route 66 in illinois

It’s America’s most cherished byway, stretching over 2,400 miles from Chicago to Santa Monica. Countless motorists have rambled along the “double six”, stopping to pay homage to the stunning natural landscapes, important historical landmarks and iconic as well as just plain wacky roadside attractions. As Route 66 approaches its 100th birthday, there's no better time to set off on a Mother Road journey of your very own.

I'm Amy Bizzarri, a Route 66 expert and author of 'The Best Hits on Route 66: 100 Essential Stops on the Mother Road' (available at your local library, bookstore or on amazon.com). I have traveled the length of Route 66 in Illinois so many times I lost count, and each time I hit the road, I discover something new and interesting. Be prepared for plenty of surprises along the way! 
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This tour begins in my hometown, Chicago!, at the official starting point of Route 66, located in downtown Chicago, and ends at the Chain of Rocks Bridge in Granite City, Illinois. At almost 300 miles, this journey will take a full day; or consider stopping at a midway point (Springfield, Illinois is a good halfway point and is home to many different accommodation options (visit the Springfield Board of Tourism for a listing of hotels and motels at www.visitspringfieldillinois.com/LocationSearches/WhereToStay). Also note that some of the businesses are only open during daytime hours, so please check hours before you hit the road. 

Remember: As in life, it's not the destination that matters but rather the beautiful vistas, new friends, and even the bumps in the road you encounter along the way. Get ready for adventure as you hit the road in search of the best hits on Route 66! 

For a full route map with driving directions, check out this google map, 'Route 66 in Illinois': https://www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1xIoOrHz8aoNV1avpb2dpKalgfuug2oc0&usp=sharing



Route 66 Official Starting Point - East Adams Street, just west of its intersection with South Michigan Avenue  

Lou Mitchell's Restaurant and Bakery - Fuel Up for a Day on the Road 

 Buffalo Roaming at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie

Gemini Giant

Bob Waldmire's 1972 VW Microbus and Road Yacht plus the Route 66 murals of historic downtown Pontiac, Illinois

Funks Grove

Auburn Brick Road

Lincoln Depot 

Cozy Dog Drive-In 

Doc's Soda Fountain 

Ariston Cafe

Henry's Rabbit Ranch 

World’s Largest Catsup Bottle 

Cahokia Mounds 

Luna Café

Chain of Rocks Bridge - Gateway to the West 

Travel along the Mother Road - Route 66! - and experience the history of America's beloved byway. This fun and informative guide to Route 66 showcases all the iconic stops located along Route 66 in Illinois.

Route 66 in Illinois

sip history: chicago cocktail adventure - part 2

Chicago is all in on the cocktail craze, with some of the best mixologists and cocktail lounges in the country. But it wasn’t until Prohibition ended in 1933 that cocktail lounges began to sprout up across Chicago, replacing the traditional, beer and straight hard liquor-focused saloons.

This tour is Part 2 of a 2 part series of cocktail-focused tours. This tour will take you to the Palmer House, Walnut Room, Congress Lounge, Venteux (in the iconic Carbon and Carbide Building), and Cerise (old Dearborn Bank Building and is perfect for those who like the classics from Champagne to Old Fashioneds.

I'm Amy Bizzarri, author of Chicago's Iconic Dishes, Desserts, and Drinks - available on amazon.com at https://www.amazon.com/Amy-Bizzarri/e/B00QMSNDOO%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

You can also follow me on instagram @amybizzarri  

I'm so excited to share my favorite cocktail bars and lounges in the city. Each one features not only wonderful cocktails but also a dose of Chicago history.

Check the hours for each cocktail bar before you head out for your cocktail crawl: The best time to conquer this crawl is in the early evening, but check the hours for each cocktail bar before you head out and note that Macy's Walnut Room closes in the early afternoon (but you can still take a peek inside as the store is open into the early evening).
As always, drink responsibly. 

Also, be sure to check out Sip History: Chicago Cocktail Adventure Part 1 for even more cocktail history in the Windy City!

