Established in 2004, Wildberry Café continues to delight guests with delicious dishes and welcoming hospitality. Their breakfast and lunch menus are inspired by a blend of traditional homemade recipes prepared to please the patron's taste. They use only fresh, seasonal ingredients that deliver the most delicious flavors and rich goodness.
Willis tower, formerly the Sears Tower, is a 110-story skyscraper, and this skyscraper is Chicago's most dominant structure and 2nd tallest building in the Western Hemisphere. On a clear day, one can see approximately 40-50 miles (65 - 80 kilometers), allowing one to easily see four states – Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Skydeck has a ledge glass box extending 4.3 feet from the Skydeck, providing a clear view of 1,353 straight down.
Xoco—pronounced "SHO-ko"—is the Aztec word for "little sister." Rick Bayless, who runs the iconic flagship restaurant Frontera, opened the place. But there's nothing little about Xoco's bold Mexican marketplace flavors. This quick-service café from Rick and Deann Bayless is open early and closing late and proffers contemporary expressions of Mexico's most beloved street food and snacks: flaky empanadas, hot-from-the-fryer churros, frothy Mexican hot chocolate, crusty tortas, and meal-in-a-bowl caldos.
Founded in 1879, It is one of the oldest and largest art museums in the United States. The vision of this museum is to acquire arts of all kinds and conduct exhibitions for education. This museum has the third most extensive collection of Arts in the country-consisting of approximately 300,000 works of art in 11 curatorial departments. It is an excellent place to spend time with family and friends. Riverboat cruises depart from here. The iconic ferries are fantastic for a photo op if you are not into riding them. The staff is amiable and offers excellent services. It is a must for Chicago Tourists.
Once a space for railways, now a lively, spectacular gathering spot located in the heart of the city and a destination for Chicagoans and visitors alike. The view is super exciting; the park is full of joy, happiness, and cheerfulness. Boeing Gallery in the park exhibits public art. Cloud Gate (The Bean), Crown Fountain, and Lurie Garden are famous places to see and relax in the park. The beautiful BP Bridge connects Millennium Park and Maggie Daley Park (another great attraction). Wrigley Square and Jay Pritzker Pavilion are also additional favorite attractions.
Chicago Diner has been serving innovative and delicious vegan and vegetarian fare since 1983. True to their signage, "meat free since '83," all of their menus are a take on the classic American diner with a twist. It has earned numerous accolades from various media outlets for its fantastic food. They use local, seasonal ingredients and produce. All their cleaning products are eco-friendly, to-go containers are bio-degradable, and they practice bio-diesel conversion of waste oil.
Lula cafe at Logan Square is inventive, market-driven, primarily organic food in a casual, funky space, hosting a trendy breakfast/brunch. They specialize in using locally sourced fresh produce and seasonal ingredients, and the patio is lovely on a warm night with the perfect atmosphere.
360 Chicago is an observatory located on the 94th floor of the historic John Hancock Center in the heart of downtown Chicago. It offers breathtaking views of the city and Lake Michigan from over 1,000 feet above the Magnificent Mile. Visitors can also experience "The Tilt" for an additional fee; a series of floor-to-ceiling windows slowly tilt outside the building to 30°. There is also a Bar (CloudBar) to enjoy a drink (or two) while overlooking the view.
Chicago's lakefront treasure, Navy Pier, is 50 acres of unparalleled attraction space. Nearly nine million people visit Navy Pier annually, making it the most visited attraction in Illinois and the Midwest. There are many indoor and outdoor attractions at Navy Pier, such as Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Chicago Children's Museum, impressively large Centennial Wheel, Carousel, Drop Tower, Navy Pier Beer Garden, and many more. You will also find shops, eateries, and theatres.
Eggy's, a contemporary diner, is more than just breakfast (though it does have an extensive egg-centric menu). The 60's inspired menu is full of items designed to give a home-cooked feel. Think pancakes, grilled cheese sandwiches, and burgers. But it has made national news for its crunchy French toast, featured on Travel Channel's "Food Paradise" as a can't-miss carby dish.
