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City Exploring: Chicago and Detroit
The goal this summer is to catch flights, not feelings--okuuurrrt! Here's how a trip to visit a close friend in Champaign, Illinois turned into a mini vacation exploring Chi-Town and Detroit...
Believe it or not, I discovered a $48 Delta flight from Raleigh, NC to Chicago (roundtrip was $96). Yes, this included a free carry-on and personal item. And no, this was not a red-eye flight. Despite what some YouTubers may have stated, I did not search for this flight incognito--in my experience this does not make a difference. Instead, I stalked Expedia and Google flights to check for the cheapest flight at least a month in advance. Keep in mind that weekends and Fridays are often more expensive to fly. Thus, I was fortunate enough to be free on a random Wednesday to catch this awesome deal. I also recommend using the Hopper app to get advanced predictions on flight prices. Hopper lets you know if a flight is likely to go up or down and when the best time is to purchase a ticket. Another good tip is to check an airport closest to your desired location as this may actually be cheaper by $50-$300 and can end up providing an opportunity for an adventurous road trip. Hence, my trip to Chicago. Now that these logistics have been covered, let's discuss how I made the most of my time (less than 24 hours) in Chicago with limited funds.
List of free to relatively inexpensive things to do in Chicago (in no particular order):
1. Willis Tower (Skydeck)!
Honestly, I still can't decide if the long line and $26 spent for one minute on this glass ledge was worth it. Irregardless of the beautiful view, I am not a big fan of heights. Come prepared with your pose(s) because you are legit timed and have only seconds to take in the view and get the perfect Instagram worthy picture.
2. Chicago Theater
It's on my bucket list to actually attend a theater performance here. Until then, I at least saw the famous sign. "Chicago, Chicago!"
3. Cloud Gate (The Bean)
Believe it or not, the actual name of this structure isn't "The Bean", but Cloud Gate since bystanders are able to see the clouds and skyscrapers reflected off its surface. Fun fact, it has to be cleaned twice a day to remain shiny!
4. Millenium Park
Millennium Park consists of other significant landmarks such as Cloud Gate, Lurie Garden, Crown Fountain, and Jay Pritzer Pavillion. The view is gorgeous and perfect for an afternoon stroll.
5. Chicago dog
Coming from the girl who only likes ketchup on her hot dog, you MUST get everything on the Chicago dog (yellow mustard, onions, bright green sweet pickle relish, dill pickle, tomatoes, and peppers)! Highly recommend, 9/10.
6. Magnificent Mile
There are tons of upscale stores and restaurants located here on Michigan Avenue. Due to how crowded this area is I wouldn't try to park directly on this avenue, but would find a parking garage nearby and just walk. It's also a lot cheaper to purchase parking online than to pay directly at a parking garage, as many of them charge around $20/hour. Use this website plus the code "MAGMILE" at checkout for $5 off.
7. Deep-dish pizza
After talking to a few residents of Chicago, they suggested eating pizza at Giordanno's. Unless you want leftovers and are with a big group, it's convenient to go during lunch time so that you can get their personal deep-dish pizza combo for a reasonable price. I still like New York style pizza the best though, but I might be bias.
8. Buckingham Memorial Fountain
9. Crown Fountain
What's really awesome about this fountain is that random people volunteer their faces to be used and the picture changes every few minutes.
10. Grant Park
For clarity, Grant Park consists of the Art Institute of Chicago, the Field Museum of Natural History, the Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planetarium. Thus, it spans for miles and isn't a simple 15 minute walk in case you were wondering. The centerpiece of this park is the Clarence Buckingham Memorial Fountain.
If I had more time in Chicago...
1. Architecture Boat Cruise
2. The Art Institute of Chicago
3. Shedd Aquarium & Adler Planetarium
4. Navy Pier (mostly for the Ferris Wheel)
5. Booze Cruise/Nightlife
Next stop, Champaign!
After spending the day in Chicago, I traveled to my friend's home in Champaign, Illinois. Out of the myriad of cities and restaurants I have been to, Champaign has THE best Asian food I have ever had. From the local Indian restaurant called Kohinoor to the strip of cuisines located on the campus of the Universtiy of Champaign, there are tons of options to choose from. In addition to visiting a good friend of mine, the highlight of my trip (pictured below) was going for a hike at Robert Allerton Park and trying their homemade icecream sandwiches. For all my carnivores, if you're ever in Urbana, Champaign be sure to eat at The Barking Dog. Out of all the meat I ordered (short ribs, BBQ, chicken, brisket), the brisket was definitely my favorite due to its tenderness and smoky flavor. Although the place gets pretty crowded on a Friday, the service is pretty fast!
Robert Allerton Park The Barking Dog
Flight #2!
After my journey in Illinois, I flew to Detroit to visit my friends from college. I explored the nightlife at Greektown, visited the *not so impressive* Museum of Contemporary Art, and rode a lime scooter throughout the district to see various landmarks (slideshow below).
Like many big cities, there are food options galore. I like to think that I ate at the best soul food restaurant in town, Savannah Blue. This upscale soul food restaurant served unlimited *perfectly buttered* cornbread with my order of fried catfish, baked mac n' cheese, and perfectly seasoned collards. For brunch, it was difficult finding a place that served bottomless mimosas without a fee of $25+ and was within a reasonable distance. Thus, my group ended up eating at Dime Store restaurant. What isn't pictured are the loaded housefries that we ate. Take that as evidence of their splendor--the plate was empty before I could take out my phone to snap a pic.
Savanna Blue Dime Store
Overall, I had a great time exploring major cities in the U.S. Often times I get caught up in planning international trips that I overlook the sites there are to see domestically. To end this post, I am leaving you with one more list that I found to be very helpful in the execution of my traveling experience.
General tips for finding fun things to do in ANY location:
1. Check Groupon for deals!
I was able to find an architecture boat tour in Chicago for about $25 as well as many package deals for visiting museums. Just be sure that you'll be there longer than a day so that you can get the most out of one of these package deals.
2. Check Eventbrite!
Eventbrite is a great way to find fun things to do in the area, ranging from lit day parties to cooking classes. While in Detroit, my friend and I were able to get into bars for free because we had RSVP'd through Eventbrite.
3. Yelp!
Anytime I need food recommendations, Yelp has always been a great asset and has yet to let me down. Just keep in mind that it's common for a place to get reviews because someone either really loves or really hates a place.
4. Ask friends!
This tip may be a bit obvious, but seriously--just ask! Friends that share similar interests as you will be able to recommend interesting spots in town to hit for brunch and also keep you from wasting money on a tourist site that didn't live up to the hype. Facebook also has a feature where you can easily ask friends for recommendations in a particular area. Use your best judgment when taking.
5. Tripadvisor!
If you're looking for the top touristy things to do in a location, Tripadvisor is the cite to visit. Take advantage of the fact that you can browse by what interests you the most (nature/parks, nightlife, historic cites, etc.).