South Loop & Printer's Row: Chicago

Over the past ten years, the South Loop's real estate boom has fueled an expansion of the city's skyline with towering luxury condos and apartment buildings. The neighborhood's close proximity to downtown office buildings makes this a prime place for residents looking to shorten their commutes. To the west, Printer's Row honors its name with Lit Fest, which welcomes authors, booksellers and crowds in search of new reading material each year.

On the east side of the neighborhood, you'll find three Chicago destinations that will satisfy your cravings of curiosity. The Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum and the Adler Planetarium make up Museum Campus. Just south of these havens of educational insights lies tailgating central: Soldier Field. Home to the city's beloved Chicago Bears, fans pack this outdoor stadium throughout the winter in the hopes that the team will recreate the magic of the legendary Super Bowl-winning squads of the 1980s.

For evening entertainment, head to Buddy Guy's Legends where the famous bluesman himself occasionally plays. Before you go, take a date down the street to one of the city's best tapas destinations: Mercat a la Planxa on South Michigan Avenue.