Travel Guide: 24 Hours in Chicago

Back at it again with another Travel Guide! I’m so excited to write this post because Chicago is one of my favorite cities. Since it’s only a 3.5 hour drive from my house, I visit a few times a year. Lately, I’ve been finding myself heading to the city for just one day. There’s so much to do that it can be really overwhelming, but I’ve compiled a list of my favorite “must-do’s” when you only have 24 hours in the city!

I have loved Shedd Aquarium ever since I was a little girl. I still remember the first time my parents brought me here – it’s still just as exciting as it was back then. It’s definitely worth a visit whether you’re an adult going there with your friends, or a parent visiting with your family. There truly is something for everyone!

This huge aquarium on the shores of Lake Michigan boasts 8 amazing exhibits: Amazon Rising, Polar Play Zone, At Home on the Great Lakes, Abbott Oceanarium, Caribbean Reef, Wild Reef, Waters of the World, and Underwater Beauty (a limited-time exhibit). My most recent visit was a few weeks ago with my sister. We had such a fun experience – Shedd Aquarium never lets us down!

I want to share a little more about the special exhibit going on now, Underwater Beauty. I was beyond excited to come to Shedd Aquarium to see it. The aquarium hosts the most beautiful, one of a kind exhibits – you can definitely tell that a lot of thought and love goes into them. They are free to get into with regular aquarium admission. Underwater Beauty is all about sharing the beauty of ocean animals and the spectrum of colors they create.

From the website, “Watch jellies pulse, eels ribbon and a rainbow come alive with reef fishes. In Shedd’s new special exhibit, 100 species from around the world embody living art shaped by the unmatched forces of nature and time”. It’s hard to pick a favorite from this exhibit, but I think mine was the spotted sea jellyfish. They are such a pretty blue color with white dots that look like pearls. You can learn more about the exhibit HERE – it’s an absolute must-see.

We also got to see the Aquatic Presentation in the afternoon. I don’t think I’ve ever seen this show before, and it was really cool! They had beluga whales, seals, and Pacific white-sided dolphins doing tricks with their trainers. The show is free, and it’s really fun (and educational). 

Shedd Aquarium remains at the top of my Chicago favorites list. You’re not getting the whole Chicago experience if you don’t stop here! Every time I visit I have a great experience, and there’s always something new to look at. The Underwater Beauty exhibit was one of my favorites they’ve done. What I love most about ocean life is the range of pretty colors, and this exhibit did an amazing job showcasing that.

I hate pizza, but man do I love Giordano’s. I never understood why my parents were so obsessed with their pizza (my dad literally orders them online and ships them to our house) until I tried it for myself. Giordano’s pizza is lifechanging. It’s classic Chicago-style deep dish pizza with a yummy flaky crust, loads of cheese, and the sauce on top. They are a little pricey, but they’re worth every penny. I can’t resist stopping here every time I’m in Chicago. Just a tip – when you eat at the actual restaurant, you have to wait about an hour to have the pizza made for you. They also offer frozen ones to go (I always bring a freezer bag or cooler so I can take a few home with me). Writing this post made me want to throw the one I currently have in the freezer in the oven for dinner!

This was a new discovery that I wish I would have found earlier. Shoreline Sightseeing offers a water taxi in a loop between Shedd Aquarium, Navy Pier, and the Chicago River. They have a little booth right outside of Shedd, so you can start your next adventure as soon as you’re done with the aquarium. It’s only $8 a ticket, and it gives you the most beautiful views of the Chicago skyline. It’s a pretty short ride, but it gives you some amazing photo opportunities, and it’s really fun!

It can get kind of chilly out there (even in the summer), so I would recommend bringing a light jacket if you don’t want to tough it out. I really loved this boat ride, and I can’t wait to do it every time I go back. We rode from Shedd Aquarium to Navy Pier so we didn’t have to walk 2 miles – it worked out perfectly! 

Home to my all time #1 favorite cheeseburger on the planet, Shake Shack has a bunch of locations all over Chicago (and the country) for your eating pleasure. Yes, you read that right, this is my FAVORITE cheeseburger of all time, which is a pretty prestigious award. The shakes are pretty bomb too, hence the name. June was pride month, so when we visited last time they had a special shake that tasted like birthday cake – it even had sprinkles. It’s a good thing they don’t have a Shake Shack near my house, or I would eat there every day for every meal. I can’t adequately express my love for Shake Shack! 

The giant mirrored Bean at Millenium Park is a Chicago icon. Technically it’s called Cloud Gate, but I’ve always called it the Bean! Thousands of people flock here every day to get an iconic Bean picture. It’s free and it’s a really cool piece of art to see. Millenium Park is also a beautiful place to walk around and enjoy your day. In the winter, they have an ice skating rink in front of the Bean, which is SO cool! I probably have dozens of pictures in front of the Bean throughout my life. Fun fact: the inside of the Bean is mostly wooden!

Grant Park is also commonly known as “Chicago’s Front Yard”, and with good reason. This is another recent discovery I made, and I wish I would have found it a long time ago. This huge park is nestled between Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum, the Bean and Lake Michigan. It gives off major Central Park vibes (with way less people) and has great views of the city. In the center of the park is Buckingham Fountain, which is a great photo-op. 

I don’t even have words for how beautiful the landscaping in this park is. I could spend a whole day walking through and exploring Grant Park. It was super hot when we were there in June, but I didn’t want to stop exploring the park – that should be a good indication of how awesome it was, since I hate being outside in the heat! They have a little cafe and people on bikes selling ice cream scattered around. I love the vibe here! It is easily one of my new favorite places in Chicago. 

Chicago, I love you! I’m not really a huge fan of big cities, but something about Chicago always draws me in. I’ve lived near the city my whole life, but I still find new experiences and have amazing adventures every time I visit. It’s always exciting to hop in the car and drive South for 3.5 hours and spend the day(s) exploring. Leave a comment if you’ve ever been to Chicago, and what your favorite activities are!