Now that you’re convinced there are many sights to see and restaurants to eat at in Chicago, let’s talk about the logistics. Read on for tips on how to get around the city and what you should think about when planning your trip.

WEATHER

The most important thing to think about when visiting Chicago is the weather. Anytime except winter would be your best bet. Chicago’s winter snow is lovely but it could turn into Snowpoloypse, which can cause flight delays and activity closures. Many of Chicago’s activities are outside or at least, you will need to walk outside to get to them. It’s doable – I went in January my first trip – but it’s much more enjoyable in the summer. In July, the temperatures got up to the high 80s.

GETTING AROUND

Airport
Fly into the O’Hare (ORD) or Midway (MDW) airport. Both are international and have trains going straight into downtown: Blue line from O’Hare or Orange line from Midway.

Public Transportation: the “L” (elevated train)
The L is very easy to use to get around Chicago. There are lines directly from both airports into downtown and stops are a walkable distance downtown. Use Google Maps to lead you to the closest stops and the right train route and you’re set! A 3-day unlimited ride pass is $20.

Private Transportation: Taxis, Uber or Lyft
All of these private transportation methods are available in Chicago and are easy to find in the downtown area.

Alternative Way to See the City: Rent a Bike
You’ll find racks of blue Divvy bikes for rent around downtown.

DO

Check the events calendar
In the summertime, there are plenty of activities going on in Chicago. These may be great options for you or a good time to avoid visiting Chicago because of higher costs and crowds. Check out the city’s events calendar for free outside festivals and other events.

Best Views of the City
There are many places to see scenic views of Chicago. As I mentioned in the top things to do in Chicago post, Signature Lounge or 360 Chicago at the John Hancock Center and Skydeck at the Willis Tower are good choices up high. You’ll find a skyline view on the ground from the museum district by the Shedd Aquarium or Adler Planetarium. Inside the Art Institute of Chicago will get you some interesting views too.

Go Chicago Card
Planning on visiting multiple Chicago attractions? The Go Chicago Card gives you access to 26 attractions at a discounted price. Prices differ from how many days you’ll be sightseeing: 1, 2, 3 or 5 days, and prices range from $85-$175 for adults and $60-$119 for children. There are also different passes and pricing if you want to visit 5 or less attractions.

Chicago CityPASS
Similar to the Go Chicago Card, the Chicago CityPASS gives you entry to 5 attractions for a discounted price. It allows you to skip ticket lines and gives you 9 days to use your book.

Recommendations
Check out my recommendations of top things to do in Chicago for ideas.

STAY

Where
When looking for a place to stay, I recommend staying close to downtown and/or by an L stop.

Kinzie Hotel
We stayed at the Kinzie Hotel for the weekend. It was a great location – close to the Riverwalk, a few blocks from the L, and walking distance to many restaurants. While the hotel felt small because of the entryway and lobby, the room was comfortable, colorful, and sleek. We enjoyed the perks of complimentary Wi-Fi, fruit-infused water in the afternoons, and breakfast snacks (drinks, cereal, donuts, yogurt, pastries, fruit) in the morning. We didn’t get the chance to check out their daily reception but there is one available. They do have pet-friendly rooms and a fitness center. Though we did spend most of our time exploring Chicago, the hotel was a lovely place to re-energize and get a good night of sleep!

EAT

Budget Meals
Budgeting a trip to Chicago is very easy because of free activities and cheap eats. In splitting the check for all our meals, no meal was over $30. From $3 hot dogs at Portillo’s to $14 entree plates at Avec, Chicago’s eats are affordable with planning.

Recommendations
Check out my eating and drinking in Chicago post for recommended restaurants, drinks and snacks.

What tips would you add for a great trip to Chicago?

The post Chicago Travel Guide appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

There is more to do in Chicago than eat, though you will be enjoying a lot of that activity. Chicago is a beautiful city full of magnificent architecture, a plethora of art and a variety of activities for different interests. The city comes alive in the summer and attractions are filled with tourists and families enjoying summer vacation. When planning activities, think about the crowds and plan to go early or expect waits at attractions.

