Explore Chicago and It's Universities

First, start your day a little early for breakfast. We enjoyed Nutella Cafe on our way to the subway. Tour the beautiful campus of Northwestern, right off Lake Michigan, and explore the charming town of Evanston. After riding the subway back to Chicago, you can grab a bite to eat at Millennium Hall Restaurant or Beer Garden overlooking the beautiful park. While visiting Millennium Park, explore the Cloud Gate, Pritzker Pavilion, and Crown Fountains. That evening, kick back on the Chicago Riverwalk, having a bite to eat, then onto an architectural boat tour of the city.

The University of Chicago has several cute and delicious coffee shops scattered around the campus. Grab breakfast before your tour. Afterwards, you can choose a museum, such as the Field Museum, which features huge dinosaur exhibits, or the Shedd Aquarium. I would not recommend trying to do both; it would involve a lot of walking. If you need a bite before, try the outdoor eateries located near the aquarium, such as The Field Bistro, in front of the Field Museum. Resting poolside at the hotel before the next day.

Enjoy the tour of the beautiful Loyola Campus. Then onto the beautiful Chicago Botanical Gardens. Afterwards, on the subway ride home, if you're into interesting toy stores, you can stop in Fullerton to shop at Rotofugi. Keep on shopping with the Magnificent Mile and the Shops at Northbridge.

Depending on when you leave, you may have time to visit one of the largest Starbucks Reserve Roasteries, which can be pretty crowded. We enjoyed the Drier House Museum on our last day, but you can also see the artwork at the Chicago Art Institute.