48 Hours in Chicago, Illinois

Around this time last year, my blogger bestie Lindsay and I were embarking on our first-ever trip to Chicago together! While it was a brief and rainy 24 hour trip to see the Malibu Barbie Cafe (here), I knew that I had wanted to visit Chicago again with Lindsay (since she LOVES the Windy City and visits often as she once lived there too!). SO, this time around, we decided to double our time and spend 48 hours in Chicago. And, I was in for a major treat (!!!!). Spoiler: 48 hours in Chicago (or more!) is definitely a better amount of time to explore the Windy City!

*Disclaimer: Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through one of my links, then I will receive a small commission. This commission is at no extra cost to you. Additionally, this post is not sponsored, and all opinions are my own.*

For more United States travel inspiration, check out my Exploring 50 States expedition page.

Where We Stayed:

 

Just like our trip last year, we stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton Chicago – Magnificent Mile and, just like last year, it did not disappoint! The DoubleTree is where Lindsay has stayed multiple times in the past and has had GREAT experiences there. One thing that I LOVED about the DoubleTree is its central location in downtown Chicago, giving us easy access to all of the major points of interest in the Windy City, including the Riverwalk, Michigan Avenue, and several restaurants aka a great spot to spend 48 hours in Chicago at. Not to mention, the hotel rooms have incredible skyline views (!!!). At the same time, I have had GREAT experiences with the ultra-kind staff and interactions with fellow guests, too.

What We Did:

Riverwalk – Due to a fire in October of 1871, many of the Windy City’s initial buildings burned to the ground. And, to rebuild Chicago from the ground up, the beautiful buildings filled with such unique architecture and charm filled the city’s skyline to what it is today. Providing gorgeous views of Chicago’s STUNNING architecture, I LOVED getting to stroll multiple times alongside the Riverwalk, which shows off the city skyline extremely well. I kicked off our first full day in the Windy City by taking a morning stroll (before 9am) on the Riverwalk via Michigan Avenue with my camera. I was truly IN AWE by the stunning architecture that Chicago has to offer.

My biggest tip for strolling Chicago’s Riverwalk is to either stroll via Michigan Avenue before 9am or go a block (or two) off of Michigan Avenue to Columbus Street to avoid the crowds. At golden hour, Lindsay and I accessed the Riverwalk via Columbus Street, which provided such beautiful views of the Windy City’s skyline and waterfront! It truly was a magical time to see ALL of the boats (including Architecture Tours – something I aspire to do on a future Chicago trip!) go by. Golden hour on the Riverwalk was EXTREMELY majestic!

Michigan Avenue – You could *literally* spend 48 hours in Chicago simply on Michigan Avenue!! Michigan Avenue is well-known in Chicago for its shopping, restaurants, hotels, and access to the Riverwalk. You can find Ralph Lauren (including an adjacent Ralph’s Coffee!), Starbucks Reserve Roastery (which I write about more here!), the Intercontinental Hotel (which I ADORE walking by!), and *just a few* of some of my favorite places to shop such as J Crew, Kate Spade, LOFT, and Sephora. Throughout Michigan Avenue, there is TONS of stunning buildings and architecture, including the Water Tower (which is free to climb and enter), a church cathedral, and several buildings alongside the Riverwalk. I enjoyed browsing many of the shops on Michigan Avenue and admiring the gorgeous architecture at EVERY turn!

Museum of Ice Cream – Coincidentally located off of Michigan Avenue as well, Lindsay and I checked out the *very* pink Museum of Ice Cream! Offering unlimited ice cream and photo opportunities, the Museum of Ice Cream is an ADORABLE and ultra-pink place to be! Upon selecting a timed entry to the museum which guests can do on their website, we all entered in and were asked to pick out our *very own* … ice cream name! And, then, we were chauffeured into the Museum of Ice Cream where we got to enjoy unlimited ice cream in some of the many museum rooms AND interactive photo opportunities! After snapping several photos and taking in ALL of the ice cream and vibes, Lindsay and I enjoyed some cocktails (which we purchased via a drink ticket at an additional cost) before jumping into the … SPRINKLE POOL (!!!!!!).

