Page 116 - (DK Eyewitness) Top 10 Travel Guides - Chicago

114 ❯❯ Streetsmart

Trips and Tours More active options for Many Chicago stores have
exploring include tours items on sale all year
Run by Choose Chicago, from Bike & Roll Chicago. round, but expect real
the free Chicago Greeters Cycling tours will guide bargains after Christmas,
service gives you a chance you through the city’s on Presidents’ Day (third
to spend 2 to 4 hours with parks, neighborhoods, Monday in February), and
enthusiastic locals who or along the lakefront. on Labor Day (first
love the city (book online Themed departures Monday in September).
10 days in advance). include yoga and biking, Chicago state and local
For more spon taneous brewery by bike, and food sales taxes are among
tours, InstaGreeters are tours. The company also the highest in the country
available for hour-long offers itineraries via at 10.25 percent on all
tours Friday to Sunday. Segways. Bobby’s Bike non-food items.
For design buffs, the Hike also offers themed Clothing and shoe sizes
Chicago Architectural cycling tours. in the UK, Europe, and the
Foundation tours offer Paddle down the US differ. Look at www.
itineraries focused on Chicago River while onlineconversion.com
the city’s architecture by learning about the city’s for help with sizes.
walking, bike, bus, or history with Wateriders;
(in summer) boat tour. they offer gangster- and Where to Eat
The trips highlight both ghost-themed tours for
historic and modern both beginners and Chicago is considered one
buildings, including advanced paddlers. of the country’s dining
Frank Lloyd Wright’s meccas, with specialties
architectural legacy. They Shopping at both the high and low
also run occasional Loop ends of the scale, inclu ding
Train Tours – a great Chicago is a great acclaimed chef-run
oppor tunity to glimpse shopping destination, restaurants and beefy
ornate facades that are combining all the major steakhouses down to
often invisible from the brands and designers popular hot dog and taco
sidewalks below. with neighborhood stands. The city is best
Delve into some of the boutiques and interesting known for its deep-dish
city’s infamous 1920s and art and craft galleries. pizza, which is highly
1930s gangster residents You’re in shopper’s filling, caloric, and fun.
with Untouchable Tours. heaven when it comes to Restaurant styles run
On board a custom-built department stores, which the gamut from gourmet
bus, sites visited on this are mostly located on to casual, and many
2-hour tour include that North Michigan Avenue neighborhoods are hives
of the St. Valentine’s Day and State Street. They of ethnic cuisine. Most
Massacre, Little Italy. include traditional Macy’s, chef-run places will
Many boat companies, upscale Nordstrom, and accommodate dietary
including Wendella and stylish Bloomingdale’s. restrictions, and many
Shoreline Sightseeing, There’s no shortage restaurants label dishes if
offer ways to see the city of malls in the city, they are vegan, vegetarian,
from the river and the especially vertical ones on low-calorie or gluten-free.
lake. Leaving from Navy the Mag Mile. Here you’ll Most restaurants take
Pier, Seadog Cruises find Water Tower Place, reservations and many
provide tours of both in Westfield North Bridge, require advance booking
fast speedboats. Enjoy and 900 North Michigan on weekends. The free
a meal or cocktails and Shops. Among discount restaurant reservation
dancing onboard the stores, look for bargains site Open Table is a good
elegant Odyssey or Spirit at Nordstrom Rack in two source for one-click tables.
of Chicago mega-yachts, downtown locations. With the exception of
also moored at Navy Authentic local food, very high-end places,
Pier. In summer, their such as pizza and Eli’s most restaurants are
neigh bor, the four-masted cheesecake, can be family friendly, offering
schooner Windy, also shipped anywhere in the kids’ menus, high chairs,
sails the lake. US by Taste of Chicago. and even crayons.

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