Chicago Weekend Travel Guide

Welcome to my first official post! Now, let’s get to it!
I will tell you one thing… GO. Here, you will find a weekend travel guide so you can experience the most out of Chicago! Enough time to go to the most important places and try the most amazing food.

I will leave a link here, so you can check it out and decide for yourself if you think you can add or trade stuff to this itinerary. I will share the places I visited and some tips I learned along the way!

Day One:

The Chicago Bean / Cloud Gate

First, we started with the most epic place in Chicago… The Chicago Bean! Located at Millennium Park on 201 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL. We arrived around 10am and we took some cool pictures.

TIP: If you want to have THE famous bean all for yourself, I suggest to arrive pretty early. I’ve heard 6am is a fantastic time. I know it is early, but hey! is the bean, you know?

Millennium Park

Don’t go anywhere yet! After taking some cute pictures at The Bean, walk around Millennium Park and enjoy all the things it has to offer. It has amazing views, architecture, landscape, art located and this gives us some awesome little spots for pictures too.

Millennium Park offers a lot of activities all year round. You can go to free concerts at Jay Pritzker Pavilion, plan a picnic and even watch movies at the Great Lawn. If you want to, here are the links to see what activities they are offering at the time of your visit.

Millennium Park Events Calendar.
Millennium Park Summer Music Series.
And if you like a classic music, here is the calendar for it:
Grant Park Music Festival

Chicago Cultural Center

This is one of Chicago’s landmark buildings. Here, 78 E Washington St, Chicago, IL, you will enjoy of its beautiful architecture. As well as free music, dance, films, theater, lectures, art exhibitions and family events.

Giordano’s

What about lunch!? Well, here in Giordano’s 130 E Randolph St, Chicago, IL, you will find THE most famous Chicago’s stuffed pizza. This pizza has evolved over 200 years. The original name was not Chicago’s famous stuffed pizza, it was Italian Easter Pie. This is something you MUST eat while in Chicago.

Chicago Riverwalk

How can I not suggest in this Chicago Weekend Travel Guide to walk through the famous Chicago Riverwalk? You will be amazed by the beautiful views and architecture it has to offer. Don’t be shy and walk around the area too, you will be surprise to find cute little spots for pretty cool memories.

Magnificent Mile

While you are exploring, walk through the Magnificent Mile. This is Chicago’s premier commercial district. You can find fancy fashion outlets, expensive shops, restaurants and elegant hotels. Even if you are not planning on buying something fancy. This area has a few landmarks including the historic Chicago Water Tower, the neo-Gothic Tribune Tower, the terracotta Wrigley Building skyscraper and the 100-story John Hancock Center.

Harold Washington Library Center

Walking around we saw the Harold Washington Library Center, Chicago Public Library (main branch). We could’t miss the chance to see this beautiful building from the inside and what it kept. We were fascinated with the mix of vintage and contemporary engineering. Plus, they have a cute little winter garden.

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Day 2

Stan’s Donuts & Coffee

Why not start our day with the best way we know? Having a cup of coffee and donuts from Stan’s Donuts & Coffee! This place is one of the most amazing places there is in Chicago, its retro vibes made us feel we were in the right place at the right time. Their gourmet donuts made our taste buds jump and get ready for the day!

Your choice:

The order of the next two attractions, depend on you. You can do The Art Institute of Chicago first or you can do the Willi’s Tower Skydeck first. Mostly depends on the time you decide to start your second day, because The Art Institute of Chicago closes at 5pm. But no worries if you are a little late, there is a guide the museum has on its page so you don’t miss the unmissable. ”WHAT TO SEE IN AN HOUR.”

The Art Institute of Chicago

This is the number one visited attraction for tourists in Chicago. So, you know, you can’t miss it! This is one of the oldest and largest museums of the United States. Go to this page to see the different packages it offers or just to buy your tickets directly. For more information visit their website.

Willi’s Tower Skydeck

Exactly what you been waiting for! You want finally experience putting your feet in the Ledge’s glass boxes? Well, this is the place, people! Enjoy the beautiful views the Willi’s Tower Skydeck has to offer. Go ahead and directly buy your tickets! For more information you can go to their website.

TIP: Don’t think it’s too late, last entry is 30 minutes prior to closing. Skydeck entrance is located on Jackson Boulevard (south side of the building). Don’t let holidays get in the way, the Skydeck is open 365 days a year.

Portillo’s Hot Dogs

Originally named The Dog House, Portillo’s Hot Dog is the greatest definition of consistency and passion. Started in a small food truck with no running water to have 50 stores in 8 different states plus shipping nationwide. Portillo’s Hot Dogs come along way and with that said, if you don’t jump in that train, you must be crazy. Not to mention, the inside of this famous hot dog chain changes in every location. Come and discover the theme this one keeps inside.

TIP: No ketchup. Just ask for a Chicago dog. They’ll know what to do 😉

Day 3

Navy Pier

One of the most important landmarks in the United States! Navy Pier is on the Chicago shoreline of Lake Michigan. This amazing pier offers beautiful views of the lake, classic lake tours, carnival rides, restaurants, IMAX, crystal gardens and more. For more information, you can visit their website.

NOTE: The admission to the Navy Pier is free, but some of the attractions may cost.

Centennial Wheel

This wheel is located at Navy Pier. I have to say, I got the most amazing views up here. Beautiful, worth it, amazing! You can buy the tickets for this ride on here. I bought them once we got there and we didn’t wait for too long. So, it’s pretty much up to you.

Garrett Popcorn Shops

Located at the Navy Pier, this handcrafted gourmet popcorn are a Chicago tradition. Garrett Popcorn Shops are a delicious snack. You got to try them because these popcorn will give you the energy for what comes next in our Chicago Weekend Travel Guide.

TIP: Order the Garrett Mix, this is a mix of their famous Caramel Crisp and Cheese Corn recipes.

360º Chicago

This amazing and extreme observatory is located at John Hancock Building with an inclining glass. This will not only give you a beautiful 360º view of Chicago’s skyline, it will also give you the chills! TILT is Chicago’s most astounding rush ride, an encased moving stage that actually tilts you out over Michigan Avenue from the 94th Floor. After knowing this, you MUST DO IT.

For our good luck, two people about to do the TILT decided not to do it anymore. They spotted us on the line to buy the tickets and gave us their tickets for free! I think it was pretty much destiny that we needed to try it. I will honestly say I was so nervous! But after I did it, it was totally worth it because I felt like floating in the sky! If you don’t want to buy the tickets there, you can buy the tickets for the observation deck here and the tickets for TILT here.

Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder Company

Opened in 1976, this made from scratch Pizza Pot Pie is located at 2121 N Clark St, Chicago, IL. This is a MUST in our Chicago Weekend Travel Guide. It is just a whole different experience of pizza. And because of that, I have to say… I loved it!

TIP: Cash only, so be prepared! Add the mediterranean bread to your order too, you won’t be disappointed. Vegetarian Pizza Pot Pie available!

And that’s a wrap! I hope you guys liked my first post and I hope you guys feel you are ready to go on a road trip to your goals! You can know a little more about me here. Thank you, next goal!