1. Cloud Gate and Millennium Park

One of the most known and recognizable things in Chicago, Cloud Gate or “The Bean” is located in Millennium Park, where you can find crowds of people in the summer. Taking photos in Cloud Gate’s reflective surface is a fun activity. The Park also has several art installations. This one with water is a fun play place for kids.

Cost: Free
Website

2. Art Institute of Chicago

One of the best art museums in the U.S., the Art Institute of Chicago can easily take up two hours of your time perusing and admiring the artwork. This is one of my favorite art museums in the U.S.

Cost: $25 adult general admission; $19 seniors (65+), high school and college student admission; Free for children under 14
Website

3. Navy Pier

Navy Pier is a historic landmark with an iconic ferris wheel, shops, theater, and restaurants. In the summer, free movies are shown on Thursdays and fireworks are set off every Wednesday and Saturday night. It’s also a great place to see Chicago’s skyline.

Cost: Free to walk around; pay for activities
Website

4. Chicago Architecture Foundation Boat Tour

I had two Chicago natives tell me this was one of their favorite things to do in the city and I was really excited to learn about Chicago’s architecture. Where else could you take a highly-rated tour like this?! The hour and a half tour, led by a volunteer docent, was filled with history and information.

Cost: $48.76 adult ticket; $31.76 infants 3 years and under
Website

5. Skydeck at Willis Tower OR Signature Lounge or 360 Chicago at John Hancock Center

Chicago has two skyscrapers with stunning views. Skydeck features glass boxes 1,353 feet in the air and 4.3 feet from the building. The John Hancock Center’s observatory area is called 360 Chicago. You need to seek out the different views at Signature Lounge, and you’ll find great views in the restrooms too. The John Hancock Center also has a cool sphere piece in their lobby.

Skydeck Chicago
Cost: $19.50 adult ticket; $12.50 youth ticket
Website

My friend Ashley in Skydeck’s glass box from our trip in 2010.

Signature Lounge
Cost: Free
Website

360 Chicago
Cost: $19
Website

6. Chicago Cultural Center

If you want to see an amazing stained-glass dome ceiling, pop into the Chicago Cultural Center, which is next to Millennium Park. Go early in the morning and/or check the schedule on their website. They book events in the space and you may not be able to get up close and personal when it’s closed off.

Cost: Free
Website

7. Shop on Magnificent Mile

Walk along The Magnificent Mile – 13 blocks on North Michigan Avenue – for many, many shops. You can also see some of Chicago’s iconic landmarks on this street, including the historic Water Tower, Wrigley Building and Tribune Tower. There are also theaters and hotels and the John Hancock Center is on this street.
Website
8. See a show

There are many performing art show options in Chicago. I’ve enjoyed a show by the Lookingglass Theater Company located inside the historic Water Tower Water Works building. The Chicago Theatre hosts a full schedule of shows, from musical artists, touring musicals, comedians, and more. Find more options at Choose Chicago’s website.

Cost: depends on the show
Website

Have more time or want different options? There are many other possible activity choices in Chicago. I’ve personally checked out the last two listed but hope to see more when I visit Chicago again!

