three perfect days in chicago -- summer edition

My sweet sister, Cheryl, visited me in Chicago last weekend. For her third annual trip, we were able to focus more on the local Chicago experience. Chicago winters last so long that the city comes alive when there's sunshine! Chicago boasts amazing architecture, a foodie culture, and activities on the lakefront. Not to mention the neighborhoods... Chicago is famous for its unique and diverse neighborhoods. Each one has its own personality, culture, and park.

{Beautiful skyline from the Lincoln Park Zoo}

Friday

• Run on Lake Michigan. Great lakefront trail that travels the length of the city. It's scenic, breezy, and motivational. 
• Art Institute of Chicago, which was recently named the #1 Museum in the World by TripAdvisor. Must go!
• Chicago White Sox game. While the White Sox aren't my first choice of Chicago baseball teams, they were playing the Texas Rangers {Shout out to my home team}. On Mullet Night {It's a thing}. Usually you can find me cheering on the Cubs. 

{I could get used to this mullet}

Saturday

• Shopping in Lincoln Park. Anthropology and Nordstrom Rack on the same street? Yes please.
• North Avenue Beach after strolling through Lincoln Park Zoo. There's something about laying on a beach in the middle of the city. Just don't get into the water--it recently defrosted from our harsh winter. For those of you who don't know, Lincoln Park Zoo is free. And it's great for being a free zoo. It's lovely to stroll through because you don't feel guilty about not seeing everything there is to see since it's free. 
• Picnic + concert at the Ravinia. Out in the Highland Park suburb, this is the music festival that made music festivals a thing. Its perfect for picnics on the lawn, and people take their picnicking seriously. The grounds look like a fairytale, and I must say that we had a magical time. If riding the Metra out to the burbs isn't your thing, there are free concerts in Millennium Park on Mondays and Thursdays at 6:30pm.

 {North Avenue Beach}

{Martin Theater at Ravinia}

Sunday Funday

• Willow Creek Community Church. Wonderful nondenominational church as diverse as the city of Chicago. Their heart is geared toward social justice, not a social club. It's the first church that has felt like home to me. 
• Riding Divvy bikes. For $7/day, these bikes are available for rent at stations all over the city! Get the app to find where to pick one up.
• Taste of Randolph street festival. Once it's warm, Chicago has street festivals every weekend. Check out the schedule and get on it.
• Ferris Wheel at Navy Pier. Touristy, but romantic. What can I say?
• Drinks at the J. Parker. In the trendy Lincoln Hotel, this rooftop bar offers great views, fancy drinks, and a DJ.
• Dinner on the patio at Parson's Chicken and Fish. Set in the hipster Logan Square neighborhood, we saw many hipsters. But hipsters like good food. So I go where they go. Plus, there's ping pong and purple drank while you wait for a table.

While Sunday may have been jam packed, it didn't feel like too much. We rode bikes everywhere we went to avoid traffic. We ate well, drank well, and didn't feel guilty about it {because we rode bikes}.

 {Divvy bikes at City Hall}

{Navy Pier Ferris Wheel}

*Special thanks to Jimmy for being our photographer and chauffeur. We appreciate it!