Cheers! 

Congress Lounge - Classic Martini 

Palmer House Lobby Bar - 150 Cocktail 

Walnut Room - Walnut Old Fashioned

Venteux (Carbide and Carbon Building) - Champagne 

Cerise - The Evening Sunshine

Sip History at Chicago's Most Historic Cocktail Hotspots  

Sip History: Chicago Cocktail Adventure - Part 2

sip history: chicago cocktail adventure - part 1 

Chicago is all in on the cocktail craze, with some of the best mixologists and cocktail lounges in the country. But it wasn’t until Prohibition ended in 1933 that cocktail lounges began to sprout up across Chicago, replacing the traditional, beer and straight hard liquor-focused saloons.

This tour is Part 1 of a 2 part series of cocktail-focused tours. This tour will take you to the London House, Chicago Motor Club, Cindy's, the Gage, Italian Village, and Brando's Speakeasy and is perfect for those who like the classics from Champagne to Old Fashioneds.

I'm Amy Bizzarri, author of Chicago's Iconic Dishes, Desserts, and Drinks - available on amazon.com at https://www.amazon.com/Amy-Bizzarri/e/B00QMSNDOO%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

You can also follow me on instagram @amybizzarri  

I'm so excited to share my favorite cocktail bars and lounges in the city. Each one features not only wonderful cocktails but also a dose of Chicago history.

Check the hours for each cocktail bar before you head out for your cocktail crawl; the best time to take this tour is in the evening, between 5pm and 10pm. As always, drink responsibly. 

Also, be sure to check out Sip History: Chicago Cocktail Adventure Part 2 for even more cocktail history in the Windy City!

Cheers! 

Dearborn Sour - LondonHouse Hotel Rooftop Lounge  

Giggle Water - Chicago Motor Club Hampton Inn

Spontaneous Publicity - Cindy's Rooftop  

Champagne Cocktail  - The Gage 

“Frank’s Old-School Manhattan” - Italian Village

Sunset Skyline - Brando's Speakeasy 

Sip History at Chicago's Most Historic Cocktail Hotspots - Loop Edition - Part 1

Sip History: Chicago Cocktail Adventure - Part 1 

navy pier treasure hunt

Located on scenic Lake Michigan, Navy Pier offers stunning skyline views, a famous Ferris wheel, waterfront dining options, and tons of family-friendly activities. It’s no wonder that the historic spot boasts nearly two million visitors annually, making it one of the most visited tourist attractions in the entire Midwest and Chicago's second most visited attraction.

Navy Pier opened to the public on July 15, 1916 as the "Municipal Pier", and over the years, it has played a number of roles in Chicago history. It originally served as a dock for freights. In mid-1918, the pier was also used as a jail for draft dodgers! In 1927, the pier was renamed Navy Pier to honor the naval veterans who served in World War I and in 1941, during World War II, the pier became a training center for the United States Navy; about 10,000 people worked, trained and lived there! In 1946, as the Navy was winding down from its mission, the University of Illinois at Chicago held classes at the pier. As the maximum capacity was exceeded, the school outgrew the pier and the university relocated to Circle Campus in 1965. Then in 1995, Navy Pier was redesigned and introduced to the public as a mixed-use venue incorporating retail, dining, entertainment and cultural entertainment. 

Crack the Whip! Objective: Take a selfie holding hands with one of the kids. Created by sculptor J. Seward Johnson, Jr., Crack the Whip was installed at Navy Pier in 1996 and depicts 8 kids playing the classic game. Can you spot the girl who lost her shoe? The statue is located in the park area directly in front of the entrance to Navy Pier, Polk Bros Park. Click the video link to watch a game of Crack the Whip in action!

