Best budget picks in Chicago

Our Local Expert Says:

The Botanic Gardens are a peaceful way to spend the day and take a break from the hustle and bustle of the big city.

Description:

Despite its name, the world-class Chicago Botanic Garden is 25 miles north of the city in the suburb of Glencoe. This 385-acre living preserve includes eight large lagoons and a variety of distinct botanical environments including the Illinois prairie, an English walled garden, and a three-island Japanese garden. Also on the grounds are a large fruit-and-vegetable garden, an "enabling garden" (which shows how gardening can be adapted for people with disabilities), and a 100-acre old-growth oak woodland. If you're here in the summer, don't miss the extensive rose gardens (just follow the bridal parties who flock here to get their pictures taken). The Botanic Garden also has an exhibit hall, auditorium, museum, library, education greenhouses, outdoor pavilion, carillon, cafe, designated bike path, and garden shop. Carillon concerts take place at 7pm Monday evenings from late June through August; tours of the carillon are offered beforehand.

Every summer the Botanic Garden stages a special outdoor exhibition (one year giant animal-shaped topiaries stood in unexpected locations throughout the grounds; another year, model railroads wound through miniature versions of American national parks). Check the website or call for event schedules. Allow 3 hours.

Our Local Expert Says:

A perfect choice for those looking for a family fun activity. Most of the day could easily be spent here viewing the animals, having a picnic in the open park areas, then walking to the lake to play on the beach. Plus, admission is FREE!

Description:

As the only zoo in the City of Chicago, the Lincoln Park Zoo is free and open to the public 365 days a year. Founded in 1868, it is also one of the nation's oldest zoos. The Lincoln Park Zoo does an impressive job with its various exhibits, most notably the Regenstein Center for African Apes, where you can look a gorilla in the face (from the other side of the rail or glass, of course). The Lincoln Park Conservatory is directly to the north of the zoo, where you can take in some flora to complement your fauna fix from the zoo. A nice pre or post-zoo meal can be had at R.J. Grunt's, directly across the street. During the Christmas season the zoo lights up with a free light show every evening.

Our Local Expert Says:

The red hots are some of the best in the city (always look for the Vienna Beef logo at hot dog stands- this means it's good), and the servers put on quite a show at night.

Description:

The Wiener's Circle serves up what many locals agree to be the City's best hot dogs at all hours of the day and night. For the uninitiated, a Chicago style hot dog is made up of the following: char dog, onions, tomatoes, mustard, celery salt, and neon-green relish. Warning: this establishment is not family-friendly after 10 pm on weekends; that's when the bar crowd starts to come through, and insults unsuitable for children's ears are traded between the cooks and patrons. It's actually the main reason people flock here and love it so much.

Our Local Expert Says:

This tucked away dive bar draws a varied line up and is generally packed with locals looking for a crazy dance party. Generally you will find plaid-wearing "cool kids."

Description:

This friendly tavern's OLD STYLE BEER sign shines like a beacon, guiding roots-music fans through the grimy industrial neighborhood that surrounds it. The owners' beer-can collection and some "celebrity" memorabilia are on display in the front room. In back, local musicians play country, rock, and bluesy tunes on a small stage backed by an impressive stuffed sailfish. It's no-frills, all right, but the Hideout also books some of the best lineups of folk and "alt country" bands in the city, including Jeff Tweedy (of Wilco), Kelly Hogan, and the New Duncan Imperials.

Description:

Piece proves to deep-dish-loving Chicagoans that thin-crust pizza deserves respect. A casual, welcoming hangout, Piece makes a good lunch stop for families with older kids; at night it becomes a convivial scene full of young singles sipping one of the restaurant's seasonal microbrew beers. The large, airy dining room -- a former garage that's been outfitted with dark wood tables and ceiling beams -- is flooded with light from the expansive skylights overhead; even when it's crowded (as it gets on weekend evenings), the soaring space above keeps the place from feeling claustrophobic.

Piece offers a selection of salads and sandwiches on satisfyingly crusty bread, but pizza in the style of New Haven, Connecticut (hometown of one of the owners), is the house specialty. Pick from three styles -- plain (tomato sauce, Parmesan cheese, and garlic), red (tomato sauce and mozzarella), or white (olive oil, garlic, and mozzarella), then add on your favorite toppings. Sausage and/or spinach work well with the plain or red, but the adventurous should sample a more offbeat choice: clam and bacon on white pizza.

Our Local Expert Says:

Beer lovers will appreciate the Village Tap's dedication to quality beer, having a couple dozen high-quality beers on tap.

Description:

Roscoe Village is a comfortable, working class neighborhood that has become more and more attractive of late because of its shady streets and reasonable rents. Village Tap is the favorite hangout of the locals - a place where the bartender might, in fact, know your name. With 31 kinds of beer on tap, good food in the kitchen, and lots of board games, plus a large beer garden, where else would you want to ruin your liver?

Our Local Expert Says:

If you are in the mood for a relaxing day, Millennium Park is the perfect place for a afternoon picnic, where you can take in the art and architecture. In the summer catch a performance at Pritzker Pavilion, while enjoying a bottle of wine with friends from the Great Lawn.

Description:

Chicago is full of must-see attractions, but at the top of the Can't Miss list is Millennium Park. It debuted in 2004, several years overdue, but it was worth the wait. It is a true gem, right downtown between Michigan Avenue and the lake. One can easily spend an afternoon just sitting on the benches at the perimeter of the Pritzker Pavilion, stare at their warped reflection in Cloud Gate ("The Bean" to locals), and watch the rotating faces in Crown Fountain spew water every five minutes or so. Immediately to the south of Millennium Park lie the Art Institute and Grant Park, which all together would make for a wonderfully relaxing day. If you only have time for one of the three, though, do not pass go, do not collect $200- without going to Millennium Park.

Description:

The City Suites Hotel is located only a few blocks from Wrigley Field and is a good choice for those in town to watch a Cubs game. Guests say the western side of the hotel faces the elevated train and can be noisy. The bathrooms are well-stocked with bath products including bath salts and fluffy bath robes. Guests mention that the regular rooms are smaller than comparable hotels, but the suites are spacious.

Description:

Hecky Powell has been serving up his famous barbecue at the original Hecky's in Evanston since 1983. This Chicago spinoff offers carry-out, delivery and self-serve dine-in options. The menu features both baby back and spare ribs smothered with his secret sauce. Also try jumbo-fried shrimp, beer-battered cod and fried and barbecued chicken. Side choices include hush puppies, baked beans, lyonnaise potatoes and corn bread. Lighter options include salads, wraps, hot dogs and Polish sausage sandwiches.

Our Local Expert Says:

The lakefront can get crowded here in the summer time; watch for rollerbladers and bikers when crossing the path.

Description:

Cross over the North Avenue Bridge from Lincoln Park, pause to admire the stunning view of Lake Shore Drive and Michigan Avenue, and then head to the beach to stake your ground for summertime fun. Left to crumbling and rust for many years, the North Avenue Beach House was recently restored. Shaped something like a boat, the beach house contains restrooms and snack bars. If swimming and sun bathing is not your thing, try matching wits with one of the players at the vintage chess pavilion near the beach house.