Travel
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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
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Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
If you had 1 day in Chicago
what would you do? I'm heading there for a work conference and will have the evening + 1 day before my flight home. It has been years since I've been to Chicago! Thanks! Also, any good food recs?
Re: If you had 1 day in Chicago
Oh man, that's a tough one. I think it depends on your personal tastes. For me, if it was nice I'd go to Oak Street Beach and hang out for awhile. Rent a bike at Navy Pier and bike around. Do some shopping downtown on State St. and on Michigan. I'd have lunch at Cantina Laredo on State which has wonderful Modern Mexican food and a lovely atmosphere. The tableside guacamole is great!
If I had some time left, I'd hit up the Art Museum. For dinner, something on the cheap, I'd do Gino's East Pizza. Great pizza. At night, I'd either do drinks at the Signature Lounge on the 96th floor of John Hancock, or go to Howl at the Moon for a fun dueling piano bars experience.
ETA: And for a rainy/cold day, I'd probably try and see a couple museums (Science and Industry is a fave of mine) or go to Shedd for part of the day.
The museums are fantastic, but every city has them. If I only had one day, I'd skip them all (IMO Museum of Science and Industry is the most interesting, but unfortunately, down in Hyde Park, it's also the furthest from the Loop).
Here's my perfect single day (assuming you're staying in the Michigan Avenue or Loop area).
Get up, eat a light breakfast at or near the hotel. Alternatively, there's Waffles in the 1400 block of South Michigan Avenue in the south loop (if you're up for a morning constitutional and like breakfast) or maybe hit up The Doughnut Vault for a pair to go (I'm not a donut person, but I'm into these). Walk east to the lake. Eat your donut and/or drink your coffee while sitting on a bench (Oak Street Beach, Navy Pier-- take your pick).
I don't really like doing touristy things when I travel, so I'd keep the tour de Navy Pier short. Really, I think the view from the top of the Ferris Wheel is worthwhile, but only if you don't anticipate being in a tall building later in the day (more on this later). The Shoreline Cruises Architecture Tour of the river is really, really well done and interesting. I would recommend it to anyone who finds history or architecture even remotely interesting. Move inland and slightly south to check out "The Bean" and other sculptural and fountain features in Millennium Park.
For lunch, I'd probably head someplace I could dine al fresco (and people watch) if the weather's nice, like Quartino (600 block of South State), Tavern on Rush, or the patio at Le Colonial (my favorite). If you wind up in the Gold Coast, people watch and enjoy the great mix of upscale local shops and galleries and larger high-end retailers.
From there, I'd wander on foot back east, poke my head in Holy Name Cathedral (the seat of our Catholic Diocese), and over to Michigan Avenue. Explore the historic Water Tower area, consider a pre-dinner drink at the bar at the Signature Room (atop the Hancock-- here's your million-dollar view), then head to dinner. I adore Le Colonial in the Gold Coast, but if you're interested in getting neighborhoody, I'd head up to Lincoln Park (Red Line El to Armitage, or a cab), for a delicious fondue dinner at Geja's on Armitage. Darker and moodier than the ubiquitous Melting Pot. You may leave smelling like cheese, but the meal is worth it (get on their email list for sweet coupon deals).
There are so many more places I'd recommend for you to see (especially away from the downtown area), but this would be a full pedestrian day in the heart of the city. Enjoy your trip!
Wedding Date: January 16th, 2010
Cycle #5: BFP on June 14, 2011 -- Due Date: February 23, 2012 -- Born: February 26, 2012
Eat at Xoco.
Walk around Millennium Park.
Check out the glass platforms at Sears/Willis Tower.
I love Millennium Park and walking around Old Town!
The platforms at Willis Tower are pretty awesome. But Sunset at the Hancock is beautiful! If you head to the Sky louge and purchase a drink you don't have to pay $$ for the sky deck.
2012 Reading Challenge
Now Nesting from Chicago, IL My nail blog:
I have a post in my blog about everything I did while on a week-long business trip to Chicago so most of my recs are for attractions that are open after work hours- http://anamericangirlstravels.blogspot.com/search/label/Chicago.
If you are there on Thursday evening, the Art Institute is open late and is free that night. You can also walk around nearby Millennium Park. One of the favorite evenings of my business trip was enjoying a drink in the Signature Room Lounge on the 96th Floor of the Hancock building, followed by dinner at Xoco and shopping on State Street. I also did quite a lot of just walking around, taking in little sculpture gardens, the lightscapes and other areas around the city. Have fun!
An American Girl's Travels
If the weather was nice, I would be certain to visit Buckingham Fountain and Grant Park. As far as dining, Cafe Babareeba in Lincoln Park is a must for me. It's a tapas/Spanish place, and we don't have good tapas where I live.
I'm also a Cubs fan and would go to a game and/or visit the neighborhood near the stadium, weather permitting.