A Local's Guide to Chicago

Hands down the best activity to do in Chicago is a river boat architecture tour. There are multiple tour companies that offer this and it is a MUST. I recommend it for locals too because it gives you a completely different perspective of the city. Chicago is architecturally stunning and has so much history. Please note that this is a seasonal activity. The tours run spring - fall, weather permitting. 

Millennium Park is Chicago's version of Central Park. It is located in a central part of the city and has lots of greenery. It's home to The Bean, Buckingham Fountain, and much more. 

Bonus: the world's first Nutella cafe is right off Michigan Ave. Highly recommend going and grabbing some crepes or Nutella coffee and treats.

River North is a great place to explore when you are looking for food or drinks. It's a pretty young neighborhood and has a lot to offer. Siena Tavern is a great Italian restaurant which an amazing octopus appetizer. 

If you are looking for something sweet, JoJo's Shake Bar has incredibly over the top milkshakes. Ghirardelli also has something for anyone's sweet tooth and the building is beautiful! 

Take a walk over to the world's largest Starbucks! Though I typically encourage local spots over mega chains, it is still a fun experience to visit this multi floor coffee giant. They have special things on the menu that you can only get there or at other Reserve locations. My favorite is ordering an affogato. 

Headquarters Beercade is one of my go to places to drink and hang out. It is a bar full of arcade games. It is free to play the games which is a huge bonus. 

When you think of the Chicago skyline, the Willis Tower (forever known to locals as the Sears tower) is what typically comes to mind. It is the third tallest building in the US and home to The Ledge, 4 glass boxes that hang over the side of the building at its observatory floor. 

The Loop and South Loop hold almost all of Chicago's famous museums. If you have the time and plan on visiting multiple museums during one trip, the most cost effective option is to buy a City Pass. You can buy a pass that allows you to visit multiple museums, skip lines, and bundling will save some money too. 

You can channel your inner Ferris Bueller at the Art Institute, visit a world renowned aquarium at the Shedd, or stop by to say hello to Sue the dinosaur at the field museum. 

The Lincoln Park Zoo is in the north part of the city. Chicago has two zoos and this one happens to be free and easier to get to. It is right off of Lake Shore Drive and gives you great views of the Lake as well. It is also the fourth oldest zoo in the country. It is not as large as the Brookfield Zoo but still a good time. Then after you can explore more of the Lincoln Park area or head over to Wrigleyville. 

The Baha'i temple is a non-denominational house of worship. It is such a beautiful building and it is open to everyone. It is outside of the city and you'd need a car to get there but it's such an huge piece of history to the North Shore. It is right on Lake Michigan which brings amazing views. Sheridan Road is famous for having large and expensive houses so the drive there is even more interesting. From downtown you'll head north on Lake Shore Drive and you are running parallel to the Lake almost the whole time.