Overview
** CHICAGO TOURS, ILLINOIS **
Read travel tips for Chicago tours from our amazing community of BLACK AND BROWN TRAVELERS that will help you find some of the best places to visit Chicago, Illinois. Our variety of travel tips will definitely help you plan your next trip. Our tips range from best places to visit in Chicago, Illinois, affordability, nightlife, local food, where to stay and even what it is like Traveling While Black. Lastly, we are working diligently to create a comprehensive city guide for Chicago tours. Stay tuned! But in the meantime, scroll down to read tips below!
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Houston was an experience! There are so many great food spots and things to do during your stay. From museums like the world of illusions to the great food such as The Turkey leg hut and Lucille’s or if you are into baseball games a night out to the Minute Maid park. They had one of the biggest malls I’ve experienced at the galleria that had a whole ice rink inside . They even had the space center which I thought was a pretty cool science museum.
Tips – Bring a sweater or two. They were not joking when they called it the windy city. Right by the water and all the buildings built near and around the harbor makes tunnelling happen and you for sure get cold. I went in summer and I was still finding myself very cold most days.
Must tries/Places to go
1. Deep dish pizza. Like omg Chicago really does do it best. My friends and I went to Giordano’s and honestly I didn’t find anything so good in the way of Pizza.
2. The art institute of Chicago was honestly such a nice change in pace for our very foodie based trip and I was really happy because the gift show has some amazing books and an entire section of Black artist books that showed new and old artist and a little about them and their art work.
3. The Starbucks Chicago rostary. Okay first off this place is huge! Like 5 floors huge and honestly so well designed. Immediately when going in all you can smell is coffee and baked goods and its my favourite smell. My friends and I order the Martini float and they each were so different in flavour and a great way to try multiple things. I wish I could have tried the tiramisu though. The portion looked perfect.
4. A great breakfest spot was the Egg Harbor Cafe and when I tell you the food options were on point. We each ordered a sample of these different pancake flavours they had and it was again great to share and get a bite of everything. This place was also really cool because we were allowed to bring our own wine and mix it with the orange juice that we bought. Very nice touch! We also went for brunch as we had a bit of a lazy start that day. You def want to send someone to hold your spot early or call ahead though as the line was super long.
Of course if you are in Chicago you should also see the large silver bean. Great chance to take some pictures and visit something so well known!
Chicago is the perfect location for a 3 day weekend. You can connect with public transit from both airports and acquire an unlimited 3 day pass for only $15. For fast food, try a Chicago dog at Portillo’s and sensational donuts from Stan’s Donuts. Dress up and be classy with drinks from Eleven Eleven or for a game night + IG worthy content, check out Punchbowl Social. Great chicken can also be found at Chef Smith’s Reunion.
I’m all about budget travel so check out a free neighborhood walking tour hosted by Free Tours by Foot (bring a tip for the lovely tour guide). For my folks looking for zen check out the #blackowned Yoga Loft River North. You can’t visit Chicago without checking out the architecture via an Artitecture cruise($45) or riding the above ground brown subway line. You must take a picture with the Bean (cloudgate) and take a wellness walk around Millennium Park or ride the Ferris wheel at Navy Pier (buy on the app for $18).
I can’t wait for my next solo trip here!
Abbington Distinctive Banquets is a beautiful venue to host a wedding. The staff was very friendly and catered to all of your needs. The food and bar were exactly what the bride asked for and everyone enjoyed themselves. This was great because we had a large wedding party.
Chicago or The Chi is my old stomping grounds after I graduated from UofM. Chicago is know for having the best deep-dish across the country (Check out Lou Malnati’s if you can).I surely miss that Chicago pie. I tell everyone Chicago has some of the best food spots including Eddie V’s Prime Seafood, The Capital Grille, and you definitely have to try an Italian beef while there too!
Always make eye contact. I visited Chicago and some are afraid of the city, but I’ve always enjoyed myself. As long as you keep your intentions pure and stay vigilant.
