Sarah and I were roaming around the city and discussed renting bikes for the day. Not wanting to spend the $45 a person for four hours, we decided to give the local DIVVY Bikes a try. These bikes are rented out for short trips around the city. The bikes cost $7 for a 24 hour period and there are docking stations for the bikes all around the city. The only catch to the bike is that you can only have them out for 30 minutes at a time before being charged and additional $2 per hour. The bikes are great for hopping around the city to see the sights. We started with our bikes down around Buckingham Fountain and rode them up to a docking station by the Navy Pier. We continued this pattern throughout the day biking to different sites, including our hotel, to see the city and get around without spending money on a cab. I would recommend these bikes to anyone who wants to see as much of the city as they can in an short time without having to pay for a taxi. These bikes were definitely work the $14 it cost for the two of us that day!
2. Wishbone Restaurant 1001 W. Washington Blvd. ($15-$17 a person with tip)
This is an absolutely amazing spot for brunch with friends! While in Chicago, our friend recommended Wishbone as a great place for a Saturday morning brunch. We were not disappointed!! First of all, the setting was perfect. We sat outside watching people walk by with their dogs and restaurant goers enter and leave as we enjoyed great service and great food. The portions were HUGE!! This was our first meal of the day and our bellies were filled to capacity that we did not eat again until late that evening around 7pm. Sarah and I both chose the omelets that our waiter raved about while his bodacious smile and TV like personality....I had the Savannah Shrimp Omelet with ham and Sarah enjoyed the Spinach Omelet. The omelets came with a huge serving of home fries and toast. I know everyone has their favorite breakfast spot when it comes to the city, but I guarantee that it is worth the time to head to the Near West Side of the city to visit Wishbone.
One of the great ways to see the city is riding along the Chicago River in a boat on the architecture tour. We took this tour last summer while visiting the city and were blown away at the beauty and history of the buildings in Chicago. The guides are very knowledgeable about the various buildings and give you a unique perspective of a different angle you often do not see. While in Chicago this weekend, we saw boats full of people taking the tour on a wonderful sunny afternoon. As we simply walked the city this year, we still found ourselves reflecting on the various buildings we saw on the tour last year and the unique facts we had learned about the buildings on the tour . For example, we learned the Hard Rock Hotel building we stayed in was designed like a champagne bottle at the top with a gold pillar reaching to the sky. The 75 minute tour of the city is definitely worth your time and money as a fun way to see the amazing architectural features that Chicago has to offer.
4. Millennium Park ($ Free!!)
Many people know Millennium Park for the Bean shown above and Buckingham Fountain. A stay is Chicago is not complete without taking some time to stroll through Millennium Park and all that it has to offer for both kids and adults. For the younger ones, there is the Bean where you can see your reflections in 100 different ways, there are the water pillars which is a virtual water park in the city where kids can play and cool off on a hot day, and there are open fields to play and run freely. For the adults, the Bean is always a cool place for us to visit and along with the sights of the skyline and Lake Michigan, there are many vibrant outdoor restaurants to stop by and quench your thirst. This weekend was the Taste of Chicago, which was a free event with concerts and events all weekend long. Throughout Millennium Park and the Taste were local vendors in which you could purchase tickets to dive into all of the wonderful samples Chicago has to offer. There are events like these always happening in the park which makes it a must see while in the city.
5. A View of the City ($$$ Priceless)
When you think of seeing a view of the city, most people often think of the John Hancock Building or the Willis Tower. While these are great for many, I think they are often overrated and overpriced places that do not give you the bang for your buck that many other sites in the city can for a unique perspective and view. Over the past few summers, Sarah and I have been finding great places to see the city from and they have often not cost us a dime. One of our first trips, we took the elevator ride up to the Signature Room at the Hancock building. Being young and in love at the time, we thought was the romantic thing to do.....$25 and two drinks later we were stuck in the middle of the room with no view of the city. However we have found our more special moments have been at places like the Lincoln Park Zoo standing on the bridge looking back at the city, or even simply standing at the end of the Navy Pier looking back at the view. This year we were fortunate to stay with a friend whose building had a deck at the 29th floor looking out over Millennium Park and Lake Michigan (and for those of you in your 30s and remember "Adventures in Babysitting," a great view of the Crain Communications Building or Diamond Building.) The picture above does not do the view justice, but it was an amazing way to see the city. So I challenge you to look for a different way to see the city and the skyline without busting your budget to pay to ride up one of the commercial buildings in the city.
I know there are many other great places that are worth your money in Chicago and I would love to hear about them. Post a comment below with a place you think is worth your time and money in the City. I can't wait to find some new spots to visit in the future!!
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