• Field Museum
  Chicago’s natural history museum is great for the family. Dinosaur bones and more will keep you entertained. full-size animal exhibits
• Soldier Field
  Go see a Chicago Bears game or a concert (We saw Taylor Swift perform here.)
• United Center
  This is the home of the Chicago Blackhawks and Chicago Bulls. Also, many events hosted here.
• Shedd Aquarium
  This is the largest indoor aquarium in the world and features more than 8000 animals.
• Museum of Science and History
  While I’ve read that the other museums are better, this one is also an option if you like science and interactive exhibits.
• Lincoln Park Zoo
  This free zoo is one of the oldest in the U.S. and sits on 35 acres.
• Adler Planetarium
  America’s first planetarium is a fun place to explore astronomy.
• Wrigley Field
  Go see a Chicago Cubs game in the second oldest major baseball field.
• Lincoln Park
  One thing I definitely want to do when I return to Chicago is visit Lincoln Park. It has beautiful views of the city.
• Beach
  Chicago has 26 miles of public beaches. Wait, Chicago has beaches? Is it the perfect city or what!
• Chicago Water Tower
  This historic site can be admired in passing. It houses a small art gallery. It is one of the only buildings to survive the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 and symbolized recovery as Chicago rebuilt.
• Foursided
  We stumbled upon this cute boutique shop filled with stationary and gifts. They have three locations in Chicago. If you want to find a unique, cutesy Chicago gift, I’d recommend this place.

What’s your favorite thing to do in Chicago?

Interested in Chicago’s best restaurants? Check out my post of recommended Chicago eats!

The post Top 8 Things to Do in Chicago appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Some quick notes:
–Chicago-style pizza is deep dish with a hearty, thick crust. Pizzas may have sauce covering the toppings or like a normal pizza. There are several popular pizza restaurants with multiple locations around Chicago. See Lou Malnati’s below and the accompanying note.
–Chicago-style hot dog is loaded with a pickle spear, mustard, chopped white onions, relish, tomato slices, and pickled peppers. This is known as “dragged through the garden.” Chicagoans think ketchup on this hot dog is unacceptable. See Portillo’s below.
-There are many craft breweries in Chicago. I had Revolution Brewing and Goose Island Beer Company (purchased by Anheuser-Busch in 2011). I really enjoyed Revolution Brewing’s Fist City.

Goose Island Beer Company and Revolution Brewing

Here are some restaurant options I enjoyed.

XOCO
XOCO is celebrity chef Rick Bayless’ restaurant. The restaurant echoes his expertise: traditional Mexican cuisine with a twist. I had the restaurant favorite Ahogada sandwich and a wonderful coconut milk horchata. The Ahogada sandwich is filled with tender pork carnitas and is set in a chile broth. I didn’t fully enjoy the sandwich because it was pretty spicy for me but I enjoyed the components and execution. We also enjoyed a churro with chocolate and the flan. I definitely recommend these.

$$
449 North Clark Street, Chicago, IL 60654 (Sister restaurant is XOCO Bistro)
Website
Quick summary: hearty sandwiches; traditional Mexican food with a twist; don’t skip dessert!

XOCO Chicago: (L-R) Coconut Milk Horchata, Ahogada Sandwich, Flan

Avec
Avec was my favorite meal of the trip. They do not take reservations and at 8 p.m. on a Saturday, our wait was two hours long, which was doable for us because of the heavy, late lunch we had. The problem about eating at 10 p.m. was trying not to fall asleep at the table, but the excitement as the food came out kept us wide awake. We ended up sharing the chorizo-stuffed medjool dates wrapped in bacon (4 to a plate) and each ordered a main “entree.” The restaurant’s menu is divided by small and large plates that can be easily shared. I really enjoyed my dish – the smoked whitefish on thick bread – and the burrata pizza with eggplant, cherry tomato confit, basil, and calabrian chili honey. We also enjoyed the butcher’s steak and squid ink pasta at our table. Other dishes that caught my eye on their menu were: the cauliflower, paella, and all their desserts. This cozy and simply designed restaurant will please your taste buds!

$$$
615 W Randolph St, Chicago, IL 60661
Website
Quick summary: expect a long wait; highly-rated foodie restaurant; shared plate menu format

