Two-Day Chicago Travel Guide ⋆ Growing Up Cali

If you’ve been following along on my IG, you know I recently skipped town to go on a girls’ trip to Chicago. And it was a blast!

Two-Day Chicago Travel Guide:

Thanks to all of you who reached out asking about our trip. I especially love hearing your recommendations! And as promised, here’s my two-day Chicago travel guide with the recap of our adventures!

Chicago Travel Guide: What We Did in Chicago

Chicago Architecture Foundation Center River Cruise:

I’ve been to Chicago several times but never been on the boat tour. I don’t know why except that it just seemed so … touristy? And while it might be, it’s still a great way to see the city and learn about its history.

We took the Chicago Architecture Foundation Center’s River Cruise and it was great. The cruise is 90 minutes long and it covers the history of more than 50 buildings along the Chicago River including Willis Tower, Navy Pier, the Wrigley Building, Tribune Tower, Merchandise Mart, Lyric Opera, 333 West Wacker, and Marina City.

Tours run from March through November every year and tickets cost $56 per person. You can buy yours here.

Tips: Make sure to bring lots of warm layers if you’re going in the late fall (as we did). It’s cold out on the water!! The boat does have an inside dining room/bar but you really can’t really hear anything from inside.

Chicago Travel Guide Andy Warhol Exhibit Marilyn Monroe

Art Institute of Chicago & the Andy Warhol Exhibit:

One of the highlights of our trip was a visit to the Art Institute of Chicago, which is located just down the street from the Cloud Gate (the “bean”) in Millenium Park.

The museum has a great collection that includes some of the most well-known pieces of art including more than 30 paintings by Claude Monet, Vincent van Gogh’s Self-Portrait and Bedroom in Arles, Georges Seurat’s Sunday Afternoon on La Grande Jatte, and Grant Wood’s American Gothic painting (you know the one with the creepy-looking couple with their pitchfork!). Also on display are Marc Chagall’s American Windows.

We were also lucky enough able to catch the special exhibit going on now through January 26, 2020: Andy Warhol — From A to B and Back Again. It showcases more than 400 of Warhol’s works and offers a fascinating look at one of American’s most iconic pop artists.

The museum is open daily 10:30–5:00 and some evenings. The cost is $25 for adults. And the special exhibit is an additional $7. You can buy tickets here.

Tips: You can save 50% on FAST PASS admission to the Art Institute of Chicago’s galleries and nonticketed special exhibitions, as well as at the Shedd Aquarium, Skydeck Chicago at Willis Tower, Field Museum, and 360 Chicago Observation Deck (or Museum of Science and Industry).

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Robie House:

If you’re are an architecture and/or history fan — or are just curious about why Frank Lloyd Wright is such a big deal — take a trip to the Robie House. Located in Hyde Park right off the University of Chicago’s main quad, the Robie House is the last home designed by Wright in the “Prarie Style” (which is meant to evoke the natural, expansive landscape of the Midwest).

The home, which was built in 1909, has recently undergone a significant restoration. The only way to see it is on a guided tour, so make sure to make reservations in advance. Tours are 50-minutes long are offered Thursday – Monday, 10 am to 3 pm and cost $20 per person.

Tips: You’ll have to check any large bags or backpacks before entering the house. There’s no cost to check your bags.

Chicago Travel Guide: Where We Ate And Drank

There are so many great restaurants and bars in Chicago. And we only got a chance to sample a few during our visit. But by far, the highlight was Elske.

Elske Restaurant:

This unassuming spot in the West Loop has the feel of a beloved neighborhood restaurant with a simple interior and cozy outdoor patio with a fireplace.

But don’t let the low-key vibe fool you. The Michelin-starred Elske, which means love in Danish, is dishing up some seriously great, innovative food.

Our favorite dishes were the raw aged gouda with pear jam and crackers, veal cappelletti with broccoli, preserved lemon, and ricotta salata, and the celeriac ‘risotto’ with candied hazelnuts, parmesan, apple, and black truffle.

And I’m still dreaming of the frozen raspberry fluff with sweet woodruff custard. Sigh.

Elske is open Wednesday-Sunday, You can order either the tasting menu ($95 per person) or à la carte. You can make a reservation on Open Table.

Other Restaurant Recommendations:

Oriole: an intimate, 28-table West Loop restaurant with two Michelin stars. The restaurant only offers a 10-course tasting menu for $215 per person.
Cafe Canale: a lively, Wicker Park French bistro. We went for brunch and loved the ham, cheese, and egg buckwheat Galette Complète and the leek and bacon quiche.
Proxi: a buzzy West Loop restaurant serving up small plates and good drinks. I loved the Hot Track: Vol. 1 milk punch, which seems to be a thing in Chicago at the moment, and the Hendrick’s Spanish-style gin and tonic. The menu is a bit hit or miss. We enjoyed the Tempura Elotes and the Grilled Wagyu Short Rib Kalbi.
The Travelle Bar at the Langham Hotel: Great spot to sip cocktails while viewing the city and the river. We went after our boat tour to warm up!

Chicago Travel Guide: Where We Stayed

Viceroy Chicago:

For this trip, we stayed at the Viceroy Chicago. The hotel, which opened in 2017, was built on the site of the 1920s era Cedar Hotel. It’s located in the Gold Coast neighborhood and within short walking distance to many the major sites including the Magnificant Mile and Millennium Park.

It also has a good lobby restaurant and a fun rooftop bar. And it’s located right next door to a Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria, famous for its Chicago-style deep-dish pizzas.

I loved how the hotel melds the old with the new with its art deco vibe and the retro-looking decor and furniture design. I stayed in a roomy Deluxe Lake View King (the bathroom was huge!) and my room was fully stocked with lots of amenities like Nespresso machines and CBD bath bombs.

But sadly, it didn’t have much of a water view. I could only see a tiny slice of the lake between buildings (see the above photo). And it was the same for my friend who had the same room but on a higher floor. So just keep that in mind if water views are important to you (or you don’t want to pay for a view you don’t really get!).

In previous visits, I’ve stayed at the Langham Chicago, which offers gorgeous river views, and at the Four Seasons, which has full city and/or lake views.

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