Chicago, Illinois

Try Deep Dish Pizza! The first thing we have to mention (obviously) is food! Trying Deep Dish pizza is a must! We tried Giordano’s, but Lou Malnati’s and Gino’s East were also highly recommended.
Check out “The Bean” (Cloud Gate) and walk around Millennium Park.
Stroll the Riverwalk. The architecture boat ride was highly recommended but it was a little cold when we went.
Visit SkyDeck. You can view the downtown area from 13 floors, and 1,350ft up. They have transparent glass boxes called “the ledges” that you can walk out on, look below and take some cool photos. Fun facts: 1) It’s actually the highest public viewing area in the US. 2) The elevators operate as fast as 1,600ft (488 meters) per minute (among the fastest in the world). 3) On a clear day you can see four states (Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin and Michigan). Visibility from the Skydeck is ~40-50 miles.
- Note: Book online ahead of time to skip some of the line.
Attend a Chicago Cubs Game. We went to a 1:20PM Cubs vs. Angels game and sat right behind home plate. Watching the game up close makes for such a fun experience!
- Pre and post game bars in Wriggleyville were a blast. Some that we went to were Sluggers (full sports complex including batting cages) and John Barleycorn (young twenties crowd, dance floor, etc)
Get your sugar fix at Stan’s Donuts. They have unique whimsical donut flavors. I tried the ‘lemon pistachio old fashioned’ flavor and it did not disappoint!

Drink coffee at Hero Coffee Alley. This alley gives off such Harry Potter vibes, It’s a beautiful cobblestone alleyway & is one of the oldest buildings in the city. It was previously home to a stable in 1857 – how cool is that?!
Find unique murals around the city. There are a ton in the River North area. ex. Deer blowing pink bubble mural
Visit local bookstores. This is something we try and do everywhere we go but found it special in Chicago. We took the “L” to Lake View East (right outside of Wriggleyville) to find some in the area.
Transport to a different time period by driving/walking through The Gold Coast Neighborhood. You can imagine what it was like to be wealthy and live in this neighborhood in the 1800’s. You can also look up Hemingway’s house while you’re there.
Eat Lunch at The Allis Soho House. This is a chic upscale place where you can go to visit with friends, read, study, have a drink etc. It has a unique seating arrangement with sofas scattered through the high ceiling rooms
Eat Dinner at Girl and the Goat, Executive Chef and “Top Chef” winner Stephanie Izard’s restaurant. We enjoyed getting a variety of her innovative small plates and sharing them.