When traveling, I love to do as the locals do. I’m the kind of person who would visit Paris & not go to the Eiffel Tower, opting instead to sit in a sidewalk cafe & sip a glass of dry white wine. But there are at least one or two tourist activities in most places that are just so great, you can’t help but carve out some time to do them. Stop by here the second Tuesday of every month for a new city. To kick things off, check out some of my favorite must see Chicago sites below.
Cloud Gate
Cloud Gate, aka the Bean, is my absolute favorite place in Chicago. Tucked right on Lake Michigan in Millennium Park, this huge park is truly an urban oasis. The Bean itself is 100 tons of fabulous mirrored public art. Get up early in the morning to visit the Bean at sunrise. Marvel as the sun comes up behind it, reflecting off the glass encased skyscrapers along Michigan Ave. You’ll have the Bean all to yourself, instead of having to share it with hundreds of your closest tourist friends.
Wrigley Field
There’s something magical about taking in a baseball game in an old, historic stadium. Sure, the newer stadiums are nice, with their fancy luxury suites, sophisticated food, & perfect views. But there’s something wonderful about creaky seats, odd sight lines, & iconic scoreboard. If you find yourself in Chi-town during baseball’s rather lengthy season, grab some tickets to root on the Cubs & appreciate Wrigley’s ivy covered walls.
Hancock Observatory
I pick the Hancock Observatory over the Sears-turned-Willis Tower for the same reason I pick 30 Rock over the Empire State Building: it’s usually less crowded & you actually get a great view of the more famous building. Added bonus is the Hancock Observatory has a great audio tour, narrated by Ross from Friends (a native Chicagoan).
Deep Dish Pizza
Less of a place & more of a Chicago institution, a good deep dish pie is an absolute must during your visit to the Windy City (should we see just how many Chicago nicknames we can fit into one post?). I am personally a big fan of Giordanos, but others will swear by UNO or Gino’s. Whatever your preference, don’t try to do this when you’re in a hurry: you’re probably going to wait to get a table & then you’ll wait about 30 minutes for the pizza to cook. But it’s SO worth it!
Architecture River Cruise
The best way to learn Chicago history is to hop on one of their architecture river cruises. My favorite is done by the Chicago Architecture Foundation – their tour guides are top notch. You’ll learn a ton about Chicago (example: did you know that Mrs. O’Leary’s cow did NOT start the great Chicago fire?) & her amazing architecture.
Thanks for the tips. I am heading to Chicago in a few weeks (my first) so I can’t wait.
I hope you have a great time! It’s one of my favorite cities.
I love Chicago, had a blast when I was there.
Hi there,
This was a great review of one of the well-known American cities. The thing that stands out to me in regards to Chicago is the fact that you hardly see people walking in the streets when you compare it to cities like New York or Seattle. Then again, I could be wrong since I might have visited it during one of those bitingly-cold seasons. Now, which hotel would you recommend for someone looking to head over to Chicago for a weekend?
Alana
Alana,
Chicago definitely has a different vibe than NYC and Seattle – I call it “laid back Midwest”
Two hotels to check out: for old school, over the top elegance try the Drake. For a more modern spin, try the Swissotel.
Wow Christina you are a great photographer! I am now kicking myself for not being able to set time aside to head over to Chicago whilst I was over there. You have certainly inspired me to head back there next time I am in the states. Thanks for the amazing blog