Captain at the Helm Objective: Find the captain! The Captain On The Helm bronze statue is located just south of the Navy Pier entrance. A gift from the Chicago Lodge of Shipmasters International, it was sculpted by Michael Martino, engraved with the names of legendary Chicago boat captains, and dedicated on May 19, 2000 "To those courageous mariners who guided their ships through perilous waters, carrying cargo and people. Their contributions have been so much a part of our history. May they never be forgotten." (Photo credit: Terence Faircloth, Sept. 7, 2008, https://www.flickr.com/photos/atelier_tee/2847776246)

Centennial Wheel Objective: Watch the video link below and answer the text response question: “Who invented the Ferris wheel?” The very first Ferris wheel came to Chicago during the World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893. The wheel was 264 feet tall and illuminated by 2,500 Edison incandescent lights and was built to rival the newly completed Eiffel Tower in Paris. In 2016, the Centennial Wheel debuted in honor of Navy Pier’s 100th anniversary: Soaring to heights of nearly 200 feet, this Wheel features enclosed, climate-controlled gondolas, so guests can enjoy rides year-round. Take a whirl on the Centennial Wheel for a birds-eye view of the city skyline and Lake Michigan!

Lake Michigan’s Luxury Yachts: Spirit of Chicago, Mystic Blue and Odyssey - Take a photo of one of the luxury yachts docked outside Navy Pier. Lake Michigan is the second-largest of the Great Lakes by volume and the third-largest by surface area. It’s shared, from west to east, by the states of Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Michigan. The word "Michigan" is believed to come from the Ojibwe word michi-gami meaning "great water". Several luxury yachts set sail on Lake Michigan from Navy Pier, including the Spirit of Chicago, Mystic Blue and Odyssey. You can find these gorgeous yachts docked on the southeastern edge of Navy Pier. Click the video link to see what it’s like to cruise on board the grand Odyssey yacht on Lake Michigan.

Chicago Shakespeare Theater Objective: Find the bust of William Shakespeare, located in the theater’s lobby. Located on Navy Pier, Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) is Chicago's largest and most versatile performing arts venue, known for vibrant productions reflecting Shakespeare's genius. Founded in 1986 on the roof of the Red Lion Pub in the city's Lincoln Park neighborhood, in 1999 the CST moved to this seven-story theater complex on Navy Pier, where it has a main 510-seat Courtyard Theater, which is the primary production venue for CST, and a second theater, the 200-seat black box "Upstairs" space, which is devoted to smaller but still-popular productions such as The Second City's smash hit, Romeo and Juliet Musical: The People Vs. Friar Laurence, The Man Who Killed Romeo and Juliet. Click the video link for a montage of scenes from CST’s performance of The Tempest.

Offshore Chicago Objective: Head to the full-service, luminous bar of OFFSHORE CHICAGO and enjoy a beverage plus sweeping vistas of Chicago and Lake Michigan. It’s one of the newest and best places on the Pier, and the largest rooftop venue in the U.S.: From its perch on the third floor rooftop of Navy Pier, Offshore, with its 20,000 sq. ft terrace, multiple firepits and buzz-worthy entertainment area, is one of the best spots in the city to sip a handcrafted cocktail thanks to the unparalleled, panoramic views of the city. Take a selfie while you're there and then click on the video link to enjoy a spectacular drone view of Navy Pier.

Bob Newhart Statue Objective: Sit next to Bob and take a selfie! George Robert Newhart (born September 5, 1929) is perhaps best known for his role as Chicago psychologist Robert Hartley in The Bob Newhart Show during the 1970s and then as Vermont innkeeper Dick Loudon on the 1980s series Newhart. Created by Studio EIS in New York, this life-sized statue was commissioned by nostalgia cable channel TV Land.  Click the video link below for a funny clip from the Bob Newhart Show.

