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On a recent long weekend, I took a trip to Chicago to revisit some favorites, and visit a few new places. Here is my itinerary from my 5 day stay, alongside some accompanying photos. Enjoy! Day 1This day didn't consist of much because I arrived very late in the evening. All that happened was I checked into the James Chicago. It is not a particularly great hotel, but also not particularly bad. It was just slightly disappointing for being advertised as a more upscale hotel, because it definitely wasn't. Day 2The day started off with breakfast at Yolk. I had a half pineapple that was filled with fruit, yogurt, and granola and it was delicious.  After breakfast, I took a walk over to the Art Institute of Chicago, where I spent the majority of the day wandering through the halls and exhibits of this massive art museum.    Located right near the institute was the Cloud Gate, the public structure that Chicago is famous for. The reflection is casts is stunning, and you could spend hours walking around, because it looks different from every angle.   I also took a stroll around the rest of Millennium Park, which had cool separated areas with little playgrounds, stadiums, art, etc. It is probably one of the coolest parks I have ever visited, mostly because it is so unique. Dinner was at Lou Malnati's for the dish Chicago is known for, deep dish pizza. I got the classic, and it was amazing, very different than any other pizza I've ever had.  Day 3The morning started off with breakfast at Wildberry Pancakes and Cafe. If you plan of eating here, I highly suggest putting yourself on the wait list online beforehand, because otherwise the wait is insanely long. The food was great, but I didn't understand why the wait was so long, because it wasn't anything outstanding. After, I took a walk over to the Chicago Cultural Center, which feature some beautiful domes.   Next was a walk along the Chicago River walk, looking at the architecture and the boats along the river.   I was hungry after all the walking, and was right near the Doughnut Vault, so I took a break for a doughnut. They were about a half hour from closing shop, so I got the last of the doughnuts for the day.  Since it was only the afternoon, I took a cab to a different area of Chicago, the Ukrainian Village, to walk around for a bit. From there, I worked my way over to a cool bookshop known as Myopic Bookstore. It was small with 2 floors, and small rows filled high with books of every genre.  I also happened to be near Mindy's Hot Chocolate, and after looking at the menu, it was necessary to go and try. I ordered one that was half Chai and half hot chocolate, and it was topped with homemade marshmallows. The combination is incredible, and I highly recommend visiting, because it was some of the best hot chocolate I've ever had.  The day was finished with dinner at Imperial Lamian, an upscale Chinese restaurant, where each dish was unique and different. There was an open kitchen where you could see chefs hand making noodles and dumplings.   Day 4Since it is located right near the hotel, breakfast was at Eately. After, I took a quick walk over and around Water Tower Place to see the tower itself and the mall behind it.  Next was a walk along Oak Street Beach, in the direction of Lincoln Park Zoo, an amazing option if you are looking for something cheap; this zoo is entirely free. Most of the day was spent looking at all the animals, the zoo was surprisingly large and fairly quiet.    Dinner was early that night, at a fantastic farm-to-table restaurant, the Girl and the Goat. Each dish tasted very homemade, fresh, and was served family style.   Day 5Today was focused mainly on the University of Chicago, and the area surrounding it. Therefore, breakfast was a quick stop at a unique Mexican place near the university. After, I walked around the campus of the university, stopping at a church for a tour of the bell tower.   The campus itself was serene, buildings covered in ivy and small quiet pathways led everywhere.  That concluded the day, because from there I had to go back to the airport to head home. That concludes my trip to Chicago, it was pretty jam packed with places to see, things to do, etc. I hope that it brought you some inspiration for the next time you plan on travelling, and gave you some ideas if you plan on visiting the area. Have a fantastic week!
xx Hanna
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