If you’re looking for things to do in Chicago, just check out the movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off – it’s pretty much about making the most of a day in this city. I know many people are concerned about safety in Chicago. As a frequent visitor for 15 years, safety is neighborhood driven. Exercise caution, but downtown and most of the northside neighborhoods including Wrigleyville are relatively safe.
The Lincoln Park Zoo is one of our favorite spots to visit. General admission is free, and it’s not busy at all if you’re able to go during work hours on weekdays.
Wrigley Field is definitely worth a visit. I was able to grab cheap tickets on Stubhub. There’s just something magical about old school ball parks.
Downtown also has lots to offer such as…
- Navy Pier – Great Lake views (see what I did there), shopping, boat tours
- Magnificent Mile – overpriced shopping, Starbucks roastery, dining
- Chicago Riverwalk – it’s still green on St. Patrick’s Day
- John Hancock Building and Willis Tower -great views
- Millennium Park – the famous reflective Chicago bean, concerts
- Numerous museums
Chicago is also one of our favorite food cities. It’s way more than deep dish. Some of the places you need to check out…
- Smoque BBQ – top 5 BBQ in the country, try the brisket sandwich
- Pequod’s Pizza – a slightly different take on deep dish pizza, but in my opinion the best (you can skip Uno’s this is where the locals go
- XOCO – Rick Bayless restaurant next to Frontera Grill (which is also amazing). Reasonably priced elevated Mexican cuisine
- Prost! – German beer hall which serves a traditional German meat board
It’s also home to one of two Guinness breweries in the United States. Although my favorite is Begyle Brewery since it has great brews, a happy hour, and a relaxed indoor/outdoor seating area. Goose Island is also worth a visit. And the retro arcade/bar Replay has an excellent microbrew list.
Pro-tip: The most common local beer is 312. Unless you want to make the locals mad, order THREE, ONE, TWO. Like the area code. If you order three-twelve…expect a dirty look.
Also, transportation is pretty easy with the “El” subway providing a good way to get around. It goes to both airports, and Midway is off the orange line and only about a half hour ride. Buses are ok, but times aren’t too reliable. The El seem fairly safe during the day, but can get sketchy late at night.
It’s home to not one, but two gay villages. Andersonville and Boystown. Sidetrack is the staple, and will be busy almost every night because there’s never a cover. There are multiple dance clubs, and the late night bar is Charlies which is open until 4 a.m.