Shedd Aquarium, a national historic landmark, has been home to more than 32,000 unique animals since 1930. It welcomes more than 2 million visitors to meet beluga whales and bluegills, rockhopper penguins and rockfish, alligators and an alligator snapping turtle, and so much more from the world's oceans, lakes, rivers, and reefs. Several permanent exhibits at Shedd include Waters of the World, Caribbean Reef, Amazon Rising, Wild Reef, Stingray Touch, Oceanarium, Fantasea, One World, and 4D Theater.
Named after Marshall Field, who donated $1 million to build the museum, The natural history museum has nearly 40 million artifacts and specimens, showcasing 4.5+ billion years of history. One cannot see so many artifacts in a day, let alone a few hours, so visitors should devise a plan beforehand on what to cover. There are additional exhibits that cost extra.
Pequod's Pizza has gained a cult following for its pan-style deep dish Pizza with a caramelized crust edge. The Pizza gained popularity with word of mouth, and Pequod's became the best-known secret for Pizza in Chicago. Mozzarella cheese is cooked along the edge of a cast-iron pan creating a crust unlike any other hence the name "caramelized crust." Customers get blown away after tasting the pie with the savory sauce and flavorful toppings.
Chef partners Susan Weaver, Rita Dever and John Chiakulas have created a menu inspired by food made in Lettuce's test kitchen. Beatrix is open daily for breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night offerings. All pastries and sweets are baked in house daily. It features Modern, all-day venue combining an American eatery, wine & cocktail bar & a bakery/cafe. They offer the kale juice, mushroom burger, kale salad, steak and eggs and a side of granola, and veggie burger. They also have amazing Caramel pie for dessert. They have a lot of the same vendors as the Kane County flea market, but have some city based vendors as well. The items for sale range from bookshelves to vintage Ferragamo shoes. It is a very entertaining location, great people-watching out the wall of windows. The cocktail menu is refreshing and unique, appetizers are light and flavorful, and their entrees were superbly executed.
The Adler Planetarium museum is dedicated to studying astronomy and astrophysics, founded by Max Adler. The planetarium is a twelve-sided building that includes two sky theaters. The theaters depict the night sky and allow visitors an up-close look at distant planets, moons, and galaxies. There are full-size theaters, extensive space science exhibitions, and a significant collection of antique scientific instruments and print materials. Its exhibits Astronomy in Culture, Chicago’s Night Sky, Mission Moon, Our Solar System, Planet Explorers, Space Visualization Lab, Telescopes: Through the Looking Glass, The Universe: A Walk Through Space and Time, and many more.
In 2011, husband and wife Art and Chelsea Jackson opened Pleasant House Bakery, a small pie shop specializing in Royal Pies—their own various handmade, artisanal meat and vegetable savory pies. In 2016, they expanded their signature British-inspired, locally sourced menu in a new location, Pleasant House Pub, which also features a full bar and cafe.
This 35-acre, beautifully landscaped zoo is the only privately managed free zoo in the USA. Established in 1868 has one of the best collections of gorillas and chimpanzees in the world. They are home to snow leopards, sea lions, penguins, Stilts, polar bears, snakes, and many more. There are plenty of hands-on exhibits, with displays set up to be informative and engaging.
The home of the Chicago Cubs, originally known as Weeghman Park, was built in 1914. A unique piece of sports history still stands while most other venues get knocked down and rebuilt, it is the second oldest ballpark. An iconic landmark, it is known for its ivy-covered brick outfield wall and hand-turned scoreboard. Visitors can see this place from the outside for free or buy tour tickets to go inside, and they can also purchase tickets on the game day to get the real experience. The games are fun and exciting, regardless of the outcome.
Jimmy Bannos Jr., a fourth-generation restaurateur, opened this place after graduating from the College of Culinary Arts at Johnson and Wales University and working for other nationally renowned chefs in Italy and New York City (Mario Batali and Joe Bastianich). He also traveled through Italy, Greece, and the United States, cultivating his culinary approach from the region's culture and food. Since opening in 2009, The Purple Pig has received numerous accolades. In 2014, Chef Jimmy received his first James Beard Award for "Rising Star Chef." The Purple Pig has been a Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand recipient since 2011 and has collected numerous culinary and wine awards nationally.
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