I visited Chicago when they were having a bacon fest and it was so fun and spontaneous. The trip is what you make it.
Great food & adventure. There is always something to do. I love downtown! The views are emasculate. I’ve visited there multiple times with friends and family and I always have a good time. The things that I enjoy the most are the museums and the people
1st off always go to places suggested by the Natives. 2nd Only stay in your room long enough to sleep. 3rd must visit the museum the history of Chicago is amazing. 4th get a rental or beware of over spending. 5th don’t over tip like I did. 6th leave the kids at home
My pick is Cake Walk Chicago. This is a wonderful BlackOwned boutique cake decorating shop. It is nestled in the beautiful historic Southside Beverly Neighborhood. It is a must visit for baking enthusiast as well as a novelist, like myself. It’s sooo cute with the latest baking trends and techniques that I go and I don’t like to bake!
If I had a weekend in Chicago here’s what I’d do:
I’m a big fan of books so I’m going to Volumes Bookcafe, Underground Bookstore, the Harold Washington Library Center. For food I’d go to Virtue and Aba. I’d stop for dessert at Justice of the Pies. I’d also head to Dorian’s for drinks in a record store with a bar in the back .
Chicago is hands down one of my favorite places to visit in the summer. If you’re a person who loves the history, art, and culture it’s the perfect place for you. I took a 3 day solo trip and stayed at the LondonHouse which had am amazing rooftop restaurant. While I was there I spent 4 hours in the Field Museum with most of that time spent in their African exhibits. Of course I had to do the typical Sears (Willis) Tower as a first time tourist. One of my favorite places was the planetarium, especially at sunset. If you’re traveling to Chicago there are 3 things to consider (1) the time of year matters, the summer weather is amazing, winter not so much; (2) getting a citypass will help you cut down on the costs of attractions; and (3) get a hotel with lake or river view, it is stunning at night.
Chicago is my favorite US cities to visit in the summer. For nightlife as a Black traveler I would recommend checking out the events at the Promontory (https://www.instagram.com/promontorychicago/). Pro tip: the French Frose is divine but it will have you leaning lol…highly recommend it if you are looking for a good time. Overall I know Chicago gets a bad rep in the news about being unsafe, but I personally felt just as safe in Chicago as I do in any other major US city so I’d say as long as you are in a decent neighborhood and using your common sense, you are fine.
Chicago is truly a great city. You can find everything and anything to do here but it is less crowded than most big cities. Take a stroll down State Street, shop in the magnificent Mile, then go to Navy Pier. Visit any of our 66 neighborhoods for a more intimate cultural experience. I recommend, South Loop, Hyde Park, Pilsen, Humboldt Park.
I live in Chicagoland, so I’m probably biased. But, I’ve only lived here for 4 years. Prior to being a resident, I was a tourist and a visitor. In Chicago it depends on the time of year.
Summer – I recommend the Taste of Chicago, doing an architecture boat tour, Willis Tower and visiting the restaurants on River Walk, where you can watch kayakers go by and take in the people at sunset.
Fall – Take in a show at the Chicago Theater, see a play, walk along Lake Michigan or just eat deep dish until you burst. London House is a great restaurant for apps and cocktails.
Winter – it’s mostly indoors. Though a walk down Michigan Avenue is beautiful, especially and Christmas time when all the windows are decorated. Yes, it snows, yes it’s windy, but that is what great coats and boots are made for. Water tower place is great for shopping, so is North Michigan and State Street. We also have some great neighborhoods that each have their own vibe. I use Open Table, but it’s hard to find bad food and there is something for everyone.
Spring – in Chicago its a blur of winter and then summer, we get a few days of 70ish and then it shoots up. There are a lot of festivals, day parties and happy hour spots, along with outdoor concerts and entertainment.
The city is diverse, but there is still a lot of self segregation, i.e. Southside is primarily black, Westside is Latinx and black and Northside is primarily white. But, I’ve never felt out of place in the city or the surrounding neighborhoods.
