7/26/2023 0 Comments Weekend trips near meThen make your way over to Fabyan Forest Preserve just as the sun starts to set. Grab an early dinner on the patio of Barrel + Rye, a cold bourbon cocktail in one hand and a perfectly cooked burger in the other. If shopping isn’t your thing, head over to the Fox River Distilling Company for a tour and tasting of their award-winning spirits. Whether you’re looking for a unique baby gift, fair-trade jewelry, or a keepsake ornament for your Christmas tree, you’ll find it here. Wander through the rooms of The Little Traveler, an iconic shop in a 36-room converted house that’s still owned and operated by a local family. Start your day with brunch at Buttermilk, right in the heart of downtown (you won’t go wrong with the cinnamon roll pancakes and a handcrafted espresso drink). Nestled on the Fox River just 40 miles outside of Chicago, Geneva is the epitome of a classic town with its tree-lined streets, a quaint but thriving shopping district, and sprawling nature preserves. Patrick’s Day Parade and River Dyeing, and the Chicago Blues Festival are just a few of the many options. No matter when you visit, you’ll always be able to find a fun festival to attend. The Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, and Museum of Science and Industry offer hours of fun for kids and adults alike. For brunch, try Bongo Room or Yolk.Īfter brunch, grab a cup of coffee from Intelligentsia and stroll along the 18-mile Chicago Lakefront Trail (don’t forget your swimsuit for a stop at North Avenue beach), or make your way south toward Navy Pier and the Museum Campus. Or try a little bit of everything by planning your trip around Donut Fest, which takes place in April. Stan’s offers a spin on traditional cake-style donuts, while Firecakes makes customers’ dreams come true with donut ice cream sandwiches. Once your stomach has recovered from the pizza, check out the brunch and donut scene the next day. Don’t pick just one pizza joint: snag a seat at Giordano’s, Lou Malnati’s, and Gino’s East for a well-rounded experience with the classic pie. Start your trip with a tour of the classics: visit the Skydeck at Willis Tower (are you brave enough to step out onto the Ledge?), catch a Cubs or Sox game from the bleachers (and be sure to pick your side in the north-south rivalry), take selfies in the Cloud Gate (affectionately known as “the Bean”), and dig into a slice of deep dish pizza. Little remains from Chicago’s celebration of the World’s Fair, but the city still thrums with history. After touring the historic building, you can cross the street to do some shopping at the aptly-named Water Tower Place, an eight-story mall.) (Only a few buildings in the fire zone survived, including the Chicago Water Tower, which is situated on the Magnificent Mile. About one-third of the city was destroyed by the flames, but the following years saw renewed growth, capped off with the World’s Fair being held in Chicago in 1983. O’Leary’s cow kicked over a lantern, swept through the city in October 1871. The Great Chicago Fire, which, according to urban legend, was started when Mrs. One of the iconic cities in the world, Chicago truly has something for everyone-whether you’re a foodie or a family on a budget. From sprawling cornfields to meandering rivers, from sleek skyscrapers to historical homes, from trendy restaurants to burger joints, Illinois has so many options to explore that you could spend every weekend trying something new and still never do it all.īut if you’re game to try, here are eight weekend getaways in Illinois to get you started. This, for me, represents quintessential Illinois. After this, we may try a microbrewery nearby or perhaps walk through one of Chicago’s many green parks, but for now, I am content to soak up the sweetness of my sangria and the sound of forks clinking against plates and people chattering all around me. When our drinks arrive, we toast to my birthday. We can’t choose just one, so we go with a half-pitcher of classic red and a half-pitcher of mango. My friends and I settle into our table and, first things first, peruse the day’s house-made sangria selections. After checking in at the host stand, I’m led out onto the all-seasons patio, which is bright and lively with vintage lights strung overhead and waiters bustling around making sure every diner has exactly what they need. The hallway is long and dim, lined with people waiting for their tables, and I mentally high-five myself for remembering to make a reservation last week. I sneak away from the bright, busy street and duck into the foyer of my favorite restaurant, Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba.
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