USS Chicago Anchor Objective: Walk to the eastern edge of the pier and take a selfie as you stand before the giant USS Chicago Anchor. The USS Chicago, a Baltimore-class heavy cruiser commissioned January 10, 1945, set sail from Norfolk, Virginia to conduct training missions prior to setting sail for the Pacific Ocean. The ship functioned as guard for carriers launching airstrikes against the Tokyo Plains early July, 1945. The ship then moved closer to the shore to conduct strikes against airfields, shipping, and railways. Later in July, the ship conducted more bombardments on ports along the coast of Japan until the end of the second world war. After the war, the heavy cruiser was rebuilt to function as a guided missile cruiser and recommissioned May 2, 1964: it took part in 5 different deployments to Vietnam to conduct land bombardment operations and patrolling throughout the Pacific Ocean until returning to San Diego from its last deployment in 1972. The city of Chicago purchased the eight-ton anchor to display on the pier as a memorial to those who served in the navy and those who served on the USS Chicago.  Take a look at the photo below to see Navy Pier during WWII, when the USS Wolverine (on left) and the USS Sable were docked here!

Explore Navy Pier with this fun, interactive treasure hunt! Get ready to experience stunning views of the city skyline and Lake Michigan as you learn more about the incredible history behind one of Chicago's top tourist attractions!

Navy Pier Treasure Hunt

treasure hunt! lincoln park's hidden gems

Named after U.S. President Abe Lincoln, Lincoln Park is a 1,208-acre park situated along Lake Michigan on the North Side of Chicago, Illinois. With its manicured gardens, sweeping city views and sandy, Lake Michigan shoreline, it's a nature lovers dream. But Lincoln Park is packed with hidden treasures, from a secret garden to a mausoleum that recalls the parks' previous incarnation as a cemetery. Get ready for adventure as you unveil some of the park's hidden gems. 

I'm Amy Bizzarri, author of Discovering Vintage Chicago and 111 Places in Chicago That You Must Not Miss, both available at your local library, bookstore or on amazon.com. Follow me on Instagram @amybizzarri for my latest Chicago adventures. I'm always exploring my hometown city of Chicago, and Lincoln Park is one of my favorite neighborhoods thanks to its rich history. 

Note that some of the featured sites are only open during daytime hours, including the Lincoln Park Conservatory, the Lincoln Park Zoo and the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pond, so check the times before you go. Also, due to Covid, the Lincoln Park Zoo requires reservations at LPzoo.org as well as the Lincoln Park Conservatory at lincolnparkconservancy.org 

Couch Mausoleum - Location: The mausoleum is located hidden in the park space on the north side of the Chicago History Museum at 1601 N. Clark St. Strolling through lovely Lincoln Park with its flowers, verdant fields, ponds, and pathways, it is hard to believe that there are thousands of people buried beneath your feet. Yet the southern edge of this lakefront park did indeed serve as the city cemetery. During the 19th century, Chicago buried its dead at the many religious graveyards and family-owned gravesites here, while the Potter’s Field, located where the park’s baseball diamond is today, welcomed indigent souls. It wasn’t until 1864, after a doctor declared that it was unsafe to bury the dead so close to the lake, where bodily fluids and bacteria could so easily ooze out from the graves below to the water table, that city officials decided to relocate the bodies and turn this tranquil tract of land into a park. Workers transferred many of the deceased to other city cemeteries, but it was far too costly and difficult to remove the Couch Mausoleum, with its heavy stones fastened tightly together with copper rivets. Ira Couch arrived in Chicago from New York in 1836. A tailor by trade, wise land and real estate acquisitions made him an early Chicago millionaire. He died in 1857, while wintering in Cuba, and his body was shipped back to Chicago, where he was entombed in this iron-fenced mausoleum, only his last name carved in stone over the vault’s entrance. Other family members were likely later interred in this the family tomb, but no one knows exactly who rests eternally beside Ira. In 1998, workers digging the site for the adjacent Chicago History Museum’s parking garage in Lincoln Park (1731 N Clark Street) discovered the remains of more than 80 people, including one perfectly preserved in a sealed, 19th-century iron coffin. Ira Couch may or may not rest alone in his iron-gated tomb, but certainly many of  his unmoved contemporaries still lie buried near him in the surrounding park. Objective: Take a selfie of yourself standing before the ironclad doors of the Couch Mausoleum. 

