CHICAGO TRAVEL ITINERARY
We had just over 24 hours in the city we wanted to see as many Chicago sights as possible. Because we are budget focused we also wanted to be sure we saw as much as possible, for as low budget as possible! The city is a bucket list destination. It is home of some of the greatest greats of modern American history including Michelle and Barack Obama, Michael Jordan and Oprah! It's a city rich in history and known for it's gritty determination, lake as big as a sea, world class food and entertainment and stunning architecture. We're visiting The Second City before we begin van life!
We don't have a lot of time in the Windy City and we are visiting during the Canada wildfires. The city was shrouded in heavy smoke the entire time.
Despite the smoke this was one of our most favorite big cities we have ever visited.
You can download the same itinerary including our notes on parking etc. here. There are a few additional dining options we missed on our trip due to the smoke that we included here as ideas to make your trip extra special.
We visit Sears "Willis" Tower and Amy faces her fear of heights in the SkyDeck experience.
But first, we are having lunch somewhere super special! The 'Original' Mr. Beef for a hot beef sandwich. If you haven't seen that series on Hulu, you should check it out!
We decided to try and see the very best Chicago sights, and experience the most memorable activities for first time visitors. Everyone I told about our trip to Chicago recommended taking a river boat cruise and we are so glad that they did! Booking through Viator gave us peace of mind and made things very easy. We were extra lucky to catch the last of pride month and many buildings put on special light displays. We learned why Chicago is really called the second city. Not only was it fun, educational and beautiful, it was romantic! We even watched a proposal happen!
What should you wear on a Chicago riverboat cruise? The cruise starts in the evening and you are on Lake Michigan so bringing a light sweater for after the sunsets is our recommendation. there is no dress code, your average tourist outfit will do. We saw people dressed in everything from joggers to cocktail attire
What is the difference between the Chicago riverboat dinner cruise and the sunset cruise. Chicago has a few different river boat cruise experiences: from the dinner cruise, where they will serve you a full sit down meal while you cruise down the river watching the sunset. The sunset cruise, like we took, which leaves as the sunset begins and goes out to lake Michigan then back. Cocktails, soft drinks, bottled water and snacks are available for an additional purchase price. The third option is the architecture cruise. If you're an architecture fanatic who is just itching to hear about buttress use and angles that's the cruise for you.
How long does the Chicago riverboat cruise last? The cruises all last about 90 minutes.
Where do you park for the Chicago riverboat cruise? There are a few different cruise companies that all dock in the same area. check the name of the company you're booked. we went to the wrong check-in first and had to be redirected. There are several parking options close to the cruise docking point. check the website for further details. we parked at 430 Rush Street.
How do you buy tickets to the Chicago riverboat cruise? We booked through Viator.
Chicago is featured in countless television shows and movies like Save the Last Dance and The Dark Knight Batman movies.
It seems fitting to spend a bit of the day driving around the city and looking for famous filming locations. Then we head to Millennium Park and caught a free concert in the Pavilion. Then we visited Cloud Gate and delighted in the hilarious story of its creator, the city's feelings about it and the battle of the Blackest Black and Pinkest Pink.
We then seek refuge in Laurie Gardens for a truly transporting experience. Finally we gazed upon the beautiful faces of the Chicago residents at the Crown Fountain. To recreate our day make sure to pin each of the coordinates provided in the video. We were extra lucky to catch the last of pride month and many buildings put on special light displays.
