TOP 5 MUST DO ACTIVITIES IN
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
 |
| Chicago aka "The Windy City" |
All About Chicago
Vacations days are priceless; they are an opportunity to escape from the stress of work and spend time with loved ones. "One study by the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health "showed that a four-day "long weekend" vacation had positive effects on well-being, recovery, strain, and perceived stress for as long as 45 days." Big cities usually attract the most visitors and Chicago, Illinois is no exception; there was "30.7 million visitors domestic and international in 2021." Chicago also happens to be my home so I have been lucky to explore the culture-rich city. Visiting a large city like the "Windy City" can be overwhelming because there are endless restaurants and activities to fill the days and nights. In order to simplify the seemingly complicated city, I've compiled a list of the 5 activities you must do when visiting.
1. Visit Millenium Park
Millenium Park is located in the downtown heart of Chicago. It is home to the famous structure "The Bean" which as I can speak from personal experience, it is a prime photo spot. There is also a huge splash pad for visitors to cool down on a hot day and an elaborate jungle gym to entertain little ones. There are beautiful gardens, as displayed above, and grassy areas perfect for a nice family picnic. If you go during the summer, definitely keep your eye out for concerts since Millenium Park is home to the Jay Pritzker Pavilion. There is also free public ice skating if you find yourself in Chicago in the winter.
2. Attend a Show
While in Chicago, pop over to the theater district and see your favorite show! My favorite shows I've seen in Chicago are Paradise Square and Dear Evan Hansen. Later this year, the shows: Jagged Little Pill, Into the Woods, and MJ The Musical are all playing which have had smashing reviews. Pro tip: go to the box office in the theater the show is playing in about an hour before it starts to get the best deals on tickets.
3. Visit The Art Institute of Chicago
4. See the City from Above at the Willis Tower Skydeck
If you are a thrill seeker like me who loves heights, this is definitely for you. As seen in the picture, you get the opportunity to step out onto the skydeck and take in the beautiful sights of Chicago. Fun fact: If you go on a windy day, you can feel the skydeck move. The most popular times to go are during sunrise or sunset. If your not a thrill seeker, you can still enjoy the famous tower. There is shopping and dining options in the building that I also had a great time exploring.
5. Cuddle Bunny
What do you think?
If you've been to Chicago, what is your favorite thing you've done? Which of these five activities appeals to you the most and why? Is there something I should make sure I do in the city when I go home?
Learn more here!
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/15/1/130
https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/mayor/press_room/press_releases/2022/june/IncreaseInTourism.html#:~:text=CHICAGO%20%E2%80%94%20Mayor%20Lori%20Lightfoot%20and,an%2086%25%20increase%20over%202020.
https://www.artic.edu/exhibitions
https://www.choosechicago.com/articles/museums-art/visit-the-art-institute-of-chicago/#:~:text=Founded%20in%201879%2C%20the%20Art,the%20world's%20most%20revered%20masterpieces.
https://cuddlebunnyccc.com/events-calendar
Hi Julie! This was a very insightful blog as I have never been to Chicago before. It was clear through the blog that you are very knowledgable about the city and I liked the personal touches you added throughout. Most travel blogs tend to persuade readers to visit the attraction rather than explaining personal likes and dislikes.
ReplyDeleteThe first visual was very eye-catching and the color that you chose for the title matched it very well. The other visuals were very helpful as they showed the exact attraction you were talking about. As a visual learner, the images enhanced the readability of this blog for me. The structure of the heading, picture, then description for each attraction was organized and helped me read the blog with ease.
Hello! Thank you for the kind words! I am delighted the organization made it enjoyable for you.
DeleteI really enjoyed reading your blog. All the pictures that you included were helpful in visualizing the array of actives that you are talking about. The personal touches that you added in were also nice, like the tip about the show tickets. Also, the sources at the end are helpful for more information on certain topics.
ReplyDeleteHi Imogene! Thank you for the positive remarks about my blog. I greatly appreciate it. I hope the information was useful!
DeleteThis is a very good blog from someone who has been to Chicago plenty of times. The pictures are eye-catching and visual appealing. There is plenty of activities to do in Chicago but my favorite is the Magnificent Mile or Navy Pier. Millenium Park appeals to me because it is a nice place to go to when the weather is good. The place I suggest visiting is the former John Hancock Center since it has a 360 view restaurant and lounge.
ReplyDeleteHi Justin! Believe it or not, I have not visited Navy Pier. That is definitely on the top of my list. I agree, Millenium Park is a great spot when the sun is shining. Thank you for your suggestion to visit the John Hancock Center. I will be sure to check it out!
DeleteHi Julie! I really enjoyed your blog post. I have never thought about visiting Chicago but you may have changed mind. I really liked how you spoke about the places from your own experience. I also liked the pictures you included, especially the skydeck one. I think I would visit Millenium Park since I like to explore the outdoors. Overall I really liked the content and visuals of your blog!
ReplyDeleteHi Michelle! I am pleased to hear that my blog has made you think about visiting Chicago. Millenium Park is definitely a popular attraction. Some of my favorite memories took place there. Thank you for the comment!
DeleteIt was really interesting to hear that taking even a short hiatus can have long lasting effects on one’s well-being. After your blog, I’d like to take one to Chicago! I loved getting to learn about the city vicariously through your experience as I have never gotten the chance to visit the beautiful “Windy City.” I really liked your vibrant visuals and diverse showcase of many things that Chicago has to offer. If I ever venture to the city, I will definitely visit Millenium Park to see “The Bean” and enjoy nature. Thank you for your exciting introduction to Chicago!
ReplyDeleteHi Will! I was also interested to hear about the positive effects a vacation can have on one's well being. Learning this fact was a good reminder for me to take breaks. "The Bean" is a lot of fun. I hope you enjoy your time there if you do venture to Chicago. Thank you for the comment!
DeleteHi Julie! This was a very interesting blog because I have never been to Chicago. These activities definitely made me consider making the trip! Millenium Park looks like a great place to stop and I was surprised to hear how much green it has. The garden looks beautiful. Do they have any conservatories like we do in Pittsburgh? Overall, the blog is very visually appealing and the title is very straight forward. I liked the numbers by the headings because they helped them stand out from the other words. Great work!
ReplyDeleteHi Natalie! No, there are no conservatories in Millenium Park; however that would be a lovely addition! I am glad you enjoyed my post. Thank you for the comment!
DeleteThe blog's content is engaging. From reading, it is apparent that you are passionate about traveling. Any reader can easily engage with the content, as you incorporate your personal experiences into the blog. The introduction draws the reader in; By expressing the importance of traveling and relating your personal experiences, the reader is eager to learn more. One critique would be the size of the font and lack of contrast in the formatting. Well done!
ReplyDeleteThis blog was informative and creative about the five top activities to engage in when visiting Chicago. Since this was written from personal experience, readers are hooked and trusting of the opinions. Your use of images for each of the five activities allows readers to follow along and visualize the sites. I also appreciated the question at the end because it allows the readers to ponder upon the five activities mentioned and leaves the readers thinking more about visiting the city. Overall, I was absolutely convinced to visit Chicago and loved the blog!
ReplyDelete