Tegan & Ely can give you more tailored recommendations if you are spending time in Chicago but these are some of our tried and true recommendations. Of note Nascar will be taking over downtown Chicago July 6-7 if you're interested! But also give yourself more time to get around town as traffic will increase and road closures will be plentiful! Organized by area of the city below:

NORTHSIDE:

Food Highlights:

Little Bad Wolf (best burger in Chicago according to Ely)

Tweet (our favorite local breakfast joint! Vegan options, recommend the bloody mary!

Spacca Napoli (authentic Neapolitan style pizza. Their burrata is to die for)

Little Goat Diner

Things to do:

Explore Wrigleyville and go take a look at Wrigley field. Enjoy a Chicago hot dog and see why Chicagoans will look down upon you for having ketchup on your dog. Visit Sluggers bar and enjoy the batting cages. This is the bar Tegan watched the Cubs win the world series at!

Go to little Vietnam and walk up and down Argyle. Tegan & Ely lived here for over four years! Eclectic scene but the best Pho in Chicago. Highly recommend stopping at First Sip Cafe for their ube latte.

Lincoln Park zoo is free entry. Visit the conservatory while you're there and the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool. Quick walk along the lakefront over to North Avenue beach, one of the busiest beaches in Chicago! Have a drink at Castaways and people watch.

If you're looking for some nice outdoor shopping go to Southport Corridor.

WEST SIDE:

Food Highlights:

Club Lucky (classic Chicago neighborhood Italian with huge portions and a large martini menu)

Dove's Luncheonette (Diner vibes)

Lao Peng You (fresh dumplings and homemade noodles)

Desert Hawk (go in for the best smashburger, stay for the spicy margs)

Mindy's Bakery (get there early to avoid the lines!)

Kasama (modern Filipino restaurant and Bakery, get there early as there will be a line all day. Tegan dreams of their truffle croissant and claims its one of the top 5 things she's ever eaten. She will request one delivered as you're around the corner from Tegan & Ely's house :) )

Things to do:

Your biggest bang for your buck, and the hottest neighborhood in Chicago is the West Loop. Get dropped off at The Hoxton to be in the center of this fun, vibrant walkable neighborhood. Some highlights include:

Cabra: located at the top of the Hoxton Hotel, great views over the city serving delicious Peruvian fare. Have a Lime in the Coconut cocktail and soak in the sun. Their brunch is one of Tegan's favorite in the city.

Timeout Market: here you can find multiple popular Chicago food vendors and a full bar. Sit on the first floor farmhouse tables or go to the roof for a great view.

Au Cheval: worth the hype and the line for Chicago's most famous burger ... put your name in and wait across the street at Haymarket Pub or Lone Wolf for a relaxed drink while you wait.

Trivoli Tavern: Located down a cobblestone path off Green Street, enjoy their vodka pasta and their salmon Caesar salad out on the patio.

Moneygun/Sunnygun: depending on what time you go, go to Sunnygun for a cute little oasis during the day or Moneygun for the best espresso martini in the WOOP.

Rosemary: Modern croatian mixed with italian...Tegan's favorite restaurant in the WOOP. Get the tuna, stracciatella and the cacio e pepe.

Walk the 606 train, Chicago's urban oasis of miles of elevated walking and biking trails.

DOWNTOWN:

Things to do:

"Downtown" Chicago is very walkable. Walk Millennium Park, go see The Bean and Buckingham Fountain. Stop at Cindy's rooftop for the best view of downtown Chicago.

HIGHLY recommend if you do one thing take the Chicago Architecture Tour by boat; very well worth the time and money!

If you're staying in the suburbs around the Lincolnshire Marriott we suggest taking a quick trip to Chicago depending on how much time you have. Its a quick drive via car rental or uber, or the easiest way is to hop on the Metra and it'll take you right into downtown Chicago!

If you are looking for things to do closer to the suburbs we recommend:

FOOD:

Wildfire

Fat Rosie's Taco & Tequila Bar

Half Day Brewing Company

Milwalky Taco

Milwalky Trace

Shakou

Firkin

Mickey Finn's Brewery

Le Colonial

ACTIVITIES:

Explore Evanson and Northwestern's beautiful lakefront campus. Hightlights include the Baha-i temple and gardens.

Spend the afternoon at Chicago's botanic gardens located in Glencoe. 385 acres of gardens and natural areas to enjoy.