Chicago, Illinois… The 3rd largest city in the US with an estimated 2.7 million residents within it’s 234 square miles! Being home to 2 MLB teams, an NFL, NHL, and MLS team, iconic foods like the Chicago Dog and Deep Dish Pizza, and sites like Willis Tower and Cloud Gate (The Bean), we knew that we couldn’t visit Illinois without making a stop in the Windy City! Just like many of our itineraries, our time in Chicago was short, sweet, and packed full of activities, so hang onto your seat and we’ll show you how we made the most of our one day in Chicago!
*Check out our "Chicago for a Day" vlog for a closer look at our time in the Windy City!*
Let's get into it!
If you’re like us, then you need caffeine (and sometimes sugar) to get the day started! There are tons of great coffee and breakfast spots to choose from in Chicago, but here are a few suggestions to get you started. We normally try to stick to local spots when we visit places, but Natalie loves Nutella, plus, it's super close to Millennium Park/Cloud Gate (AKA The Bean) which is where we wanted to hang out while we ate our breakfast and drank our coffee.
9:00 am: Coffee/Breakfast
Nutella Cafe (where we went)
Dollop Coffee Co.
Sawada Coffee
After a relaxing start to the day, it’s time to check out some of Chicago’s amazing parks!
10:00 am: Explore Parks
Millenium Park
Maggie Daley Park
Lakefront Park
Buckingham Fountain
Grant Park
Now that you’ve worked up an appetite after walking through the beautiful green spaces, it’s time to get a taste of Chicago for lunch!
12:00 pm: Lunch
Portillo’s/Barnelli’s (where we went)
Gene & Jude’s Red Hot Stand