Segway Tour | City Adventure
This is something that I do recommend, but understand that its not for everyone. It is a different way to see a lot of major sights in the city, especially if you are visiting for just a short period. There are a four tour options depending on what you might be interested in seeing with the company that I've used. I’ve done the Park Glide tour and had a great tour guide who was funny and knowledgeable at the same time. You spend some time learning how to ride a Segway, its quite easy and everyone on our tour was able to successfully learn, and then go out into the city!
INFO | Segway Experience of Chicago
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Chicago | take six
Sears Tower | City Views
I’m sorry the Willis Tower.... A great way to see the gridded city streets of Chicago, especially on a clear day. There is a new glass box that extends from the side of the building allowing you to stand over the street. I have not been up recently to experience this new feature, but I can guess that if you don’t like heights its not for you. If you want similar city views the Hancock Tower, located along Michigan Avenue, has a restaurant at the top to enjoy the city views as well. The Hancock also has cheaper admission than the Willis Tower. It is also convenient to shopping and the restaurants along Michigan Ave.
INFO | Willis Tower
INFO | Hancock Tower
I’m sorry the Willis Tower.... A great way to see the gridded city streets of Chicago, especially on a clear day. There is a new glass box that extends from the side of the building allowing you to stand over the street. I have not been up recently to experience this new feature, but I can guess that if you don’t like heights its not for you. If you want similar city views the Hancock Tower, located along Michigan Avenue, has a restaurant at the top to enjoy the city views as well. The Hancock also has cheaper admission than the Willis Tower. It is also convenient to shopping and the restaurants along Michigan Ave.
INFO | Willis Tower
INFO | Hancock Tower
Monday, June 20, 2011
Boston | take two
Boston Burger Company | Restaurant
Keeping on the Boston high after the Bruins winning the Stanley Cup last week, another Boston favorite is the Boston Burger Company located in Davis Square in Somerville. With 24 burger choices and a few burger specials there is absolutely something for everyone. I love the Green Monster Burger which has guacamole on top, yum. Their burgers pair greatly with one of their creative fries as well. I enjoy the Garlic Parm and the Sweet Potato fries mostly. In addition to burgers they have wings and salads, but why go to a place called a burger company for those? I first experienced fried pickles here and was told by my friend who loves them that they are quite good [although she prefers the spear pickles to the round ones which they use here]. The restaurant is quite small, but since its located in the square there are plenty of places to sit, wait and people watch. Or you can get your order to go and eat outside. Their Hot Mess Burger was featured on the Rachael Ray show in her Battle of the Best Burger. It was dubbed "an event on a plate" and of course won!
INFO | Boston Burger Co.
Keeping on the Boston high after the Bruins winning the Stanley Cup last week, another Boston favorite is the Boston Burger Company located in Davis Square in Somerville. With 24 burger choices and a few burger specials there is absolutely something for everyone. I love the Green Monster Burger which has guacamole on top, yum. Their burgers pair greatly with one of their creative fries as well. I enjoy the Garlic Parm and the Sweet Potato fries mostly. In addition to burgers they have wings and salads, but why go to a place called a burger company for those? I first experienced fried pickles here and was told by my friend who loves them that they are quite good [although she prefers the spear pickles to the round ones which they use here]. The restaurant is quite small, but since its located in the square there are plenty of places to sit, wait and people watch. Or you can get your order to go and eat outside. Their Hot Mess Burger was featured on the Rachael Ray show in her Battle of the Best Burger. It was dubbed "an event on a plate" and of course won!
INFO | Boston Burger Co.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Boston | take one
Flatbread Company | Pizza Restaurant
At the moment I am living in Boston and in the spirit of the Bruins winning Lord Stanley's Cup last night Boston in my focus today. Flatbread Company pizza has many locations in Massachusetts and the Northeast, but I've personally only eaten at their location in Davis Square in Somerville. This location is inside of a functioning bowling alley and many of the furnishings are bowling related items. You can bowl and eat, just bowl, or just eat. Onto the food! Their pizzas are all made with local and fresh items, they have a few daily specials based on what ingredients are in season. Their beer list also features locally brewed beers, many of which you cannot find at other bars. All of the pizzas that I have tried there have been fantastic. They also have a great dessert menu and you can order half portions of their desserts, which is the perfect end to the meal. I don't think that they take reservations, but they do offer call ahead seating. They also will take your phone number if the wait is significant, 45 minutes to an hour, which allows you to stop in at one of the bars in the area for a pre-dinner drink.
INFO | Flatbread Company
CONGRATULATIONS BRUINS! STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS 2011!
At the moment I am living in Boston and in the spirit of the Bruins winning Lord Stanley's Cup last night Boston in my focus today. Flatbread Company pizza has many locations in Massachusetts and the Northeast, but I've personally only eaten at their location in Davis Square in Somerville. This location is inside of a functioning bowling alley and many of the furnishings are bowling related items. You can bowl and eat, just bowl, or just eat. Onto the food! Their pizzas are all made with local and fresh items, they have a few daily specials based on what ingredients are in season. Their beer list also features locally brewed beers, many of which you cannot find at other bars. All of the pizzas that I have tried there have been fantastic. They also have a great dessert menu and you can order half portions of their desserts, which is the perfect end to the meal. I don't think that they take reservations, but they do offer call ahead seating. They also will take your phone number if the wait is significant, 45 minutes to an hour, which allows you to stop in at one of the bars in the area for a pre-dinner drink.
INFO | Flatbread Company
CONGRATULATIONS BRUINS! STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS 2011!