Favorite Thing to Do
Neon Summer Chicago is in Chicago for a limited time! You can buy tickets on their site, and they have different packages for you to pick. There are plenty of activities for you, your friends, and/or family can do. There are Go-Karts, Mini Golf, and Axe Throwing. They have a lot of props for you to take pictures of. There are two bar sections. I recommend going early in the day or the weekday to avoid a large crowd. When there is a large crowd, there is a long line, and you have to wait to do the activities. My sister and I had a great time, and I recommend people to go.
Favorite Brunch
Batter and Berries is a black-owned restaurant. The Waffle and Kroof was very delicious. The waffle was made out of sweet potato, and they put fried chicken in it. They put B&B Maple Butter on top. The hot sauce on top of the fried chicken made it taste better! I recommend you come early, so you wouldn’t have to wait for a long time. Also, you can bring own your champagne, so you can have mimosas. Ask for the juices you want, and they will deliver.
Favorite Restaurant
Formento’s has a very nice atmosphere. The bread is paired with pure olive oil with olives in it. The calamari tasted VERY GOOD, especially with the Fennel & Pepperoncini Aioli. I had the Bucatini Carbonara. The egg helped the sauce thickens and more savory. The Tiramisu was really good. This was my first time trying Tiramisu. I recommend you try it.
Favorite Museum
The WNDR Museum is an interactive art museum. Each art display tells you the backstory and how you can interact with it. It was very fun, and I love how it makes you interact with it. My favorite art display was the Silver Ball Room. In the end, there is a Wisdom wall, and you can add your note to it. Also, I love reading what others have written.
Prior to traveling to Chicago for the first time a few years ago, I would always hear people talk about how good the food was, but I would always think they were just exaggerating. But I now stand corrected… hands down, Chicago has some of the best food in the country!
Of course, you want to be sure you get the Deep Dish Pizza. My friends and I were fortunate enough to snag a table at Giordanos, the first night we were there, and it exceeded our expectations! We ate an entire pie at the restaurant and had a pie to go… the pizza was everything!
For a to die for hotdog, I would recommend Portillos. When it comes to a hotdog, I’ve always only just had chili, ketchup, and maybe cheese at times. But Portillos comes through with the works! I had the Chicago Dog and it came with just about everything you could think of (mustard, relish, celery salt, onions, sliced tomatoes, a pickle, and peppers on a poppy seed bun).
Lastly, if you’re in the mood for an amazing grilled cheese sandwich (yes, grilled cheese!), then Cheesie’s is your spot! This restaurant serves grilled cheese sandwiches with just about any food item you can think of… pulled pork, bacon, jalapeno, mushroom, chicken, and the list goes on. Sides and drinks are also served.
I could go on for days talking about how good the food was in Chicago and I will admit that there has been times where I’ve thought about booking a flight to Chi Town, just to eat!
I’m a big foodie, Chicago is the place to go. From deep dish pizza, hotdogs, BBQ to Harolds chicken and can’t forget about the popcorn at Garrett’s. Chicago is Forsure cold during the winter. Best to travel during the summer where you can really experience the history of Chicago. From catching a baseball game, the architecture of the buildings. Tons of museums and free Chicago zoo, yes I said free zoo. Theres so many of black folks out there working and making a living out there. Yes Chicago can have a bad rap but that can be anywhere in the world. I staying at London house which is in the loop and in the middle of everything. booking it through hotel tonight. Chicago is a quick gateway but still want a city feel.
I spent less than 12 hours there. Head the opportunity to live life on the Ledge(Chicago Skydeck), taste Chicago deep dish (NY is better), and get their infamous Garrett Popcorn. Sure you’ll find some type of entertainment on the train or local corner. Very diverse city, with interesting buildings.
