Art & Museums

Many of the lesser known museums are free year round, while others offer free days. Visit the famous City Gallery to admire the work displayed in this old water tower turned hip art venue. A recent exhibit featured photographs of Chicago hot dog stands. The content is always changing but the one constant is all photographs must be about Chicago and it’s always free.

The DePaul University Art Museum is another place to view special art exhibits for free.  There is a permanent collection of varied artwork for you examine and appreciate. For a different cultural experience head to the Oriental Institute Museum to can view artifacts from Persia, Egypt, and Mesopotamia.

Attractions

For an extensive list of free attractions and events check out the local media as well as Chicago’s official tourism site, explorechicago.org.

A must see for anyone visiting Chicago is the Navy Pier, consisting of over 50 acres of attractions, parks, gardens, and shops. Navy Pier attracts more than 8.6 million visitors a year and features a 15-story tall Ferris wheel as well as Cirque Shanghai, a group of Chinese acrobats that are sure to entertain.  Most of the indoor attractions charge a fee but some offer free admission.

Take a guided tour at the Lincoln Park Zoo, where admission is always free. Stroll past hundreds of different exhibits and species in one of the best zoos you will ever visit.

Theater & Dance

Broadway-style blockbusters are going to cost just as much as you would expect, but most of the smaller theaters will be closer to your prices range. There are plenty of options when it comes to free performances as well.

The Free Street Theater group creates productions ranging from puppetry to satirical comedy in a variety of the communities throughout Chicago. For free dance lessons attend the annual summer dance festival Held in the Spirit of Music Garden in Grant Park. This festival includes free dance lessons as well as jazz, Latin, funk, and ballroom performances.

Blended perfectly with these spaces are historic buildings, excellent transport links and top quality restaurants. Restaurants in Chicago range from intimate and quiet dining locations to informal and relaxed pub grub and self-service.

Likewise, you’ll find a wide range of food tastes catered for, from Thai to Italian, American to French, each to be experienced in different settings. From the formal to the more relaxed cafe style options, there really is something for everyone.

Of course not everyone wants fine dining and not all of us can afford fine food prices.For those hoping to stick to a tight budget during their holiday in Chicago, here’s a guide to some of the top budget restaurants in Chicago.

Pizzeria Uno

For classic Chicago-style pizza, take yourself to one of the well-respectedPizzeria Uno restaurants and experience high quality pizza at affordable prices. Fresh ingredients are key to the tasty food available here and with great prices, you can afford to eat here again and again.

You’ll find you’ve not really experienced Chicago food until you’ve tasted a pizza like this and alongside the friendly reliable service on offer here, you’ll be made to feel right at home. Never moving too far away from its roots, which go right back to the 1940s, this restaurant makes the most of authentic Italian recipes using ripe fresh vegetables and a varied range of spices.

Now the restaurants boast traditional dishes alongside a new menu and have benefitted from a massive upgrade that sees the dining areas and kitchens modernised and made even more appealing. Hitting the news recently for its popular casual dining approach, this is a chance to experience a bit of Chicago as well as great Chicago food.

Penny’s Noodle Shop

If you prefer a mix of flavours and enjoy your noodles, Penny’s Noodle Shop is just the place to go, with excellent prices placed on a range of different appetisers and main meals. Mix and match your Thai preferences and enjoy a combination of foods such as Spring Rolls and Crab Rangoon and all for under $10.00.

Café Orchid

Over at Café Orchid, situated in the heart of Wrigleyville, you’ll find Turkish food at its best. Favoured by local Middle Easterners, this is a popular restaurant and one that successfully provides tasty, feel good food at just the right cost.

With a covered outside seating area and relaxed and comfortable seating inside as well, this is a real taste of Turkey as well as of Turkish cuisine and with consistently high reviews, it’s a place well worth a visit.

Sitting down to eat here, you’ll find a whole range options on the menu and with something to suit everyone, it’s just the spot for a meal with friends or family. Choose from lentil fingers, Spinach sautee and hummus Appetisers, fried mussels, kibbe and feta wraps and all for small change.

