑bending, interactive experience in the heart of downtown Chicago: 
🎯 What It Is
• A unique “edutainment” attraction focused on optical illusions, perception tricks...
Museum of Illusions Chicago · Chicago, Illinois
This is a nice area to see a sunset from
Jean Baptiste Pointe DuSable Statue · Chicago, Illinois
Art is my favorite genre to visit places.
🎨 GRAY — Art Gallery in Chicago
GRAY (originally known as Richard Gray Gallery) is a well‑established contemporary and modern art gallery based in Chicago. It’s not a museum in the traditional sense with a ...
GRAY Chicago · Chicago, Illinois
This is also a great add to your trip to Chicago, limited hours each day make sure to plan accordingly.
Chinese American Museum of Chicago · Chicago, Illinois
This is my favorite Chinatown shop. They have a wide variety of gift ideas and are always an inspiration to gather the sights and displays here. Great place to find something for anyone in your life. 🎁 Warm lighting and busy aisles convey a sense of...
Asian Image · Chicago, Illinois
This is the parking lot I use In Chinatown. Trip to see Chicago with a local business and it helps everyone out.
🅿️ Chinatown Chicago Parking Tips
1. Street Parking
• Metered parking is available on many streets in Chinatown.
• Pay attention to...
Chinatown Parking · Chicago, Illinois
📖 What Makes This Branch Special
Cultural hub for the Chinatown community:
• A modern, 16,000‑sq. ft. facility with a Feng shui‑influenced interior and impressive city views. 
• Offers a Chinese Heritage Collection and materials in both Chinese...
Chinatown Branch, Chicago Public Library · Chicago, Illinois
This is a dream hotel stay place for me. The architecture here is amazing and it would be such a wonderful experience.
The Blackstone is a historic luxury hotel on South Michigan Avenue, known for its elegant architecture and rich past. Built in 190...
The Blackstone, Autograph Collection · Chicago, IL
For family’s that like zoos one in the area to visit that’s all animals and adventure.
Lincoln Park Zoo · Chicago, Illinois
Plenty of unique items for thrift prices are waiting your visit. I like a good soak in the book section then make my way to clothes and see if any crafts items spark on the home wares sections. Parking lot fills quickly sometimes a slower pocket of t...
Unique · Chicago, Illinois
The Alley is a must stop for us. The rings created in silver and only one metal rather than blended metals. This place has something goth for all the other things on your list. Rock on 🤘
What it is: A long‑running alternative fashion and counter‑cu...
The Alley Chicago · Chicago, Illinois
This one captures a curious look sometime on one of my adventures.
What it is:
The Adler Planetarium is a world‑famous astronomy museum and planetarium located on Chicago’s Museum Campus — right on the shores of Lake Michigan. It was the first plane...
Adler Planetarium · Chicago, Illinois
This hotel is a wonderful location and a quick walk to many places on the tourist map. I enjoyed staying here a few times in my trips downtown for adventure.
What it is: A luxury boutique hotel in downtown Chicago’s Loop district. It’s part of the ...
The LaSalle Chicago, Autograph Collection · Chicago, Illinois
If your on a historical tour this is a good place to add to your visiting memories..
📍 Untouchable Tours — Chicago’s Original Gangster Tour
What it is:
A guided bus tour (about 1.5–2 hours) through Chicago’s most infamous historical gangster sites...
Untouchable Tour - Chicago's Original Gangster Tour · Chicago, Illinois
Art is something I seek to always see more of in the world
Society for Contemporary Art · Chicago, Illinois
If you want a view like no other of Chicago this is that view. The area you are able to take in is vastly different from other buildings in the area. If you’re not afraid of heights this is s great spot to go.
360 CHICAGO is a popular observation de...
360 CHICAGO · Chicago, Illinois
Supporting a local love of reading the limited hours help put times in place for you to gather a great deal of books of in the area. Local books and great customer service , plenty of children themed books 📚
A Black woman‑owned independent bookstor...
Da Book Joint · Chicago, Illinois
I enjoy bookstores and support going into the world seeking to increase knowledge of why things work or happen. Bookstores are my favorite to see out in the world. Comment a good store you find books. 📚
Underground Bookstore · Chicago, Illinois
Another great Chicago library 📚
Ryerson & Burnham Library · Chicago, Illinois
Bookstores are allowed and always worth a visit.
Unabridged Bookstore · Chicago, Illinois
This it the place to find amazing and unique items.
The Brown Elephant - Northalsted · Chicago, Illinois
The public beach in the area to watch the sail boats or other aspects you have planned for beaches 🏖️
Montrose Beach is one of Chicago’s most popular public beaches on Lake Michigan, located near the Uptown neighborhood at 4400 N. Lake Shore Drive. ...
Montrose Beach · Chicago, Illinois
The iconic place to take in a play while in Chicago
The Chicago Theatre · Chicago, Illinois
The best newspaper 📰 by fat
Chicago Tribune · Chicago, Illinois
Another historical area to visit and see older businesses in town
The Wrigley Building · Chicago, Illinois
Some parking lots have online payment which helps to figure out if a spot is open before getting to location.
Millennium Lakeside Garage · Chicago, Illinois
Worth the cat time
The Catcade - Cat Cafe & Rescue