Looks like i'll be visiting Chicago area (North Chicago/Gurnee to be specific) for nearly 2 weeks. Always been a Socal person and people always tells me Chicago has some great places to go.

Anyone know some good spots I have to check out? Best Chicago style pizza? lol anything really...its just me and my girlfriend looking for some cool places to check out and eat at while i'm visiting. Hopefully not too far from Gurnee! Thanks for any suggestions ahead of time!

 

When will you be here? WekFest Chicago, is this Saturday, 20th. Are you looking for anything specific with regards to food and places to visit, or just anything Chicago Chicago? Many things to do in Chicago.

Welcome to Chicago, BTW.

 

Yeah I saw Wekfest is this Saturday. Unfortunately, even tho I get to Chicago on the 19th, there's some places I have to be on the 20th so i'll have to skip Wekfest!

As far as places to be...just looking for some good spots for a young couple to be at and whatever food is good around there is good with me! But i'm mainly looking forwarding to trying some real Chicago pizza

 

As far as pizza, Lou Malnati's, Gino's East, Pizzeria Uno & Pizzeria Due, but that's my favorite pizza places.

Just like many cities, there are allot of things to do, depends what you want to do.

For example, if you like museums and stuff, we have the Field Museums, Adler Planetarium, Shedd Aquarium, which are all in the same area.

You also have the Art Institute, Chicago Cultural Center, Chicago Childrens Museum (Navy Pier), just to name a few.

If you like to shop, you have Magnificent (aka Mag) Mile. Of course, near where you are staying, there's Gurnee Mill's Mall.

If you like amusement parks, you have Six Flags Great America, which is close to where you will be. If you go up north more to Wisconsin, then you have Wisconsin Dells, which has allot of excellent water parks.

If you like to chill, Navy Pier in Chicago is great. Lots of eats, fun stuff, shopping, tour boat rides (several types), and even a band to chill out and listen to.

 

Lou Malnati's has some good pizza downtown, check out the Sears Tower, the bean, and Navy Pier. Enjoy!

 

Welcome to Chicago!

The city will be about a 45mi/1hr drive from Gurnee. +1 to ecub but I wanted to throw in my 2 cents for Chicago specific Spots.

Chicago Deep Dish Pizza: Lou Malnati's Hands Down
Mentionables: Pequod's, Gino's East

Chicago Style Hot Dogs: Hot Dougs, Gene and Jude's, Weiner Circle (don't ask for a Chocolate Milkshake...google it to find out why not LOL )
Mentionable: Portillos

Chicago Beef: Al's on Taylor St., Mr. Beef-River North
Mentionable: Portillos
*Beef Dipped with Giardiniera peppers

Burgers: Kumas Corner, Five Guys
Mentionables: M Burger, Epic Burger

Seafood: Joe Stone Crab - Pricey but my fav

Steak: Gibsons, Mortons

Sushi: Sushi Wabi, Sushi Station - Arlington Heights, IL

Gourmet Mexican: Any Rick Bayless spot is fantastic - Frontera Grill

Brunch: Over Easy (Get the Sassy Eggs)...There are a ton of great brunch places but haven't tried

Shopping: Wicker Park/Bucktown (sneakers, thrift shops, Marc Jacobs, trendy clothing), Mag Mile(mall stores, luxury brands, purses, nike town), State Street Shopping (Similar to Mag Mile)

Best Views of the city: Alder Planetarium (Museum Campus), John Hancock Observatory

Sports: Chicago Baseball stinks right now so tickets might not be tough to get but I'm a cubs fan so check out Wrigley Field or the Rooftops, Bears Pre Season Started, I guess you can Check out the White Sox.

Beaches: North Ave Beach

Parks: Millennium Park - The Bean, Grant Park

Theater: check out http://www.broadwayinchicago.com/

Nightlife is a whole different thread...I DJ in Chicago so let me know if you need any recommendations.

Hope you enjoy your stay...These are just my recommendations and as you can tell there is tons to do, eat, and see!

 

If that ain't "hook-in" the fella up, then I don't know what is.... Good job.

 

djkidkris & ecub - DAMN! That's some good info Thanks to everyone else so far too, good looking out

So far here's the places i checked out that i will absolutely try and visit...

Food:
Lou Malnati's
Kumas Corner
Frontera Grill
Hot Doug's

Other Spots:
Mag Mile
North Avenue Beach
Navy Pier
Sears Tower

BTW....LOL @ the "Chocolate Shake"

 

No problem! What can I say...I love my city and...food too lol...I just wished we had an In and Out Burger!

FYI...the wait times for Hot Dougs and Kumas (they are located real close to each other) can be ridiculous (Hour + wait) so keep that in mind when planning on going there. Lous downtown will be busy on weekends but there are bunch of locations so if there is one near Gurnee the pizza's the same but the atmosphere might be different.

 

^There's a Lou's not too far from Gurnee, so we will probably go there. Thanks for the tips though, i'll be sure to consider the wait times of those places!


Does anyone know of a good bakery/dessert shop around the area btw? GF LOVESSSSS all that stuff, especially cupcakes.

 

I from the gurnee area, if you want good local places here, let me know I can provide the info depending on what you are looking for.

 

I knew I forgot something!

Molly's cupcakes (featured on food network) - red velvet
Mentionables: Sprinkles, More, Bleeding Heart

 

I also recommend brazil steakhouse Fogo De Chao on LaSalle Blvd too if you have the craving for some MEAT! And
OMFG, Molly's cupcake.....the best cupcakes ever!!

And just in case you want to do some Casino action. I recommend Horseshoe Casino.

 

Yeah, you definitely won't be bored in Chicago. We got you enough hookups

 

^ Yeah you guys more than hooked it up

I'll add Molly's cupcakes to the list!

Lux03lxus - Might take you up on that if we have free time to spend in Gurnee itself!