Note that Museum of Ice Cream ticket prices vary by day and time. It is best to make reservations in advance to ensure you have a timed-entry ticket.

Millennium Park – Home to Cloud Gate aka “the Bean”, Millennium Park sits in the heart of Chicago’s downtown amongst a beautiful architectural array of buildings. I had only previously been to Millennium Park in high school in the Winter months, so it was SO nice to be able to visit Cloud Gate when it was much warmer. While a brief visit at Millennium Park to snap some touristy photos, I noticed that this place plays home to Lollapalooza several other live music events, alongside a gorgeous array of floral displays (which can be seen ALL around Chicago’s downtown!).

Lindsay and I walked from our hotel to Millennium Park (it was about a 15-20 minute walk!) via Columbus Street which is located off the corner of my hotel. On the way to Millennium Park, we stopped by the Fairmont Hotel to enjoy their gorgeous floral display that we passed by and get adorable complimentary water cartons!

Sparkling Pink Bar – Located at Lost Reef Lounge, the Sparkling Pink Bar is a pop-up bar hosted by Chicago  (learn more here). It is a ticketed event currently going on until August 25, 2024. With ticketed entry, a complimentary drink was included alongside their a la carte food/drink menu with additional items at an additional cost. The vibes were AMAZING and were ultra-PINK AND SPARKLY!!!!! I loved getting to experience this incredible pop-up bar with Lindsay and our friend Meredith.

Where We Ate:

Streeterville Social – Located at the Loews Hotel, Streeterville Social is a rooftop bar boasting INCREDIBLE views of the Chicago skyline. Me, Lindsay, Meredith, and their ultra-kind friend (whom I hope to connect with more in the future!) Faiza and I all met up for some drinks and bites. I mainly enjoyed the fries – LOLLL! – and took in all of the incredible Chicago skyline views. Streeterville Social is a GREAT place for enjoying a nice city skyline AND happy hour which they call social hour, live music, and trivia (ALL of which I read about online!) if you’re around for that.

Ralph’s Coffee – I *finally* tried a Ralph’s Coffee (!!!!). Last time Lindsay and I went to Chicago, we tried the Ralph Lauren Restaurant (more about that here). This time around, while on one of my Michigan Avenue strolls, I stopped into Ralph’s Coffee and got … a lemonade! The cafe was gorgeous and offered a selection of Ralph’s Coffee merchandise alongside drinks and pastries. I LOVED that the employees and decorations were all Olympic-themed to honor the Paris 2024 Olympics, given the Ralph Lauren campaign with ALL of the USA olympians!

HotHouse – Lindsay and I enjoyed martinis and watching the closing ceremony of the Paris 2024 Olympics and the passing of the torch to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics at the HotHouse bar. The HotHouse bar is located at our hotel, the DoubleTree by Hilton – Magnificent Mile, and we got to chat with the super sweet bartender there, too. Alongside an amazing espresso martini, I enjoyed some delicious fish n’ chips and time with Lindsay, too! *Even* if you have 48 hours in Chicago, I recommend stopping here for a drink simply to interact with the bartenders here who make it soooo special!

Minghin Cuisine – I passed by Minghin Cuisine on the way to Michigan Avenue from our hotel and decided to pop in for a late lunch, as I was craving Asian cuisine. After a Quick Look on Yelp at reviews and saw that this was THE PLACE to go if you want Chinatown cuisine not in Chicago’s Chinatown, I knew that Minghin Cuisine was THE place to go nearby the hotel! Boy, was I in for a TREAT (!!!!!). The interior of the restaurant was gorgeous (which I would NOT expect from looking at the restaurant’s exterior) and the food was delicious. Lindsay and I were both BLOWN away by the restaurant’s quality of food, service, and atmosphere.

Starbucks Reserve Roastery – I decided to stop by Starbucks Reserve Roastery located on Michigan Avenue again, but this time, for breakfast and a Starbucks Reserve-exclusive coffee drink (last year we went for cocktails!). I LOVED getting to try the egg Caprese breakfast sandwich and another latte with their exclusive olive oil: Oleato. While a much briefer visit this time around, I LOVED getting to visit a familiar spot from last year!

