Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Introducing... Travel Tuesdays!

I know that a lot of people out there hate Mondays, and I understand it's hard to go back to work after a nice weekend. BUT my least favorite day of the week (especially when working) has always been Tuesday. With Mondays it's like you're still getting used to being back to the grind and you sort of ease back into it, and the day seems to go by pretty quickly... before you have time to really hate it, but Tuesdays? Not so. They catch you off guard and just creep by so excruciatingly slow and it's sooo far away from Friday night freedom.

So my solution is, Travel Tuesday. I'll research and "plan" a vacation I'd love to take someday, looking for places to stay, food to eat, and the best experiences a city has to offer. I'm no travel expert, but I'd love to have a catalogue of vacation spots to use as a jumping off point if Sean and I ever get the chance for some travel. Hopefully, these posts at the very least will offer a mini-escape from the boredom of the dreaded Tuesday afternoon! :)

Chicago: St. Patrick's Day
My sister is taking a weekend trip to Chicago later this month to celebrate St. Patrick's Day, so I thought I'd create a little itinerary of my own since I can't go for real. :)
Image via www.chicagotraveler.com
The Chicago St. Patrick's Day celebration is famous for dyeing the Chicago River green which kicks off the parade (this year held on actual St. Patrick's Day, Saturday March 17). Make sure to wear your green and bring a snack... the parade lasts around 3 hours.

Where to stay
The Drake Hotel is one of the most famous hotels in the city, and has a rich history and claims to be "where the Magnificent Mile begins." It is located in the Gold Coast neighborhood near the city's best shopping, nightlife, and dining. The Drake has always been on the cutting edge of luxury experience since it opened it's doors in 1920.

The James Chicago is recommended by both Jetsetter and the Travel Channel's Samantha Brown. This contemporary and stylish hotel offers a convenient location just one block from shopping on the Magnificent Mile, the JBar lounge just off the lobby, and easy access to attractions like The Museum of Contemporary Art.

What to eat: 
If you're adventurous and looking for something unique, try moto, where chef Homaro Cantu and his staff offer a taste of inventive, futuristic "post-modern cuisine."The team at moto uses a combination of science and creativity to offer their guests a well-rounded experience at every step of their meal, including things like edible menus and reinventions like BBQ Pork with Cornbread and Baked Bean Spaghetti. Sounds pretty weird huh?

If you want to stick to the basics, it's easy to find a Chicago classic "red hot" (hot dogs) no matter where you are in the city. Try a hot dog from Byron's where you can choose from 11 toppings to add. Or hit up one of the Gold Coast Dogs locations for the best cheese fries in town to go along with your "red hot."

The Windy City is also famous for its deep dish pizza as well. If you don't mind venturing off the beaten path, head over to the Morton Grove neighborhood to Burt's Place, where they use fresh ingredients every day and even convinced Anthony Bourdain that there's more to life than New York style pizza. :)

What to do:
Check out the Map Room if you're a beer enthusiast and choose from 200 brands from around the world. (Just remember to stop at the ATM before you go because they are cash only.)

Get tickets to a show at The Second City and see where some of your favorite comedians and SNL cast members made their big breaks.
Image via: www.secondcity.com
Shop til you drop along The Magnificent Mile, or take a boat tour or ride the ferris wheel at Navy Pier for some magnificent views of the city skyline.
Image via www.chicagotraveler.com
Finally, no trip to the Chicago would be complete without a photo of your reflection in "The Bean" at Millennium Park!
Image via: Millennium Park
What are some of your favorite spots in Chicago?

What other places would you like to see featured on Travel Tuesday?

2 comments:

  1. Yay Chi-Town! It's a good getaway for a Louisvillian. You don't even HAVE to fly to be there in a day's time. We did a weekend trip a couple of year's ago... Our "place to stay" was with a friend...Not as fancy as what you mentioned but it was a free guide around the city. Loved the boat tours, Navy Pier and Millennium Park! And, of course, pizza was fantastic! I cannot imagine the craziness of St. Patty's Day!

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  2. Just outside Chicago is the only Bahá'í temple in North America, and it's really cool. It's open to people of all faiths, and is a very peaceful place. We went there a couple years ago on the way home from Iowa, and it would be nice to go again when it's not the dead of winter!

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