Chicago Travel Blog

Starved Rock State Park Starved Rock just as the snow is melting Located just 94 minutes from downtown Chicago, this beautiful state park offers tons of activities to suit any day-tripper’s fancy.  Depending on the season, you’ll find ample bird-watching, fishing, and even hunting throughout the...

Biking is a fun, active, and green way to see any city.  Voted the #1 bike-friendly city in the US by Bicycling Magazine, Chicago looks best from some of its bike paths.  Here is a run down of some of the most popular routes, so strap on your helmet and get moving! Biking Lakeshore Drive Lincoln Park This...

“Chicago-style” deep-dish pizza is the Windy City’s version of local cuisine.  Try to picture/smell/taste it: flaky, golden brown crust packed with about an inch of gooey cheese covered in a rich tomato sauce, and, depending on your taste, stuffed with anything from ham and pineapple to spinach...

Chicago has an enormous Irish-American population, so whether it’s St. Patrick’s Day or a regular Tuesday, Irish pubs abound.  Get a bit of Blarney at some of our favorite Irish establishments.   Gourmet Burger at Fado Celtic Crossings Co-owned by three Irishmen, this River North bar stays...

Cafés pop up all over Chicago, and sadly many of them come and go quickly.  The best ones stick around for the long haul, and here’s a roundup of our favorites. Julius Meinl has three locations on the north side—Lakeview, North Center, and Lincoln Square.  All three are equally adorable and...

If you’re craving dessert in Chicago, you’ll only run into one problem: too many choices.  Here are some top-notch choices to appease your sweet tooth. Mindy Segal has won the James Beard Award for “Outstanding Pastry Chef” every year from 2007-2011.  Enjoy dinner at her Wicker Park restaurant...

Looking for a cozy nook to call your own or something grandiose to prove your love to one another?  Here are a few ideas for romantic dining in the Windy City. Romantic dessert at NoMI Kitchen Quiet and Candlelit Lincoln Square’s Bistro Campagne brings just a touch of French country rusticism to a...

River North Stop into BIN 36 to enjoy house label wines, pair them with selections from the enormous (and delicious) cheese program, and take in the sights of the nearby iconic Marina City towers.  Choose from wine flights with names like “Low Down Dirty Reds,” “Express Yourself,” and...

Chicago is home to many world class museums, so whether you’re looking to expose the little ones to art, science, or history, you’re bound to find something fascinating.  Here’s a rundown of some of the city’s best museum’s for children. Chicago Children’s Museum The Chicago Childrens Museum...

Staying in a bed and breakfast is a great way to get to know the local culture and see the residential parts of the city since most are located outside of the downtown area.  Here are five favorites. The entrance to the Margarita Inn's Grand Parlor Margarita European Inn Just north of the city...