Illinois
A weekend in Chicago: architecture on the water, deep-dish pizza, and a lakefront that goes on forever.
Highlights
| Name | Info | Details |
|---|
| Art Institute of Chicago | museum, must-do | A world-class collection downtown, including an extensive Impressionist wing. Easy to spend half a day. |
| Chicago Architecture Boat Tour | $$ | One of the best ways to see the skyline, with a guide narrating the history behind the buildings along the river. |
| Millennium Park (Cloud Gate) | free | The reflective "Bean" sculpture sits right downtown alongside Crown Fountain and the Pritzker Pavilion. |
| Navy Pier | free entry, rides extra | A lakefront pier with a Ferris wheel, shops, and skyline views. A good sunset stop. |
| Museum of Science and Industry | museum | Hands-on exhibits and a real WWII German submarine, in a grand Beaux-Arts building in Hyde Park. |
| Lakefront Trail | free, biking | An 18-mile paved path along Lake Michigan, great for biking or a long walk with skyline views the whole way. |
Food
| Name | Info | Details |
|---|
| Al's Beef | $, local classic | The Italian beef sandwich Chicago is famous for. One of the original spots. |
| Deep-dish pizza | $$ | A Chicago food rite of passage, best at one of the well-known deep-dish spots downtown. |
| Alinea | $$$$, splurge | A multi-course tasting menu restaurant regularly ranked among the best in the world. Book well ahead. |
| Smoque BBQ | $$ | Known for brisket and ribs, a favorite for barbecue outside the South. |
| Maxwell Street Polish | $ | A grilled Polish sausage loaded with onions, mustard, and sport peppers. A late-night Chicago staple. |