A Weekend in Chicago | The Ultimate Travel Guide

QUICK FACTS

Time Zone | Central

Average Summer Temperature | High 81F - Low 58F

Average Winter Temperature | High 47F - Low 18F

Major Airports | Chicago Midway & O'Hare International

Transportation | Divvy Bikes, $9.95 for a 24-hour pass

Average Hotel Price Per Night | $130 - $250

Average Meal Price | $17

HISTORY
+ Many different Native American tribes inhabited the area, however the Potawatomi's were the prominent tribe during the 17th century when fur trading and exploration began reaching west.
+ The first US settlement was established in 1803 called Fort Daerborn.
+ Chicago was incorporated in 1833.
+ Chicago became a major trading port on Lake Michigan, and by 1854 the population was 30,000.
+ In 1871 the Great Fire of Chicago destroyed one third of the city, leaving thousands of residents homeless. However, Chicago was rebuilt and by 1930 the population was over three million.

LANDMARKS & SIGHTS
Millennium Park | Ice skating, music, and relaxation.
Navy Pier | Restaurants and rides overlooking Lake Michigan.
Lincoln Park Zoo | A free zoo!
Tribune Tower | Collection of world landmarks incorporated into the design. Fragments of the Alamo, the Taj Mahal, and the Great Pyramid can be found here.
Chicago Cultural Center | A free cultural center with impressive architecture.
Skydeck Chicago | Views of Chicago from above. 

WHERE TO EAT 
Portillo's $
Sublime Sushi $$
Giordano's $$
The Purple Pig $$$
Bottlefork $$$

THE MOST INSTAGRAM WORTHY SPOTS
The Bean
Buckingham Fountain
Lake Michigan 

MAP 

The Westin Chicago River North

I'm not a hostel type of girl and I've never rented an Airbnb (don't worry, that'll be changing next month). I guess you could call me old fashioned when it comes to booking accommodation. Some travelers will budget every cent. For me however, I've always found with enough research you can find the perfect hotel at a reasonable price. 

My friends and I decided to split the cost of a hotel during our trip to Chicago a few weeks back. Since there were three of us, we decided to go for something central. We settled on the Westin Chicago River North. As soon as we stepped inside the lobby of this modern hotel we were in love. We lucked out in getting a room with a view. Chicago is beautiful from above!

So let me tell you a little story about our stay at the Westin Chicago River North. We didn't get into our room until 9pm on a Friday evening. Between work and school, all of us were exhausted. We decided instead of going out on our first night, why not grab a snack in the hotel lobby?

Somehow, within seconds of leaving our room, one of us got stuck. Stuck how, you may ask? Well, my dear friend Maison accidentally locked herself in the adjoining room hallway. We tried our room key once. We tried it twice. After SEVERAL attempts, we decided it was time to call down to the front desk for assistance. George, the front desk guy, found the whole situation hilarious. 

Eventually, the hotel 'engineers' were called up. They examined the situation and decided it was time to break it down. Yes, you read that correctly. The engineers BROKE THE DOOR DOWN. In the end, Maison was saved, George was very much amused, and we were all offered free snacks in the lobby. Best Friday night staff ever? I say YES! 

We all really enjoyed our stay at the Westin Chicago River North. Between the friendly staff, our little misadventure, and the modern room, we found everything to be perfect! If you find yourself in Chicago with a friend or two, the Westin is the perfect place to stay while exploring the Windy City. 

xoxo

Sublime Sushi | Chicago

Chicago is a city famous for pizza, hot dogs, and popcorn. Having tried pretty much all of those within our first 24 hours, my friends and I were craving something a little different. Enter the hip and trendy neighborhood of Lincoln Park. We strolled around looking through the windows of the many restaurants (most of which did not open until 2pm). Finally, spotting a place that was in fact open, we went inside.

Sublime Sushi didn't look like much at first. Being the only people in the restaurant around noon on a Saturday left us all a little skeptical. However, after speaking to the excited waitress, we learned they had only opened a few days previously and were still trying to establish themselves in the area. The menu was vast, offering every kind of sushi under the sun. We each went for a different option. Our food was delicious, reasonably priced, and the atmosphere was to die for. 

xoxo

24 Hours in Chicago + A Travel Vlog

People often ask how I am able to travel. 

It's easy really. 

Even though I work a full time job, travel has become a huge priority in my life. 

I focus my savings and my time around it.
Lets just say 2016 has become my self proclaimed "year of travel". 

My friend and I decided to visit an old friend in Chicago this past weekend. We had 24 hours really. One night in Chicago, one in Indiana (where my friend lives), and then back home. So we immediately began our action pack 24 hours in the Windy City. 

I learned pretty quickly that Chicago is the classic American city. It was a city I knew well without ever visiting before. There were so many sights that I had seen in movies or read about in books, but I realized quickly I didn't know much about the city itself.

A fairly young city, Chicago was officially founded in 1833 by a handful of US settlers. It quickly grew as a city of trade with the introduction of steamboats and trains. However, all of Chicago's progress was quickly halted by the Great Fire of 1871. Most of the city was destroyed, allowing for a new kind of city to emerge: one of architecture marvels. The city grew UP and OUT. By 1900 the population of Chicago had grown to almost 2 million. 

There are so many things to do in a 24 hours time period. We started the day off early at the Bean, before ice skating at Millennium Park. Zooming across town we strolled around Lincoln Park Zoo before seeing the sights at Navy Pier. We even rented a couple of bikes and mastered the art of cycling in a big city!

A little piece of the Alamo all the way in Chicago :)

THINGS TO DO IN 24 HOURS

Chicago Culture Center | Free

The Bean | Free

Ice Skating in Millennium Park | $12

Lincoln Park Zoo | Free

Renting a Bike | $9.95 + additional fees for time

Navy Pier | Free 

I recently purchased a GoPro and decided to test it out in the Windy City. Let me know what you think of the whole "travel vlogging" thing! Click HERE for the video, or watch it below. 

xoxo