Wrap-Up:

This was my first trip to Chicago where I truly felt that I got to experience ALLL of the best of the best that the city has to offer! From strolling the Riverwalk and Michigan Avenue to seeing the stunning turquoise Lake Michigan waterfront to all of the magnificent skyline views and interactions with locals and visitors alike in between, I fell in love with the Windy City! Needless to say, I am SO excited to go back to visit Chicago, as Lindsay and I are making it a summer tradition to visit her hometown of Indianapolis and *of course* an additional couple of days in Chicago, too. Chicago is an amazing city that boasts friendly people, gorgeous architecture, great vibes, and delicious eats. Truly, a 48 hours in Chicago leaving me wanting 48 more hours to spare!! I cannot wait to go back!

Til next time, Chicago!

XOXO – Katie <3

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My Experience at Chicago’s Malibu Barbie Cafe

*Just* in case you didn’t realize, I am a HUGE fan of ALLLLL things Barbie!!!! I have a Barbie Christmas tree, a few Barbie dolls (including one Christmas one!), and watch the movie *pretty* often, too. My friend Briana and I are *even* going to see Barbie The Movie In Concert this Summer at Jiffy Lube Live! SO, I *of course* had to visit the Malibu Barbie Cafe last Summer 2023 when in Chicago!

As a HUGE fan of the Barbie movie and, well, Barbie in general, I could NOT miss the chance to visit the Malibu Barbie Cafe at one of its pop-up locations back in Summer 2023. And, yes, we are *getting there* to Summer 2024, which I am SOOOOO excited for (!!!!), however, I am oh so excited for one last look back at some Summer adventures from 2023! In August of 2023, my Instagram bestie Lindsay of @sunshineandstairclimbs (GO FOLLOW HER!!!!) and I visited Chicago for a quick 24 hours (here) and before that Indianapolis, Indiana (where Lindsay calls home!) (here) AND ended up visiting the Malibu Barbie Cafe when it was in the Windy City. I shared about my experience at Chicago’s Malibu Barbie Cafe over on my Instagram (follow me @_thepinkchickadee), as well. As I am planning my next trip to the Windy City this August 2024, I am excited to share ALLL the details of this incredible experience of Lindsay’s and mine!

For more United States travel inspiration, check out my Exploring 50 States expedition page.

Tickets:

Lindsay and I booked tickets together a few months before visiting the Malibu Barbie Cafe. Lindsay booked the tickets on our behalf and, being transparent over here, I CANNOT seem to remember how much they were. ALL I remember is that each ticket came with a time slot and complimentary meal per person per ticket. Lindsay and I both picked a delicious vegetable quinoa bowl! Though, I do remember that time slots were required upon booking for crowd control purposes.

Our Experience:

To kick it off, we started off waiting in line to get into the Malibu Barbie Cafe about 20 minutes before our time slot. The super kind staff let each party in every few minutes at the beginning of each time slot and gave us 90 minutes-2 hours to be in the space before we were given the boot (ALL for crowd control purposes though!). And, the wait at the end of the line which was by the way filled with the sweetest Barbie-loving people of all ages, we were greeted with “HEY BARBIE” and the BESTTTT energy from all of the staff! We *truly* entered into Barbieland!!!!!

Once in Barbieland, we were seated at our table and were greeted by our waitress and given a fun cocktail menu. Drinks and any other additional food items were NOT included in the admission tickets (unlike our entrees) and we *of course* ordered pink glitter decked out cocktails and, well duh, French fries!!! Our waitress told us that we had *plenty of time* before any and all of our food/drinks came out to go and check out the merchandise AND *of course* get some photos which the photo opportunities plentiful at the Malibu Barbie Cafe. Not to mention, Barbie AND beach-themed music was played ALLL across the Malibu Barbie Cafe in *of course* true Barbieland fashion!!!

From ALLL THINGS beach to a surf board to travel and a roller rink and everything in between, Barbieland was TRULY decked out to brighten up the Windy City! Lindsay and I enjoyed SOOOO many of the photo opportunities here at the Malibu Barbie Cafe both before and after getting our food/drinks. It was a pretty gloomy day while we visited the Malibu Barbie Cafe, however, being with one another in Barbieland truly brightened both of our spirits!

