Thanksgiving Weekend in Chicago
A weekend full of winter wonder ❄️
Thanksgiving in Chicago? Absolutely! The windy city transforms into a magical wonderland around the holidays. In 2019, my husband and I went on a trip to Chicago for the Thanksgiving long weekend.
We decided to stay at the Hilton Chicago, a lovely hotel located on the vibrant Michigan Avenue. The location was perfect for exploring the city’s vibrant energy.
One of the highlights was stumbling upon a breathtaking gingerbread replica of the Chicago skyline in the hotel premises. The intricate details showcasing iconic buildings like the Willis Tower and the Bean left us in awe! It was a perfect introduction to our Thanksgiving trip in Chicago, a city that promised to be as full of delicious treats and festive cheer as this incredible display.
Thanksgiving and Christmas are my favorite times of the year, especially when the trees are all decked out.
Magnificent Mile
Magnificent Mile is a vibrant area in Chicago that is home to upscale shops, fashion outlets, cool restaurants and posh hotels.
Highly recommend stopping by Ghiradelli if you are in the area to grab a hot chocolate. It was a perfect companion for the chilly weather for us!
The whole street was decorated with lights and the shops were lit.
Starbucks Reserve Roastery
The world biggest Starbucks opened in Chicago in 2019. There was a lot of buzz around this Starbucks opening, and we wanted to go check it out.
The Roastery had five floors, all offering unique food and drinks for a curated experience on each floor. Food offerings include; sandwiches, breads, pastries, deserts, salads and pizza all from the Italian bakery Princi. Drinks include coffee (obviously) and cocktails and they all looked delicious!
Friends 25th anniversary Popup
2019 was the 25th anniversary of the TV show Friends and to celebrate that the AT&T store at the Michigan Ave had set up a Friends Popup. We got the chance to check out the famous orange couch from Central Perk, a Tech Timeline outlining 25 years of major moments in technology, a Friends Watch Lounge to catch interviews with the cast, favorite episodes and tons of original content covering the last 25 years.
We even recorded our version of the “Smelly Cat” in a little recording studio they had setup. It was a blast!
Bean There, Done That
A visit to Chicago wouldn’t be complete without capturing a picture with the iconic sculpture “The Bean.” The sculpture’s distorted reflection of the city skyline is a sight to behold.
Did you know? The original name of the Bean is Cloud Gate. It was sculptured by Indian-born British artist Anish Kapoor.
Willis Tower
The iconic Willis Tower provides a stunning panoramic view of the city, weather permitting.
During out visit, while the snow limited visibility during our trip, we still enjoyed watching the snowfall and murals celebrating the city’s iconic food, sports, and culture.
Shedd Aquarium
Shedd Aquarium is one of Chicago’s most beloved attractions. We decided to go checkout the impressive variety of aquatic life. From whales to microscopic plankton, Shedd Aquarium has it all.
After the visit to the aquarium and we continued onto the Lakefront Trail in Grant Park for breathtaking views of the Chicago skyline.
LinkedIn Office
I was working at LinkedIn at the time and got a chance to visit the amazing Chicago office.
As our Thanksgiving weekend came to an end, we left Chicago with fond memories of a city that truly captivated our hearts. We can’t wait to return to the Windy City, especially during the holiday season.
