Ashley and Ryan

Girl and the Goat (new American, get reservations early)

Duck Duck Goat (Asian fusion, also has a to-go window)

Au Cheval (rated as the best burger in the city, put your name down and go explore)

Coast Sushi (another favorite spot, byob, a bit further from downtown) 

Quartino (Italian small-plates style, great sangria)

Time Out Market (collection of the city’s top chefs all together under one roof)

Xoco (Rick Bayless' Mexican restaurant)

Lou Malnati's (Ryan's favorite Chicago deep dish pizza)

Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder Co (think pizza pot pie, located near Lincoln Park Zoo)

Portillo's (casual spot for great Chicago hot dogs)

Wildberry Pancakes and Cafe (popular breakfast spot near the hotels)

Garrett Popcorn (Chicago's famous popcorn shop, try the Chicago mix)

The Aviary and The Office (one of the most unique cocktail bars in the country- $$$ and make a reservation early; The Office is their speakeasy style bar)

Three Dots and a Dash (speakeasy tiki bar)

City Winery (wine bar with live music some nights)

Chicago Athletic Association Game Room (great drinks with bocce, billiard, shuffleboard and Cindy's rooftop bar within the same space)

London House Rooftop (rooftop bar with amazing views of the city)

Revolution Brewing (Chicago craft brewery with brewery tours and brew pub)

Goose Island (original Chicago craft brewery, multiple locations with brew pub and tours)

Lagunitas (another great brewery option with tours and a taproom with a Willy Wonka vibe)

One of our absolute favorite activities! For more than 25 years, the Chicago Architectural Foundation volunteers have led the river cruise, sharing fascinating stories behind more than 50 buildings along the Chicago River. We have taken the architectural tour a few times and it’s a great way to both enjoy the summer weather and learn about the history of Chicago. Tickets are $46 and they offer a full-service bar and snacks onboard. The boarding location is on the south side of the Chicago River near Wacker Drive and Michigan Avenue.

Second City has been performing sketch comedy in front of audiences for over 50 years and is known for its many famous alums- Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Stephen Colbert, and Chris Farley to name a few. We have enjoyed many shows at their theater in Old Town over the years and would recommend to anyone visiting Chicago- but be cautious sitting in the front row! :) They offer multiple shows each night with ticket prices range from $40 to $60 per person. They are located at 1616 N Wells Street, Chicago, IL 60614.

Chicago has a host of different theatres, which are mainly located in the downtown (Loop) area. We recommend purchasing tickets via Ticket Master or Chicago Theatre or through the theatre directly- many offer discounted tickets for day-of performances. Please check the schedule closer to our wedding date to see which shows will be in town. 

One of our absolute favorite places, obviously :) Founded in 1879, the Art Institute of Chicago is one of the world’s major museums, housing an extraordinary collection of objects from across places, cultures, and time. The Art Institute was also the site of our first “date” together. Tickets are $25.

Some highlights include: American Gothic, Nighthawks, A Sunday on La Grande Jatte, The Old Guitarist, Water Lilies, and Paris Street; Rainy Day.

The Field Museum is one of the largest natural history museums in the world. The museum is most known for Sue the T. Rex but has a wide range of other exhibitions. The Field Museum is located on Lake Michigan, on the Museum Campus Chicago, along with the Adler Planetarium and the Shedd Aquarium. Tickets are $40 and we highly recommend buying your tickets online ahead of time as the line to purchase tickets can be over an hour long.

We’ve visited the Shedd many times and some of our favorites to see include the penguins, beluga whales, jellies, sea otters, and of course the sassy sea lions! The Shedd Aquarium is located on Lake Michigan, on the Museum Campus Chicago, along with the Adler Planetarium and the Field Museum of Natural History. Tickets are $40 and we highly recommend buying your tickets online ahead of time as the line to purchase tickets can be over an hour long.

The zoo is in historic Lincoln Park on the north side of Chicago and is one of the oldest zoos in North America. It is also one of a few free admission zoos in the United States. The zoo's exhibits include big cats, polar bears, penguins, gorillas, reptiles, and monkeys. The zoo is 10 minutes by cab or 20 minutes by bus from downtown Chicago and is also located within walking distance of North Avenue Beach for anyone that wants to explore more of the city.