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48 Hours in Chicago (Part Two) Posted by on Dec 12, 2016 in Culture

Our first day in Chicago was a busy one. It included a walk past the fountain in Grant Park and then continued along Lake Michigan to Navy Pier and Lincoln Park. There’s lots more to see and do in the Windy City, so get ready for a great second day.

The skyline’s reflection in “The Bean.”

In Part Two, take a walk focused on the city’s art and architecture. Then dig into some Chicago hot dogs and pizza and head to Wrigleyville to cheer on the Cubbies!

“Our second day in Chicago begins with a walk focused on art and architecture. Start at the south end of Grant Park to see Agora – a group of over a hundred headless and armless sculptures.

Further north in Millennium Park is the Crown Fountain. These two mini-skyscrapers often show the faces of Chicagoans, who appear to be spitting out water. Nearby is the famous Cloud Gate, more commonly known as “The Bean.” The reflection provides some interesting views and is a great place to take some photos. Another highlight of the park is the beautiful Prtizger Pavilion. In the warmer months, you can see concerts at this futuristic-looking venue. While you’re over here, you might as well stop to smell the flowers by taking a stroll in the garden. Cross over the BP Bridge and enjoy the view of Chicago’s famous skyline.

Across the street is the Aon Center. Look up at the massive skyscraper that’s 83 stories tall and enjoy the peaceful fountain. There’s more public art on display here, such as the Sounding Sculptures and the Winged Form. You’ll also see the funky Radisson Blu Aqua hotel here, a very interesting building.

Keep on walking, and you’ll cross the Chicago River. Stop for a minute here to take it all in – the world-class architecture, beautiful sculptures, the Magnificent Mile, and boats moving up and down the river. You may even spot some lovely murals on the wall.

Walk past the historic Chicago Theater in search of more public art. Check out the interesting Freeform sculpture, then see the Monument with Standing Beast outside the Thompson Center. Go inside and check it out, and you’ll see why some compare this building to a spaceship. Around the corner is The Sun, The Moon, and One Star, also known as Miro’s Chicago after the artist. Finally, see the world-famous Chicago Picasso. Donated by the artist himself, this was the first large-scale piece of public art in the city. It’s time to move on, so go catch the EL.

Take the train to Addison and the area known as Wrigleyville, named for historic Wrigley Field. It’s time for lunch, so try the classic Chicago style hot dog. It comes with tomatoes, onions, peppers, relish, a pickle, and mustard. If you’re lucky, you’ll be in town on a game day. The Chicago Cubs won the World Series in 2016, breaking a 108-year curse. If you can’t get tickets, you can always watch the game in one of the many bars here.

For dinner, try another Chicago classic at Lou Malnati’s. Get some calamari for an appetizer and pour a glass of wine. The highlight here is a Chicago style deep-dish pizza, but they have plenty of other entrees to choose from. That concludes your 2-day tour of the Windy City!”

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About the Author: sasha

Sasha is an English teacher, writer, photographer, and videographer from the great state of Michigan. Upon graduating from Michigan State University, he moved to China and spent 5+ years living, working, studying, and traveling there. He also studied Indonesian Language & Culture in Bali for a year. He and his wife run the travel blog Grateful Gypsies, and they're currently trying the digital nomad lifestyle across Latin America.