Wrap-Up:

While it has been a Summer ago ever since my visit to the Malibu Barbie Cafe, I truly LOVED my experience in Barbieland with the incredible other guests and staff that brought such great energy and most definitely with my fellow Barbie loving bestie Lindsay! Summer 2023 brought about SOOOO many incredible Barbie-themed memories and going to the Malibu Barbie Cafe truly was the cherry on top of the cake of a truly incredible Barbie Summer!

XOXO – Katie <3

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24 Hours in Chicago, Illinois

Ever since I went to Chicago on a Spring Break trip in high school, I had wanted to visit again as an adult. Luckily, that opportunity to visit Chicago again came up when I went to visit my best friend Lindsay in Indianapolis, Indiana (here) and we decided to do a night in the Windy City before I headed back to the East Coast in August 2023! While in Chicago, we did alllll-things Barbie-themed, from going to the Malibu Barbie Popup Cafe to drinks at Hampton Social to the literal best ever espresso martinis that I’ve ever had at the Starbucks Reserve Roastery and a few things in between. During my time in Chicago, I truly fell in love with the city all over again and I cannot wait to go back and visit Chi Chi in the future!

*Disclaimer: Please note that this post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase through one of my links, then I will receive a small commission. This commission is at no extra cost to you. Additionally, this post is not sponsored, and all opinions are my own.*

For more United States travel inspiration, check out my Exploring 50 States expedition page.

Getting There:

Lindsay and I drove from Indianapolis to Chicago, since it is under 4 hours each way and I totally give props to Lindsay for driving us the entire way as I am NOT a city driver (confession!). I ended up flying home out of Chicago O’Hare airport on a United Airlines (my preferred airline!) flight back to Washington, DC. I was able to somehow get a flight into Ronald Reagan National Airport (DCA) from O’Hare which is RARE for United given that Washington, DC’s Dulles International Airport is a United Airlines hub. BIG WIN! Overall, I found navigating O’Hare to be pretty easy, as the airport is extremely nice and pretty fun with all of its displays, too.

Where We Stayed:

I am a big Hilton fan and a Hilton Honors (rewards) member! SO, we stayed at a Hilton with close proximity to the Magnificent Mile and the iconic Chicago Riverwalk. Our room had a beautiful view of the Chicago skyline, which was amazing especially after sundown. Personally, I LOVED where we stayed, as it was super close to everything in Chicago, allowing us to walk pretty much everywhere (with the exception of the Malibu Barbie Popup Cafe in a different part of town!). And, well, I LOVE a nice Hilton hotel, too!

What We Did:

Being transparent here, A LOT of our activities during our brief Chicago stay revolved around *none other than* … food and cocktails. Initially, we had planned to take an Architecture River Tour, however, due to the rainy weather, we decided against it – next time though! However, we did have a few fun activities during our time that didn’t involve food.

One of my favorite activities while we were in Chicago was getting to walk around after our night cap at Hampton Social alongside the Chicago Riverwalk, as the rain started to subside. Lindsay knows Chicago pretty well, so she was able to give me a free and fun nighttime skyline walking tour of the city. I LOVED getting to see Chicago’s skyline at night (there is something simply SOOOO magical about city skylines at night – am I right?!) and truly see the stunning city’s flair on a peaceful and partially drizzly Monday night. We walked across the bridges alongside the Riverwalk and admired all aspects of the city skyline. We also saw one of Chicago’s well-known theaters allll lit up and stepped foot in the Kimpton Hotel Monaco lobby which I stayed at the last time I was in Chicago with my Dad. The best part?! Finding a super fun set of gold ANGEL WINGS (!!!!) to strike *just a few* poses in front of. My college mascot is the Avenging Angel, so I ALWAYS will take an opportunity to pose in front of angel wings. That Monday night, I had a happy happy happy heart and SO MUCH love for the Windy City.

The other activity that we did was go to *none other than* the Target right next to the Malibu Barbie Popup Cafe after our time in Barbie Land to buy … Barbie dolls (!!!). The CUTEST thing?!?! SO many mothers, grandmothers, and daughters that we saw at the Malibu Barbie Cafe happened to stop by that exact Target, too. It was sooo fun to see Barbies manifested at Target afterwards! After Target, we took an Uber back to our hotel and ended up stopping by the iconic Intercontinental Hotel which was decked out in butterflies for summer time. We *of course* snapped a few photos with our Barbies at the hotel, too!