Bob San

Chicago may well be the place to experience some of the best Pizzas around, but the diverse city life on view is equally represented in the types of restaurants available in the area. For affordable Sushi, why not try Bob San to experience fresh fish creatively presented in perfectly balanced dishes?

With spicy flavours aplenty, the white tuna roll proving a particular favourite; most classic Sushi dishes are available here. So take a break from a busy day sightseeing or shopping and make the most of some of the exotic food dishes on offer whilst dining at a welcome leisurely pace.

Portillo’s Hot Dogs, Inc.

Of course, for those that are after a little more theatre to go with their meals, why not try one of the popular outlets of Portillo’s Hot Dogs, Inc., and enjoy the perfectly priced beers and burgers? Home to the ‘World’s Best Hot Dog’, this is must for fans of American food. With most meals available for under $10, you’ll not worry about enjoying a few extra beverages or an extra side order here or there.

In addition to Portillo’s great prices, you’ll find each restaurant location boasts its own theme, so you may even choose to dress the part and put on a feather boa for a night out in a 1920s themed diner! A family friendly venue, you’ll have the option to eat with a sit down menu or opt to take up one of the set packages offered by this chain.

With so many dining options to choose from, you’ll not have to worry about missing out simply because you’re on a set budget. Simply choose from one of the above restaurants and enjoy the fresh taste of classic Chicago style food whist relaxing in the equally classic and reputed Chicago style hospitality.

Chicago is an increasingly popular holiday destination and it’s easy to see why. As well as the great food there is plenty to see and do in this amazing city!

Whatever style of hotel you’re looking for Chicago has something for everyone. Whether you want to enjoy the indulgent luxury of spa hotels, revel in breathtaking views across the lake, or take your dog with you, there is the perfect accommodation to fulfil your needs.

If you’re looking for true indulgence in every sense of the word, then visiting a spa hotel is the best option. The Belden Stratford Hotel has created a great name for itself, and with views across Lake Michigan you’ll be able to enjoy aromatherapy and seaweed body wraps at the Vera Volli Spa. Meanwhile, new brand W has opened the fantastic Chicago Lakeshore which includes a Bliss Spa so that whilst enjoying stunning views you can relax with a revitalising facial or massage.

If you’re not quite into so much lavishness and simply want a top hotel to rest your head before heading out into the city to explore, then a self-catering hotel or apartment accommodation is ideal. The Hilton Chicago Downtown offers large suites equipped with full kitchens and velvet sofas, but throws in a complimentary grocery service and breakfast should you need it. Meanwhile, the Marriott Chicago Downtown offers modern suites with sitting rooms and kitchens, and located a few steps away from Michigan Avenue is perfectly placed for shopping. Alternatively, if you’re planning on an extended stay, then Pratt Shore is the ideal apartment hotel, with the location being fairly quiet and also offering full kitchens. The glorious beaches of Lake Michigan are only one block away, and you can utilise car service or car rental discounts so that you can travel around with freedom and ease. And if you want to go to the other end of the scale and enjoy a hotel at the high end of luxury, then either the Conrad Chicago or Sofitel Chicago Water Tower are perfect.

Whether you’re in town for a week or a month, a great way to get around places other than central locations is by car. This allows you to not only avoid busy public transport, but explore areas outside of the city which may be harder to get to. The Museum of Science and Industry is a great spot if you want to explore the history of man’s advances, whilst Sears Tower, the world’s third tallest building, offers a feat of engineering to climb and enjoy spectacular views. And if you want to get back to nature, then Lincoln Park Zoo is just minutes from downtown Chicago and is free entry. And whatever you may be looking for on your trip to Chicago, you’ll be able to find the perfect hotel for your needs.

The Chicago Cultural Center, though originally the city’s first public library, currently serves as host to a wide array of cultural events including recitals, art exhibits, movies, theater and dance events and  even lectures. The Center is open all year and hosts most of the city’s major cultural and artistic events. In its over one hundred years it has received the most famous guests and well-known artists and their works. But of course, the best art exhibit is the building itself, with its rare marbles, elegant hardwoods and fine polished brass. Plus, the two enormous stained glass domes, each over 38 feet in diameter and made from thousands of pieces of glass, will take your breath away. IT’s no wonder the building is affectionately referred to by many as “The People’s Palace”.

