Haley + Joseph
Things To Do in Chicago
Cloud Gate & Millennium Park
Yes.. the Cloud Gate in Millennium Park. Locally known as "The Bean", it is one of the most iconic art sculptures in the city. The reflective sculpture made up of hundreds of pieces of polished steel, it debuted in 2006 and has since been one of the most visited sites in the city. Don't forget to explore the rest of Millennium Park which has many other art sculptures and gardens!
John Hancock Center
Chicago is where the first skyscraper was erected. That being said, why pass up up a good view from one while you're here? Joe went up a lot of skyscrapers during his first few years in Chicago and the John Hancock Center is his favorite because of the views (it's better than the Sears/Willis tower). The John Hancock Tower is currently called "875 North Michigan Avenue" after dropping the iconic name last year, but honestly, who's going to remember that? You caaaan spend $24 per person for admission to the 94th Floor Observation Deck but hack tip: You can go up for free and be two floors higher on the 96th. Just take the other elevator to the "Signature Lounge" to see the same exact view and use the money you would have paid on admission for two to three expensive drinks instead. Also, Haley says the best view is in the women's restroom - free of charge ;)
The Art Institute of Chicago
If you’re planning to visit the Art Institute of Chicago, you might need to make a whole day out of it! With more than 300,000 works in its permanent collection, spanning 5,000 years of creativity, the whole art campus is the second-largest art museum in the country, at almost 1 million square feet. Haley and Joe have gone on several dates here and has seen many well known and famous works of art. One of their favorites is "A Sunday on La Grande Jatte" — by Georges Seurat which is on permanent display at the museum.
Little Vietnam
This is Haley and Joe's local neighborhood in Chicago for the past two years! For a taste of Southeast Asia, there's nowhere better than to head to Argyle Street which has been home to a predominately Vietnamese community for decades. Some call it Little Vietnam, others new Chinatown, or just simply "Argyle". It's part of the Uptown community area of Chicago, located just off the Argyle red line stop. The neighborhood is also home to Chinese, Cambodian, Laotian and Thai immigrants. Here you'll find some of the best Pho served in the city, no doubt due to the intense competition between the more than 15 Vietnamese restaurants spanning only 5-6 blocks. Check out the link to this VLOG below and you'll see ALL of the local restaurants that Haley and Joe have eaten at!
Chicago Architecture River Cruise
This was one of the first things that Joe did in the city. If you're a fan of architecture, you'll get an eye-popping education in that history. If not, it's still a damn nice boat ride. Haley and Joe definitely recommend it if it's your first time here or if you want something unique to do. Actually, don't take their word for it. TripAdvisor, rated by millions of people, ranked this travel experience as #2 out of the Top 25 in the world. Who beat them out? The Vatican in Rome, of course. Cruises run every day, throughout the day during the summer. See the link below for more details.