Avec: chorizo-stuffed medjool dates wrapped in bacon

Avec

Bongo Room
We enjoyed Sunday brunch at Bongo Room. This Vegetarian Croissant Sandwich had a lot going on but it was amazing. It’s got sprouts, mushrooms, an over-medium egg, spinach, cucumber, and tomato, all on a butter and flaky toasted croissant. I added bacon to it and it suddenly became a “Non-Vegetarian Vegetarian Croissant Sandwich.” Totally acceptable. It comes with flavorful potatoes that are the perfect texture – not too mushy and not too hard. We also had the special white chocolate, caramel and pretzel pancakes that were incredibly rich.

$$
Three Locations in Chicago
Website
Quick summary: great brunch; about an hr wait for brunch; plenty of sweet and savory options

Bongo Room: Vegetarian Croissant Sandwich (with added bacon)

Lou Malnati’s
Pizza! Pizza! Though it takes about 30 minutes or so for the pizza to arrive at your table, it is worth the wait. Of course, get their world famous Buttercrust for 75 cents more. A large Pepperoni and a medium “Lou,” which has mushrooms, spinach and sliced Roma tomatoes, was able to feed 7 people with no leftovers. I enjoyed the Lou more than the Pepperoni. They also have a gluten-free, crust-less option for those with dietary restrictions. All handmade with fresh ingredients, Lou Malnati’s will have me visiting again!

$$
Multiple locations around Chicago
Website
Quick summary: Crowd-pleasing deep dish pizza plus many side options on the menu

>>If you’re looking for deep-dish pizza options, also consider Uno Pizzeria or Giordano’s, two places I enjoyed on my previous trip to Chicago. Uno is where the deep dish pizza originated.

Lou Malnati’s: Pepperoni Deep Dish Pizza

Portillo’s
Known for their Italian beef sandwiches, Portillo’s also offers Chicago-style hot dogs along with a long list of menu items such as salad, pasta, and dessert. The counter service is quick and their food is tasty. The Chicago dog was a burst of flavors and the Italian beef sandwich was juicy. You have the choice of adding spicy or sweet peppers to the Italian beef sandwich. I missed it this time but their chocolate cake and cake shake are recommended!

$
Multiple locations around Chicago
Website
Quick summary: Quick sandwiches; don’t forget dessert

Portillo’s: Chicago Hot Dog

Portillo’s: Italian Beef Sandwich

Garrett Popcorn
This popcorn shop has locations around town and is a great snack to share when you’re out and about. A small bag mix of caramel and cheese popcorn is $5.57 including tax. It’s a popular Chicago original but I didn’t find anything too special about it other than being handmade and very fresh. Ours were a little stale the next day so eat it up quickly! There are also locations around the U.S. Don’t forget wet wipes; it’s messy!

$
Locations all over town, including the O’Hare airport
Website
Quick summary: though it seems expensive, it’s a good snack option

Garrett Popcorn

Chicago Cupcake
My favorite cupcake place outside of Austin – Molly’s Cupcakes – has a location in Chicago (and also in New York) but was out of the way from where we spent our time, so I let the fate of the cupcake find me. And behold, it did. We passed by a Chicago Cupcake food trailer and I had to stop and try it. Good thing because this cheesecake-like cupcake was decadent. I tried the Birthday Cake (vanilla with sprinkles, like funfetti) and while there was a lot of frosting, the cupcake was perfectly sweet and a hit on my list!

$
Two roaming trailers in Chicago; check the website for daily location
Website
Quick summary: cupcake trailer with cheesecake-like, moist cupcakes

Chicago Cupcake: Birthday Cake

Here are some recommended restaurants I hope to enjoy on my next trip to Chicago!
Fat Rice
Longman & Eagle
Katsu Japanese Restaurant
Yusho
Mindy’s Hot Chocolate 
Ruxbin
Grace
Au Cheval
The Purple Pig

Check out this local foodie post from MVMT Blog. Take a look at these websites for the most updated information about Chicago’s restaurants.
Eater Chicago
Zagat Chicago
Time Out Chicago
Chicago Magazine

What Chicago restaurants would you recommend?

Want more recommendations? Check out my Top 8 Things to Do in Chicago.