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Florence | take one
Acqua al 2 | Restaurant
This became my favorite restaurant while living in Florence, and sadly I found it near the end of my stay there. The balsamic steak is to die for, there really are not words to describe how fantastic it is. Except that it looks like chocolate sauce over the steak and tastes like perfection. There is also a trio of salads to start with that is changing every day, the tomato and mozzarella is awesome. And then to top it off there is a quarto of desserts! Four sampling sized desserts are the perfect way to end the incredible meal you will be talking about for days afterward. I'm sure that there are other delicious items on the menu, but every time I have only had the balsamic steak. yum.
INFO | Acqua al 2
BONUS | There are also locations in San Diego and Washington DC! I have not eaten at either of these locations, but based on the original in Florence can only imagine the subsequent restaurants are equally good.
This became my favorite restaurant while living in Florence, and sadly I found it near the end of my stay there. The balsamic steak is to die for, there really are not words to describe how fantastic it is. Except that it looks like chocolate sauce over the steak and tastes like perfection. There is also a trio of salads to start with that is changing every day, the tomato and mozzarella is awesome. And then to top it off there is a quarto of desserts! Four sampling sized desserts are the perfect way to end the incredible meal you will be talking about for days afterward. I'm sure that there are other delicious items on the menu, but every time I have only had the balsamic steak. yum.
INFO | Acqua al 2
BONUS | There are also locations in San Diego and Washington DC! I have not eaten at either of these locations, but based on the original in Florence can only imagine the subsequent restaurants are equally good.
Chicago | take five
Michigan Avenue | Shopping
If you enjoy shopping, or even just window shopping, walking around Michigan Avenue is a unique experience. With its many stores you are sure to find something to help remember your time in Chicago. You can enjoy shopping inside at Water Tower Place, or in one of the many designer shops on the street. Head north from the Chicago River toward the historic water tower and enjoy the photography exhibits inside that are often changing.
INFO | Historic Water Tower
If you enjoy shopping, or even just window shopping, walking around Michigan Avenue is a unique experience. With its many stores you are sure to find something to help remember your time in Chicago. You can enjoy shopping inside at Water Tower Place, or in one of the many designer shops on the street. Head north from the Chicago River toward the historic water tower and enjoy the photography exhibits inside that are often changing.
INFO | Historic Water Tower
Chicago | take four
Volare | Italian Restaurant
An Italian restaurant that I’ve eaten at plenty of times, always with great service and food. A good wine list, large menu and many daily specials make this a great option. Friends have described it as better than their favorite NYC Little Italy restaurant. Make reservations though, even on weekdays it fills up! There's a reason I've eaten here many times, the food is delicious. My favorite is their gnocchi with vodka sauce and sausage cut up in the sauce. AMAZING!
INFO | Volare
An Italian restaurant that I’ve eaten at plenty of times, always with great service and food. A good wine list, large menu and many daily specials make this a great option. Friends have described it as better than their favorite NYC Little Italy restaurant. Make reservations though, even on weekdays it fills up! There's a reason I've eaten here many times, the food is delicious. My favorite is their gnocchi with vodka sauce and sausage cut up in the sauce. AMAZING!
INFO | Volare
Chicago | take three
Navy Pier | Family Fun
A fun place to walk around for all ages. The Chicago Children’s Museum is located here if you have the kids along. There is also a ferris wheel that provides fantastic views of the city, sometimes with a long wait, and other rides for entertainment. For the adults there is a beer garden and plenty of food options. There are also dinner cruises that leave from Navy Pier and plenty of other entertainment that will be talked about loudly, trying to get you to cave in and participate of course.
INFO | Navy Pier + Children's Museum
A fun place to walk around for all ages. The Chicago Children’s Museum is located here if you have the kids along. There is also a ferris wheel that provides fantastic views of the city, sometimes with a long wait, and other rides for entertainment. For the adults there is a beer garden and plenty of food options. There are also dinner cruises that leave from Navy Pier and plenty of other entertainment that will be talked about loudly, trying to get you to cave in and participate of course.
INFO | Navy Pier + Children's Museum
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Chicago | take two
Fox & Obel Food Market | Lunch spot
This grocery store is in the same building block as the Chicago Line Cruises and also offers amazing lunch options [sandwiches/soups/cookies] or coffee and dessert for an afternoon pick me up. I love their sandwich creations and this is very convenient when going on one of the boat tours! Eat inside at their tables or take your food to go and enjoy eating on one of the benches behind the building overlooking the water where the boat tours leave from.
INFO | Fox & Obel
This grocery store is in the same building block as the Chicago Line Cruises and also offers amazing lunch options [sandwiches/soups/cookies] or coffee and dessert for an afternoon pick me up. I love their sandwich creations and this is very convenient when going on one of the boat tours! Eat inside at their tables or take your food to go and enjoy eating on one of the benches behind the building overlooking the water where the boat tours leave from.
INFO | Fox & Obel
Chicago | take one
Chicago Line Cruises | Architecture Boat Tour
Located in the River East Arts Center, walk between the building and pier to find the ticket office. Buy tickets online ahead of time for tours in the summer, they will sell out. The last tour is considered a booze cruise, it goes through the locks and onto Lake Michigan after going up the Chicago River. It will not go down the branches of the Chicago River, but I enjoy it more because you get to experience the locks and be on Lake Michigan.
INFO | Chicago Architecture Cruise
Friday, June 3, 2011
Chicago is my first love.
 |
| Chicago skyline | image credited to Mitch Meseke |
So that's what Chicago is not. But thought that people should know what not to miss in Chicago, plus many other cities I've been in, so that anyone can have their own incredible experience there. Everything is based on my personal experiences with certain places, tours and restaurants. Some I have seen a bunch of times, with others its a one time experience. But everything I write about is something that I've done.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)