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Top Chicago Attractions: Worth it or Not?
There are a lot of Chicago attractions but they are not all created equal. Some of them are worth the hype and some truly are not. We have drafted our list of the top Chicago attractions and whether they’re worth a visit or whether they’re not. And when they are not, we have suggested a great Chicago alternative that is more worth your time and money. Chicago has so much to offer you may never experience it all; better to spend your time visiting only the best of it. Willis Tower: Not Worth It We often joke with family that we are willing to drop them off at the Willis…
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Chicago Prop House Tour
Have you ever wondered about how movies get the props they need for their films? Those items that make a room look authentic, that actors interact with and bring action scenes to life are all generally provided by companies like Zap’s Props. Their website says they’re the Midwest’s largest, renting out items for film, television, stage productions, commercials, photography, events, and more. I discovered them through Atlas Obscura’s Chicago Facebook group. They are a great resource for all kinds of history, events, tours and lesser known Chicago sites and attractions. The tour of Zap’s Prop house is offered exclusively through them and I don’t think I would have found it…
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Christmas Night Out in Wrigleyville
After being suggested to us by a friend we decided to head in to the Wrigleyville neighborhood in Chicago to check out the Santa Baby pop up Bar. Regularly the Bar -ups Bartending academy, they transform their location for Christmas each year. The website videos looked amazing and the decor inside definitely lived up to the hype. You can check out their site here. Once we got there we found that the majority of the street has been prepped for Christmas and had a lovely Christmas night out in Wrigleyville. read more
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Oriental Institute Museum
I have always been obsessed with ancient Egypt and it’s history. I cannot get enough of mummies, pharaohs and hieroglyphs. Given this I cannot believe I went this long without having discovered the Oriental Institute Museum right here in Chicago. Though it’s name is quite dated, it comes from the time in which the University had excavations from ancient Egypt, Nubia, Persia, Mesopotamia, Syria, Anatolia, and the ancient site of Megiddo. I have visited Many of the larger more well known museums in various cities and none of them come close to the quantity, variety and size of the artifacts at the Oriental Institute from this area and period. I…
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Where to See Animals in Chicago and the Suburbs
As an animal lover, I am always looking for opportunities to get up close and personal with them. Being in an urban area means having to put forth a bit more effort to make this happen. So I did my research and traveled around to find all of the places you can see animals in Chicago and the suburbs surrounding it. I have compiled the ultimate master list categorized by location. Read on and find an animal excursion near you. In Chicago Lincoln Park Zoo Located on Chicago’s north side Lincoln Park Zoo enjoys a lovely skyline view of the city. It is also free to the public though parking…
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See Elk Near Chicago in Busse Woods
Located in the North Suburbs of Chicago is the Ned Brown Preserve. Also known as Busse Woods it is located in the aptly named Elk Grove Village, IL and is home to several Elk. We took advantage of all that the preserve has to offer which includes hiking and fishing in addition to the elk. Fishing Busse Lake Ned Brown Preserve is also home to Busse Lake a beautiful waterway with opportunities for kayaking and fishing. The designated fishing areas are concreted which is convenient for putting out your fishing gear but not convenient if your wife wants to lay out in the grass while you fish. Hiking Ryan and…
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Visiting Shedd Aquarium with Toddlers
The Shedd Aquarium is one of several fantastic attractions located along Lake Michigan in downtown Chicago. The Shedd hosts a large array of aquatic animals and fish presented in a way that allows you to get up close and personal. We chose to visit the Shedd Aquarium with toddlers , specifically with our adorable nephews and family. As with anywhere you go with toddlers it can take some planning ahead so we have compiled some helpful information for visiting the Shedd Aquarium with toddlers or other small children. Tip number one, make sure you book your tickets online. Otherwise on a busy day you can find yourself waiting outside in…
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Illinois to Texas Road Trip Itinerary
As a part of a hog hunting trip for my husband and his brother we rented a truck and planned a road trip from Chicago, Illinois to Dallas, Texas with the girls going on to San Antonio and the boys staying closer to Dallas for their hunting trip. In planning for this trip, I developed a multi-state road trip to hit up all the best cities that I could along the way. I am sharing our Illinois to Texas itinerary here now so you too can enjoy his fun-filled route too. Day One Chicago, Illinois We live here so for us, Chicago was not an official stop but just…
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Helicopter Tour of Chicago
Chicago is a fabulous city with lots of great sites to explore. It also has many great ways to see it including bus, boat and walking tours. For the most amazing and once in a lifetime tour, it’s the helicopter ride that tops them all. I surprised Ryan with a private tour for his birthday and we absolutely loved it. The views were fantastic. We saw all of Chicago’s Best spots and we had an experience of a lifetime. Booking your Tour I booked our tour on Groupon. At the time they were offering 35 minute tours from Sun Aero Helicopters in Lansing, IL. We did have to drive out…
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The Best Kept Secret on Chicago’s West Side: Garfield Park Conservatory
Locals and tourists alike are bound to be aware of the Chicago sites like Willis/Sears tower and the Bean but hidden in the neighborhood of Garfield Park is a lesser known attraction that though off the regular tourist track, is an absolute gem. This attraction is the “Largest publicly owned conservatory under one roof in the world”. If you don’t know, like we didn’t prior to looking it up online, the conservatory is a collection of greenhouses showcasing the world’s plants and foliage emulating their natural landscape that you can view all year round. The Garfield Park Conservatory is a real treat, and it’s free entry! We left a donation…