So Chicago is a very interesting city to say the least. My family is from the Southside and my grandmother currently lives there. As a recommendation I would only stay in the city center especially if you do not know anyone that lives there. A few summers ago we stayed in my grandmothers apartment on the Southside and needless to say I could not sleep due to the gun shots outside. What you hear about this city on television is real and should not be taken for granted. The city is very safe and protected by law enforcement with a ton of tourist things to do. The city is more gentrified than anything so finding more local restaurants is a task. For real great Chicago hot dogs go to Portillos. There are several Chicago deep dish pizza places that are amazing. We stayed in the Hyatt by the River this visit and it was surrounded by food and nightclubs. For things to do we just mainly took Uber around the city to view the sports themed places, and walked around. The Bean is a free picture taking spot although it is packed mid-day. We went to the Skydeck at the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears tower) and it was amazing. I would definitely purchase tickets ahead of time via TripAdvisor, and don’t purchase the VIP fast track cause that line was just as long. You can plan to wait about 30 min to take your pics but its pretty cool watching people pose for their pics lol it gets interesting! The city is huge with a lot to do so taketh chance and visit this awesome domestic destination!
Chicago is an amazing city from entertainment, food, and history. It’s my favorite city to visit, it may be a little expensive but every dime you spend is well worth it. Whether you go in the summer or winter you’ll have an amazing time.
I took a random trip to Chicago summer 2018 and had a ball! I went to the sky deck to start my trip off then ended up at a huge day party hosted by the Promontory! And even checked out Promontory Point Beach! I couldn’t believe how much I enjoyed my self but that’s why some places you just have to go see for yourself !
Chicago is literally the city that never runs out of things to do!!! Whether you go shopping the magnificent mile, sight seeing the navy pier or go take cool photos at the bean you will always be entertained in this city. Wrigleyville is an awesome hangout for cool bars, lots of ppl to meet, & great drinks. Chicago is a very nice place to go have romantic dinners or outings at a nice stage play or enjoy a nice cuisine at local hole in the wall restaurant. Chicago is very raw, certain areas I would stay away from for obvious reasons. But not to take away from their culture and amazing attractions. I can’t wait til my next Chicago trip but I’ll wait until the weather is a bit warmer. Safe travels!!
I feel like I can comment on every category for this place. I LOVE CHICAGO! I live for the days I can take a trip there. First of all downtown is amazing, I hate leaving Michigan Ave. I know I choose nightlife but I have to talk about the food there. I have visited Chicago quite often and have only been disappointed ONCE on food. The other times have all been so amazing. When you’re downtown, you have to eat at Labriolas. It’s an Italian restaurant and man! Is the food delicious. I am seriously planning another trip there just so I can eat at that place again. Now, the nightlife. I feel like there’s always something to do. You had to Wrigleyville or boys town and there’s a bar on every block for you to party at. My girls and I went for a weekend and had a blast with the gays and made a few friends while there!
Chicago is an amazing city to visit. Great food, beautiful architecture, and so much to do.
I enjoyed the Navy Pier, the Willis Tower (formerly known as the Sears Tower), the Chicago Architecture tour, and the Big Bus tour ( if the weather is nice it’s perfect to hop on and off during the tour).
During my visit I stayed in downtown Chicago at the Wit Hotel. This hotel is conveniently located to the subway and walking distance from many main attractions. They have a nice rooftop bar. The hotel staff is very accommodating. I enjoyed my stay.
If you haven’t been to Chicago you should plan a trip.
Chicago is a dope city. It’s one of my favorites in the U.S. I stayed at Wrigleyville Hostel in Wrigleyville, which is the sports and nightlife neighborhood in the city. I accidentally went on the weekend of the Chicago Marathon, so some stuff was mad overpriced, but I took it in stride. The public transit system in Chicago is reliable and easy to use, so that’s a great way to stay on a budget. I definitely recommend going to Chicago, but make sure you go when it’s warm. I went in October and it was unseasonable warm, which was a pleasant surprise!
Chicago is so dope! The food, the culture, the sites are all awesome. I stayed at the Wrigley Hostel in Wrigleyville, which is Chicago’s sports and nightlife area. I accidentally visited during the Chicago Marathon and things were overpriced, but I made the most of it. I would say visit Chicago, but definitely make sure you do so on a low-weekend and when it’s not cold. I went in October and it happened to be unseasonably warm, which was great.
