Chicago - More than meets the Pizza Pie!
It’s not New York!
One thing becomes very clear, very quickly. This is not New York. It doesn’t give you that odd sense of familiarity you get your first time in the Big Apple but the more you explore the more you realise you’re in a truly great and absolutely buzzing, American city!
The Stars!
The observation deck at the Hancock Centre gives you a great sense of perspective on this incredibly surprising City. Staring out over skyscrapers on one hand and Lake Michigan, looking like a breath-taking coastline on the other. It’s a must do! My little tip – get yourself a ticket to go both day and night, it’s well worth the second trip to the top!
There is world class art at the Art Institute of Chicago (Ferris Bueller fans, this might just be familiar!), you’ll need a good half day even if art isn’t your passion and definitely more if it is! A cruise down the Chicago River is a brilliant way to unwind after a busy morning of sightseeing, taking around 90 minutes you’ll not only get to relax but take in some of the city’s finest architecture. A worthy addition to your time in the Windy City!
I could easily go on with attractions such as the Field Museum and Millennium Park (who wouldn’t want to see a giant reflective bean?!) worthy of a visit. It’s also worth giving yourself some time just to walk and explore around the Loop. You could easily spend 2-3 full days just doing that lot…and then there’s the fun quirky stuff…
There’s more?!
Wrigley Field
Opened in 1914 this is one of the most historic stadiums in the US so why not treat yourself to a couple of tickets and take in a real piece of Americana – A day at the baseball! There’s very few places to top this iconic field if you’ve never been to a game before and I think it really adds to the flavour of a stay in the City. The area around the stadium, Wrigleyville has some great places to eat too and if you’re feeling up to it, cap your day off with a few swings of the bat yourself in Sluggers Bar where you’ll find batting cages ready for you to test your own skills out!
Pizza!
If you only eat one meal in Chicago let it be pizza! You haven’t had deep pan pizza until you’ve had it in the city that invented it. This is pizza like you’ve never had before, just bring a doggy bag! There’s plenty of debate around where you’ll find the best deep dish and I’ve got my own favourite, you’ll just have to ask me to find out what it is!
Chill on a Beach!
Not something I ever associated with Chicago before I went but there’s some great beaches if you want to escape the hustle and bustle of The Loop for a while. Why not head to the north of the City to Loyola (home to Loyola University) where you’ll almost certainly be escaping the crowds and taking in one of Chicago’s most surprising days out. The perfect way to chill out at the end of your time in this amazing city!