There’s always something to see, hear or do at the Chicago Cultural Center. From the latest art exhibits on the first floor at the Michigan Avenue Galleries or the Landmark Chicago Gallery, to a comedy or ballet recital at the Claudia Cassidy Theater on the second floor. And there’s no way to avoid stopping to admire the Grand Army of the Republic Memorial, sitting at the top of the winding marble staircase when entering the building from Randolph Street.

There are also several lecture rooms and conference halls that regularly feature seminars and other events of interest. And, if you want to make a special event like a wedding or graduation completely unforgettable, the Cultural Center has rooms available for private rentals.

From exotic animals, to train rides to interactive exhibits, Chicago’s Lincoln Park Zoo has everything you need to spend an unforgettable day while visiting the Windy City. Start your day with a walk around Hope B. McCormick Swan Pond or, check out the Antelope and Zebra area. And, if you’re there on a Sunday morning, enjoy a delicious breakfast at The Patio at Café Brauer, where you can have some pancakes, waffles, or even breakfast burritos before you begin your walk around the zoo.

Your children will also love the AT&T Endangered Species Carousel, where they will get to ride a beautifully handcrafted wooden replica of many of the animals that call Lincoln Park Zoo their home. Or they can enjoy the LPZoo Express, a fun train ride for kids ages 3 to 12. And visitors of all ages will take pleasure in Lincoln Park Zoo’s Farm-in-the-zoo exhibit. This interactive exhibit showcases farm animals from cows to ponies, that can be fed and touched.

After a quick lunch at the zoo’s Park Place Café, guests can head on over to the Blum-Kovler Penguin and Seabird House, or check out the lovely Flamingo Habitat. Plus, nobody should miss the opportunity to visit Regenstein’s African Journey. This amazing zoo exhibit brings the wonders of the Dark Continent to Chicago, with impressive animals like giraffes, ostriches and aardvarks as well as huge rhinoceroses and amazing groups of colorful fish.

Lincoln Park Zoo also offers many learning exhibits where you can get some fun facts about the interesting animals that are found there. And of course, you can end your fun-filled day at the zoo with some yummy ice cream from Safari Café before you head for the souvenir shop.

There are quite a few amazing things to see while walking through Millennium Park. One of the first places most people go is the BP Bridge, since it is right next to a parking garage where many visitors leave their vehicles. This 925-foot-long bridge connects Millennium Park to the Daley Bicentennial Park and rises over Columbus Drive, which allows visitors to take in some great views of their surroundings. It was designed by Frank Gehry, the same architect who designed another of Millennium Park’s sights, the Jay Pritzker Pavilion. This work of art is a 120 foot tall metal structure that looks like a bunch of silver ribbons that are blowing in the wind and houses an 11,000 seat theatre with an amazing sound system that will make you feel like you’re in an indoor concert hall. The Pavilion hosts numerous music events the whole year round.

Visitors can also enjoy some peace and quiet in Millennium Park’s 2.5 acre garden that allows you to enjoy everything from clean landscaping to lush vegetation and a footbridge over running water. But if you love to take pictures, you must go to Cloud Gate. Affectionately called “The Bean” by locals, this wonderful steel sculpture is 66 feet long and 33 feet high and the most photographed part of Millennium Park. This is due to its perfect mirrored surface which reflects the city’s skyline and also offers funny house-of-mirror reflections at different angles.

Plus, passing by Crown Fountain is a must. Designed by a famous Spanish artist, it is meant to be a tribute to residents of Chicago. Two glass block towers, each 50 feet high, display video images of 1,000 people from Chicago, one at a time. Each person’s image is first seen smiling, then puckering as an embedded pipe spurts water from the tower, making it seem as if the person spout it out. A bit of everything for everyone, can be found at this fantastic Chicago park.

Source: www.zagat.com – Go to Source

Source: www.zagat.com – Go to Source

Source: www.zagat.com – Go to Source

Source: www.zagat.com – Go to Source