15 Bucketlist Chicago Activities - Archives
Hello readers and friends! If you’ve clicked on this blog I am assuming you’d love to hear all about the exciting adventures that await you when visiting the windy city, or you're just nosy. Well either way I hope you enjoy these top bucket list Chicago items along with some of my favorite photography that we took while visiting the beautiful city. Without further ado lets jump into our blog.
Sky Deck- This destination was definitely one of the first places that popped up into my head when writing this blog. The sky deck is a museum and deck experience located in the tallest tower in Chicago, on the 103rd floor to be exact. You can take amazing glass box photos, shop in their gift shop, and catch an amazing view of the entire city. A must try activity as long as your okay with heights!
The Riverwalk- The famous riverwalk was by far my favorite place to stroll and relax when I was exploring the city. Centrally located in the middle of the city and on the river, the entire walk is a dream compilation of the best city, water, and people watching views. There are a ton of different sitting areas, restaurants, and bars located on the walk as well. I highly suggest spending a day getting lost and enjoying the entire river, bridges, and city.
Logan Square- I know I am a little bias because I called this awesome little community within Chicago home for five weeks, but I really do think this neighborhood is a must see if your touring the area. This community is a combination of unique local businesses and super fun diverse restaurants all located just a ten minute transit outside of the city. Spend the day exploring this super safe area and grab an awesome meal and movie.
Chicago based food- The food scene in Chicago is absolutely wild and delectable. When visiting you have to try some of their famous or original dishes like Chicago deep dish, Portillos, or visit some of their compilation food halls like Revival Food Hall. You will never run out of food options within this city!
Clark Street- Located about one block off of the riverwalk this super popular street offers lively restaurants, bars, and an awesome club scene. With a plethora of activities to enjoy make sure to make reservations since everything is super competitive. Some awesome options located around the area includes The Joy District, The Untitled Supper Club, Howl at the Moon, and The Smith.
Fulton Market District-Another really interesting neighborhood located just a quick transit train away from the riverwalk, similar to Logan Square, is the Fulton Market District. This community has quickly turned into a fun and hip place for people to visit after work and for the younger twenty-somethings in the area. Come try out their bars and restaurants, and while your visiting check out their awesome graffiti murals.
Cloud Gate and Park- This infamous monument is a must see when traveling to Chicago along with the beautiful park that surrounds it. Cloud Gate, also known as the bean, is a huge art marvel that provides great insta-worthy shots and you can also touch it which I enjoyed. Spend an afternoon checking out the entire park and the other monuments that reside here.
Live Music Bars- Every corner you turn while your visiting you’ll find a beautiful rhythm filling the streets with diverse sound. Chicago has an amazing music scene all happening in a plethora of bar establishments like Jazz Clubs (Anderson Club), Piano Bars (Howl at The Moon), and Band bars.
Ride the Transit- While in the City one of my biggest recommendations when transporting is to take their awesome transit train systems. You get some kick-ass views of the city while exploring the neighborhoods, and the transit is also very inexpensive, making it a must try when visiting.
Baseball Games- We all know of the lifelong debate between Cubs or White Soxs fans but when in the city its a must to visit one of the stadiums! We visited the cubs stadium and it was super amazing to see so much history within a building but I was also super impressed with how great the updates looked while touring the building. Grab a hot dog and a beer and cheer on your favorite team.
Speakeasies- One of the really interesting history lessons of Chicago is they have a long history of mafia and gang violence throughout the city. Due to this when the prohibition happened, Chicagos bar scene pretty much continued to thrive through the speakeasy industry and some of them still operate today. These secretive and intimate bars are an amazing way to relax and enjoy a different part of Chicagos history.
The Palmer House- This absolutely gorgeous building was originally built for the worlds fair, and after 3 different models of the Palmer house; it stands as a true time testament of the city. The beautifully painted ceilings, gold trim and a secretive haunted past makes for an interesting story and leaving you feeling like royalty. Make sure to grab a drink and a picture when visiting.
Navy Pier- Very similar to most piers, this water surrounded tourist area offers a plethora of family like activities for people to visit. The pier offers carnival rides, a huge ferris wheel, restaurants, bike tours, and shopping. There are also a ton of boating adventures offered off this pier if you’d like to explore the water as well.
Chicago Theatre- The Chicago Theatre is one of those monuments that you have to at least walk by and take a quick picture of because the sign is so iconic. If you have the opportunity I highly suggest seeing a show or play within this arena, you won’t regret it!
A Walking Tour- Last but certainly not least, a great bucket list item is to take one of the super awesome walking tours available here! Walking Tours are an amazing way of learning a ton about the city, exploring the different streets, seeing amazing architecture, and getting your steps in! I have done a free walking tour here and a ‘ghost and gangsters’ tour and both were so much fun and knowledgeable. There is honestly no better way to learn fun facts about the city.
And there you have it folks, my complete bucket list for the City of Chicago! I hope this inspires you to book that plane ticket out to the city or if you already live around the area to try something new. Hope you have a fabulous day and i’ll see you on our next blog!
Cheers to our Twenty-Somethings!
Rayna xoxo