Chicago is amazing in the summer. Do not travel to Chicago during the winter months. The weather is unpredictable and the cold is unbearable. The local food is the best, great high end shopping, museums, free zoo. It’s a great place for family travel or a couples getaway.
Chicago has amazing amazing food. You can pretty much find anything you’re looking for
I’ve actually been to Chicago twice, both times were different experiences. Both times had great food. Everybody knows to go there for the famous deep dish pizza, but don’t forget to go to the “Angry Crab”. A definite yum on my taste buds. My friends and I went there twice. The price isn’t bad with a group of people. We had shrimp, crab, lobster, cajun fries, garlic rice, potatoes and corn all for about $80. You can bring your own beer or wine to. They slap the bag right on the table with all the goodies and you go to town.
Of course we did the tourist thing, the Sky Deck, the Bean, the Navy Pier ( don’t forget to get Garretts Popcorn) the line is ridiculous, but the popcorn is yummy. We really en
If you want a great place to go, this is it! I would suggest going in the summer. The wind is a lot but not annoying in the summer because the breeze feels fabulous. I visited the shameless house (from the show shameless) and was able to travel outside the inner city to a real jazz bar. It was amazing. The city itself is fun. Very lively, good food and cool people. You can go visit “the bean” and the water way. It’s a great city to just walk around and enjoy. All races and just a good time!
I recently moved to Chicago to attend Law School from Maryland. As you may or may not know, Marylanders like go claim DC as their big city. So…I learned quickly that the vibes of the two cities (DC && Maryland) are COMPLETELY different.
Compared to DC, Chicago has a more modern, contemporary vibe. I absolutely adore the humongous skyscrapers, the beautiful river running through the city, && Lake Michigan. I also love how clean it is for a city && it’s not overcrowded.
Now when it comes to things to do, there is an overwhelming amount of places to go. The Big tourist attractions are: cloudgate (the bean), millinium park, skydeck, navy pier, Giodanos (deep dish pizza), Garrett’s popcorn, Lincoln park Zoo (free), && Buckingham Fountain.
If you want to veer away from the tourists attractions I recommend you going to any of the beaches that Chicago has to offer. Also, Chicago is KNOWN for having abundance of food options. So don’t be basic && go to Chipotle. Try foods and restaurants you never been to before.
Pay attention to pop up shops, events, && festivals that Chicago has because they have a ton such as: Taste of Chicago, Lalapoolooza, Caribbean Festival, Blues Festival and a crap ton of more.
Lastly, if you are big on fireworks, Navy Pier has them twice a week.
Anywho, just come to Chicago. Totally worth it! I love it here.
I visited Chicago for the first time in July 2018 and loved it! The weather is nice during the summer months. Sunny and hot during the day but not to the point of sweating and warm but a bit windy at night. I stayed at Hilton downtown which was walking distance from most of the tourist attractions. Uber rides ranged from $4-10 to some of the destinations.
Food: I had red velvet French toast from a restuarant named Yolk. And it was absolutely delicious. I had a deep dish spinach pizza from Giordonos and its true, Chicago has some of the best pizza. I like having the sauce on top. People suggested getting Garrett’s Popcorn. I tried the Garrett mix (cheese and caramel) and the pecan caramel. Im not a huge popcorn fan but both were good. The caramel reminded me of Cracker Jack’s brand.
Things to do: During my short 2 days there I was able to explore a good amount of landmarks in the city.
1.Skydeck in Willis Tower- $24 or $40 fast pass. I would suggest going really early or buying the fast pass to avoid the long wait.
2.Grant Park- beautiful statues and water fountains
3.Navy Pier- shopping, ferris wheel, restaurants, carnival rides
4.Boat tour- $23 for 40min tour with Shorline Sightseeing company located at pier
5. Millennium Park- Cloud Gate (The Bean) and more fountains