The post Eating and Drinking in Chicago: Favorite Chicago Restaurants appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

Taylor Swift. Award-winning and record-breaking singer, songwriter and performer. Inspiration for #RelationshipGoals. Hostess with the Mostess. Filler of concert stadiums. Baking enthusiast. Seemingly genuinely nice person who likes to surprise and delight fans. Cat-lover and possibly obsessed. Friend to many, including celebrities. The youngest person to make Forbes “100 Most Powerful Women” list. Style-maker. Game-changing voice in protecting her art. A net worth of $200 million. Influencer with a die-hard fan-base that follows, applauds, and rewards her work and being.

I wouldn’t say I’m a die-hard fan but I’ve bought albums, cheered on her TV appearances, subconsciously memorized songs, and now, have attended a concert (night #2 in Chicago). The concert was fun and energizing. She sang all the songs from her newest 1989 album (minus two bonus songs) and plus 4 old songs. She brought currently very popular country artist Sam Hunt out on stage to sing his single “Take Your Time” and the crowd went nuts. She’s a true entertainer – confident, sassy, talented, and sweet. From the outfits and choreography to the in-between pep talks to the crowd, Taylor is continuously perfecting her craft and by the crowd’s response (selling out two nights of 55,000 seats in Chicago and lots and lots of screaming), she’s doing it very well. She also continuously told the crowd she was thankful for her fans getting her to where she is and that her life has been so fruitful with friends and opportunities in the past year. Music connects people in unthinkable ways and with her music, Taylor’s been a cheerleader, encourager and friend to many and continues to be so.

Make a quick search and you’ll find articles upon articles about her business-savviness, power, and influence and even more about her every move (relationships, best friends, vacations) in the public eye. It’s safe to say Taylor is fire-hot right now. If she is half the person who we see in the media, it is evidence that being a kind-hearted and bold person is worth it. It’s also evidence that a seemingly awkward 14-year-old has learned and grown a lot in the last 11 years to become who she is now. What else can we do but respect and applaud a woman for working hard, living her dream and having lots of fun while doing it?

Bravo, Taylor, for a magical and fun night in Chicago.

The post Taylor Swift: 1989 World Tour in Chicago appeared first on Fearless Captivations.

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China: eating intestines, visiting every tourist site and remembering the value of family

It had been 12 years since I have gone to China; the last time I visited, I was 9-years-old in 1997. There were a lot of family members I hadn’t seen, met or even talked to since then. Connecting and re-connecting with family was the best thing about the trip. We ate SO MUCH GOOD FOOD together, laughed a lot, talked (they were so amazed at how well my brother and I spoke Chinese – haha), traveled together and simply just…lived. It was bliss. I love my family.

All of my family lives in Guangzhou and Hong Kong (a Special Administrative Region of China), but my dad wanted my brother and I to see all the famous tourist attractions of China, so we also took short trips to Shanghai, Beijing and Suzhou.

Shanghai
Oriental Pearl Tower – It’s pink!

Jin Mao Tower – This is a tall office building that has an observation deck on the 88th floor that gives a great view of Shanghai.

Yu Yuan Market – This is a popular tourist shopping center.

Beijing
Tienanmen Square – This is where lots of government buildings are located. The entrance to Forbidden City is across the street.

Forbidden City – This place is huge and so historical and beautiful.

The Great Wall of China – It was really cold when we went up there early in the morning, but it’s an amazing sight.

Bird’s Nest Stadium – The newest addition to Beijing’s pride and joy. I liked what they’ve done with the place.

Suzhou
Tiger Hill/Huqui Tower aka Yuyan Pagoda – The pagoda is nicknamed the “Leaning Tower of China.”

Guangzhou
The Party – We had a huge party for my older brother, sister-in-law and nephew. It was a little overwhelming because we had just hopped off the plane late the night before and there were more than a hundred people there to celebrate.

Saint Honore Cake Shop – This is the best dessert place I have ever been to! They have them all over China, and we went frequently!

