3 Days In Chicago
Did you know Chicago Is the 3rd largest city In the United States?
This was my first time In Chicago and It did not disappoint! My boyfriend and I had 3 full days to explore this amazing city.
Here, you will get a full rundown of our Itinerary. We focused on exploring the city In the most convenient way possible.
The highlights of this trip consisted of the River Architecture Boat Tour, the Gangster and Ghost Tour, along with a quick picture by the BEAN!
Itinerary: DAY 1
1. Fly Into Chicago (Midway):
We chose Midway over the O'Hare just because It was a shorter Uber ride from the airport to downtown.
2. Check Into Hotel Julian:
This hotel is modern, clean, and decently sized for a room in the city. The location Is amazing! It Is on Michigan Ave. (one of the main streets of Chicago) and walkable to most activities on this Itinerary. If you are lucky, you might even have a view of the Bean from your room! Be warned... It can get noisy at night from the traffic, but... It's part of the city experience.
3. Millennium Park:
This park Is just a 4 minute walk from Hotel Julian. Here you will be greeted with The Bean. The Bean Is a reflective piece of art that captures the beautiful essence of Chicago. This spot Is touristy, but worthwhile for a quick photo. If you have time, explore Millenium Park, you won't regret It.
Itinerary: Day 2
1. Chicago Gangster and Ghost Tour: (Walking Tour)
I highly recommend starting with walking tours when visiting a new city. Walking tours are great because you quickly get a sense of the city's layout and places you may want to visit again during your trip. The tour consists of a history lesson on Chicago's Infamous gangsters like Al Capone and how the city became what It Is today. The tour Is about 1.5 miles long with frequent stops In between.
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2. Dinner: The Gage:
The Gage Is a stunning Michelin recognized restaurant conveniently on Michigan Ave. across Millenium Park. We decided to go during dinner, but It would make sense to stop by for after the Gangster Tour. Highly recommend their escargot and their New York strip. Both dishes are chefs kiss. See the link below for their full menu.
3. Drinks: Palmer House a Hilton Hotel:
We discovered the Palmer House during the Gangster tour. At the hotel, you will learn that the first brownie was Invited here. And bonus... they still sell their famous brownies with the original recipe! Yum! When you first walk In, the hotel will take your breath away. It Is so grand, you will want to come back. The hotel was quiet, not too crowded with friendly service. This was the perfect spot to relax and converse about the day.
Itinerary: Day 3
1. Chicago River Architecture Tour:
This was beyond my favorite part of the trip. All along the river you will see different boats giving this tour. We decided to do our tour located on 465 N. McClurg Ct. It Is a smaller boat, more Intimate, and a very knowledgeable tour guide providing all types of facts on the buildings. Each building Is unique and another great way to explore the city with a different perspective. It does get cold on the river. Be prepared and dress warm. Expect to be on the boat for 90 minutes.
The tour Is a little further from the hotel, about a 17 minute walk.
2. Food: Gino's East
When In Chicago, you have to eat deep dish pizza! Our cousins In town picked us up after the tour and we drove to Gino's East. This deep dish was divine! The crust was different... made out of cornbread... I think? It had a yellow hue to It. I LOVE CORNBREAD. The pizza sauce was sweet and tangy while the crust was crunchy and fluffy. The perfect combo.
3. Drinks: Starbucks Reserve Roastery
Even if you are not a Starbucks lover, you must check out this Starbucks Reserve. This Is the largest Starbucks In the world, at 4 stories high with a rooftop bar. Each level consists of something unique from pastries to coffee. Best part... They even have Ice cream! It Is super close to Ginos East, about a four minute walk.
4. Rooftop Bar: Cindy's Rooftop
From the Starbucks Reserve, we got dropped off at the hotel and decided to rest. The food coma really hit us. Later that night, we checked out Cindy's Rooftop for a quick drink. Again a very walkable destination from our hotel. When you walk In, take the elevators to the top, and you will find yourself In a busy bar. We didn't have reservations so we opted to order our drinks at the bar and enjoy the view outside.
Chicago Is such a walkable city, and as you can tell, most of our activities were along Michigan Ave. I cannot wait to go back and discover more of this amazing city.
I hope this itinerary helped In preparing your next trip to Chicago.
Cheers to creating stress free memories~