If you are reading this, you’re probably considering traveling to Chicago. If not, thanks for checking out my blog! Around 40 million people visit Chicago every year, so if you’re planning a trip here, you must have good taste in vacation spots! Chicago is home to around 2,600,000 people, thousands of delicious restaurants, beaches, lakes, historic landmarks and way more than enough fun things to do! Personally, I’ve been lucky enough to pass through this beautiful city twice, where I spent my time exploring every Google-noteworthy spot I could Uber to, and trying as many new foods as I could! In order to get the full experience, you should plan to spend around 4-5 days in Chicago! Whether you’re in Chicago for pleasure or for work, make sure to try to pass by as many of these spots as possible!
Most big cities have beautiful skylines. That’s a given. But there is no city like Chicago! Head over to the Chicago Riverwalk to take in some of the most breathtaking views of the buildings. Every year, Chicago dyes its river in honor of St. Patrick’s Day. If you’re lucky and happen to be in town around St. Patrick’s Day, you might even catch the river while its green!
If you dare to face your fear of heights, head over to the John Hancock Center to check out the Wills Tower Skydeck. The tickets are $23.00 for ages 12+, $15.00 for ages 3-11, and free for children under 3! If you don’t know what this experience is, well, you basically take an elevator to the 103rd floor and stand in a glass box over the entire city that is 1,353 feet in the air. Sounds easy, right? Although stepping out onto that ledge might be the scariest thing you’ll ever do, it’s rewarding! At first, it seems impossible to get yourself to step onto the glass, but there is an 100% chance you will be so proud of yourself if you’re successful! Once you have forced yourself to stand on this glass balcony over the entire city, head over to the gift shop to buy yourself a souvenir! You can also purchase professional photos of yourself in the glass box for memories!
When in Chicago, you definitely want to make sure you take a trip to Millennium Park. Here, you will find the Cloud Gate that’s most famous for its nickname, “The Bean.” This sculpture is a huge hit in Chicago. It attracts thousands of people to it every day. When visiting it, you’ll want to take tons of selfies from different angles since its pretty much a giant mirror. If you dare to take your Chicago vacation in the winter, bring jackets and gloves and you can ice skate at Millennium Park with a great view of the Bean behind you!
Another popular spot in Chicago is the Magnificent Mile. The Magnificent Mile, or “Mag Mile,” is also known as the Michigan Avenue District. Here, you will have some great opportunities for shopping! The Mag Mile is home to some of the nicest resorts and restaurants in the city! If you’re looking for upscale shopping, hotels, or restaurants, you are guaranteed to find them here!
When you just want to get away from the chaos of the city, take a walk along Lake Michigan. Not only will you have some amazing views of the city, but you will be surprised at how blue the water is!
Calling all Shameless fans! If you have good taste in Netflix shows, you have probably obsessed over Shameless like the rest of us. As you know if you’ve seen the show, Shameless was filmed in Chicago, and YES, you can visit the Gallagher’s house. If you have no transportation and you’re willing to take an Uber, the ride is around 20 minutes. The Gallagher’s house is located at 2119 S. Homan Avenue, (You’ll see Kev and V’s house one house down,) and the Jackson’s house is located at 1937 S. Spaulding Avenue, only a few blocks from the Gallagher’s! If you are a major fan of Shameless and can make the trip, I’d suggest you take advantage of it!
So, you have an idea of places to see in the windy city, but let’s get to the important stuff. THE FOOD. Chicago is home to some of the best food I’ve ever had. Being a foodie, I’m always open to trying new foods everywhere I go, but Chicago is currently my number 1 favorite food spot. Here are some of the reasons why!
GIORDANO’S. Chicago is home to some of the best deep dish pizza you’ll come across in the U.S! After doing my research on where to eat in Chicago, I noticed Giordano’s come up on every list I read. I realized that I clearly had to check this place out. I’m so happy that I did because Giordano’s exceeded ALL expectations. Yes, this was the longest I have ever waited for a pizza in my life, (around two hours,) but it was so worth it! If you don’t like to wait, they do take out! Make sure to call and order ahead!
Looking for a good brunch spot? Sunny Side Up & Coffee Shoppe will definitely satisfy your breakfast and lunch cravings! Whether it’s a breakfast burrito or pancakes, Sunny Side Up has something for everyone!
When in Chicago, you have to stop at one of the many ramen spots. On my trip, I came across the cutest little ramen bar called Friends Ramen. They even have a sister restaurant next door called Friends Sushi! The ramen is incredible. They have a huge variety of flavors and ingredients for great prices! Each bowl is only $6.00!
If you have the opportunity to head over to the West Side, make sure to stop by Roots Homemade Pizza! This place is known for its oversized mozzarella sticks. Everyone who knows me knows that my favorite food is mozzarella sticks and I can honestly say that these are my FAVORITE mozzarella sticks out of all of the ones I’ve ever tasted. Along with their great mozzarella sticks, Roots has some unique pizza options, specifically the taco pizza!
***NOT PICTURED but noteworthy: Jake Melnick’s. This place was ranked #1 in Chicago for its wings. The Today Show even named them the “Top Chicken Wing Spot in the U.S.” I spent two different nights in this adorable Irish pub and I most likely have no photos of the experience because I was too busy eating the wings before I had a chance to capture the moment! They have so many unique flavors to choose from, including but not limited to, Firecracker and even PB & J. You MUST stop by.
I hope this guide is helpful for your trip to Chicago! I would love feedback on how beneficial you found my guide if you get the chance to vacation in the Windy City! Thank you for reading! XOXO, Lacey
Lacey Kratz 
Leave a comment