Where We Ate:

Starbucks Reserve Roastery – our first stop in Chicago was *none other than* … Starbucks Reserve! Starbucks Reserve is essentially a HUGE Starbucks offering cocktails, coffee, merchandise, food, and everything in between. It was such a neat experience! There isn’t a Starbucks Reserve in Washington, DC and I hadn’t been to the New York City Starbucks Reserve, so, when in Chicago, we HAD to make a visit (!!!). Lindsay and I went up to the 4th or 5th floor (I cannot remember – LOL!) bar and got some espresso martinis which were LITERALLY THE BEST EVER and simply enjoyed one another’s company. The vibes at the Starbucks Reserve were impeccable, too, and I will definitely be back for another espresso martini at the bar next time I am in the Windy City!

RL Ralph Lauren Restaurant – After seeing my friends Michelle and Divya dine at the RL Ralph Lauren Restaurant on their Chicago trip earlier in Summer 2023, I *just knew* that it was a must-dine when Lindsay and I went to Chicago! The restaurant is attached to Chicago’s Ralph Lauren boutique and the vibes were super elegant, classy, and very very very Ralph Lauren. The interior gave me a bit of that historic Washington, DC charm, but thinking more on the lines of Ralph Lauren in a restaurant! I tried their Lobster Bisque which was AMAZING and a Caesar salad. I have to mention that the staff at RL Ralph Lauren Restaurant are extremely kind, hospitable, and caring. While this wouldn’t be my first place on my list to dine at again in Chicago, I definitely wouldn’t hesitate to come back when the opportunity presents itself!

Hampton Social – Streeterville – Lindsay and I came to Hampton Social’s Streeterville Chicago location for a night cap on a rainy Monday night just a few blocks away from our hotel. We got Barbie-themed pink and glittery cocktails and I also got some delicious fried oysters. There aren’t any Hampton Social locations near me and I had heard of it as a popular spot in Nashville, SO I was psyched to hear that there were not one but TWO locations in Chi Chi! I am SO glad we came here, especially on a rainy Monday night as not many people were around and we got practically the entire second floor of the restaurant to admire its vibes and *of course* take photos.

Malibu Barbie Cafe – While the Popup cafe is unfortunately closed, Lindsay and I had an amazing time here. Upon purchase of our tickets, we selected complimentary food items (we both chose the veggie and grain bowl!) and ordered cocktails for an additional charge at the bar. The cocktails were ALSO glittery, pink, and VERYYY Barbie (!!!!). I’ll save the rest of my incredible experience at the Malibu Barbie Cafe for another post, but for now I will say that the food and drinks were pretty good.

Dollop Coffee Company – Lindsay and I got our morning coffees at Dollop Coffee just a block away from our hotel on Tuesday morning. One of the super fun things about Dollop is the fact that they have photos of many of the Real Housewives lining the walls of the shop. I don’t keep too much tabs at the moment on the Real Housewives, but I did watch the franchise a lot more during my high school years, so it was fun to see some familiar faces and enjoy a new-to-me cafe!

Wrap-Up:

I had an incredible time in Chicago and am SO grateful for our brief time in the Windy City. I LOVED the hotel that we stayed at and its location in proximity to many of Chicago’s incredible sites to see. I also LOVED having such a fun Barbie-themed time here, too. It was fun to practically plan a 24 hours revolving around all-things pink and Barbie! At the same time, I am so so so grateful for Lindsay’s and I’s friendship and the fact that she drove us into the city and then drove me to the airport out of the city, too. All in all, I have so much gratitude for our 24 hours in Chi Chi!

I definitely would LOVE to make a visit back to Chicago someday, too. And, hopefully, it won’t rain as much either! I would LOVE to experience the city’s incredible architecture via a tour, dine at some new-to-me spots, and spend time with Lindsay and others that I love. People in Chicago are extremely friendly and I would LOVE to go back again. Til next time the Windy City!

XOXO – Katie <3

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