Hong Kong
Tian Tan Buddha on Lantau Island – This statue is the world’s largest seated, outdoor, bronze Buddha statue. We rode up in the Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car, which had a glass bottom!

Can you believe we did all of that in just 12 short days?! It was an epic adventure that made me fall in love with my culture, my family and, of course, traveling, all over again. And yes, I did eat a small piece of pig intestine. It was squishy and didn’t really have a taste. Or maybe I was trying not to notice!

Want to learn and see more about China? Check out the China Guide on the National Geographic Web site.

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Chicago: mastering public transportation, experiencing THE deep-dish pizza and being in awe of the architecture

[Be sure to check out my UPDATED guide and posts about Chicago here.]

My friend Ashley and I took a short trip to Chicago to kick-off 2010. We didn’t really think about the weather when we were choosing between Chicago and San Diego, but even though the phrase “why didn’t we pick San Diego?” came up multiple times during our trip, especially when we were trekking through snow, I think we made the right choice and enjoyed a fun vacation in the Windy City.

Navy Pier – This popular tourist attraction is quiet in the winter months, but I love ferris wheels!

Public Transportation – The cheapest way to get around the city is by bus and train, and we got pretty good at it. It’s an easy way to see the city, too.

Skydeck and Ledge at the Willis Tower – Although viewing was only at about 10 percent when we were there, The Ledge was a scary thrill.

Millennium Park – Of course, we saw Cloud Gate, better known as “The Bean.”

Art Institute of Chicago– There were so many interesting art pieces here. You definitely need more than one or two days to see it all.

Icarus show at the Lookingglass Theatre in Water Tower Water Works – We got to see a pretty cool show called Icarus, which was an interesting interpretation of the Greek myth. The theatre is in this pretty building.

Cupcakes at Sugar Bliss Cake Boutique – Sadly, we only went to one cupcake shop in Chicago, and I thought the cupcakes were ok but not fantastic.

THE Deep-dish Pizza – We ate at the original Pizzeria Uno, which is where a TEXAN invented the deep-dish pizza. It was DELICIOUS! We also tried the Chicago-style cheesecake for dessert. I didn’t notice a big difference to New York-style cheesecake.

Chicago Cultural Center – Preston Bradley Hall is one of the most beautiful rooms I have ever seen. The dome ceiling looked amazing. We listened to Photographer Barbara Crane talk about her exhibit at the Center.

Chicago Hot Dog – I admit, I wimped out.

Walking the streets and the snow day – I was constantly amazed at how beautiful and unique the buildings were. It snowed all day on our last day, which was hard to walk in, but I think we secretly loved it.

This was my first un-sponsored, self-planned trip I took, and I loved exploring the city and spending time with Ashley. Since I’m a history nerd, I loved learning about the city and everything that makes it famous!

Want more about Chicago? See all my Chicago posts here.

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What fun adventures, huh?! Before I finish, here are a few pieces of advice about traveling that I was reminded of on my trips:

1.    Plan flight arrival/departure and hotel check-in/out times accordingly. Some hotels aren’t as nice as ours in Chicago, which let us check in early to take a super nap and store our suitcases after we checked out so that we didn’t have to lug them around while doing more sightseeing before our flight.

2.    Public transportation is the way to go! I utilized the bus, train and subway systems on both trips and liked it. It’s a budget-friendly option. Our $14 three-day pass in Chicago let us take unlimited trips on the bus and train.

3.    Sometimes it’s good to have a general plan, but other times, it’s fun to wing it. Sometimes things don’t really go according to your plan, but always be flexible because you never know what exciting experiences may come. (This kind of sounds like general life advice, too!) We originally tried to get tickets to a musical, but since they were sold-out, we found out about a show that I wasn’t too sure about. After the show, I was amazed at how good it was and so happy we went.

“Once the travel bug bites there is no known antidote, and I know that I shall be happily infected until the end of my life.” – Michael Palin

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