David Kennison Gravestone - located near N. Clark Street and Wisconsin Street, in Lincoln Park - A boulder of Wisconsin granite marks the grave of David Kennison, the only other visible clue to Lincoln Park’s graveyard past, near N. Clark Street and Wisconsin Street. Though many doubt Kennison’s outrageous claims, he declared himself the last survivor of the Boston Tea Party, a scout for George Washington, a survivor of both the Battle of Bunker Hill and the massacre at Fort Dearborn – and the Daughters of the American Revolution stand by him. A plaque on the boulder states that he died at the whopping age of 115 years, 3 months and 17 days. Click the video to see a photo of David Kennison. Objective: Take picture of Kennison's Gravestone. 

Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? Stroll through a Shakespearean sonnet at the David M. McKay Memorial Garden - Located on the south edge of the Lincoln Park Zoo pond. Childhood is fleeting, a fact that every parent of a young adult knows all too well. The days are long; the years are short. On the southern end of the South Pond in Lincoln Park, a pebbled pathway meanders through a small garden. Walk along the pathway and you'll encounter four boulders with mounted plaques, each inscribed with one of the three quatrains and ending couplet that make up Shakespeare's ode to a fleeting summer day, Sonnet 18. David McKay grew up in north suburban Winnetka. In the summer of 2002, he passed away at the tender age of 22. In a 2001 interview with Chicago Tribune columnist Mary Schmich, McKay's mother Jackie described how she had tried to heal with long walks in Lincoln Park. One day she chanced upon the then-unkempt park and read the timeless sonnet. "It seemed to me to be a celebration of youth," she told Schmich. "It spoke about having life end too soon. It was very comforting to me." In memory of her beloved son, she offered to fix up and maintain the park. Introduce the English poet by walking along the pathway and reading the sonnet to your child. There are benches, perfect for enjoying a picnic, in the sunshine, amidst the flowers, many of which are mentioned by Shakespeare in his many sonnets and plays, and indulge in the beauty of Lincoln Park, where summer’s lease hath all too short a date. Click the video link to listen to the sonnet. Objective: Take a photo of your favorite stanza set in stone at this Shakespearean memorial.

Meet William Shakespeare - 2045 N Lincoln Park West, West of N. Stockton Avenue on axis with W. Belden Avenue -  When he died in 1886, Samuel Johnston, a successful north side businessman, left money in his will to create a memorial to Shakespeare in Lincoln Park. A competition was held to select a sculptor and the winner William Ordway Partridge (1861–1930), who had studied sculpture in France and Italy after a short stint as an actor, even examined a death mask that was then believed to have been authentic when he researched the famous playwright. Partridge plaster model of the William Shakespeare Monument was first displayed at the World’s Columbian Exposition of 1893. It was then cast in bronze in Paris and shipped to Chicago and unveiled on April 23, 1894, the supposed anniversary of both Shakespeare’s birth and death. At the dedication ceremony, Partridge said: “Shakespeare needs nothing of bronze. His monument is England, America, and the whole of Saxondom. He placed us upon a pedestal, but one cannot place him on one, for he belongs among the people whom he so dearly loved.” Click the video for a mini biography of Shakespeare. Objective: Take a selfie with Shakespeare! 

Meet our closest animal ancestors at the Regenstein Center for African Apes, Lincoln Park Zoo, 2001 N. Clark Street, open daily 10am-5pm, reservations required at https://www.lpzoo.org/visit/book-your-visit/. Spend some time with the chimpanzees and gorillas of the Regenstein Center for African Apes at the Lincoln Park Zoo, and you're bound to notice some surprising similarities with humans. Just like us, they live in small groups, or "troops," which we humans call families. Some apes have been observed using tools in the wild. Many have even learned to use sign language to communicate with humans. As our closest living relatives in the Animal Kingdom, apes can help us better understand ourselves. At 29,000 square feet, the $26 million center is the most expensive building ever constructed at the zoo. The space is divided into three areas: the Kovler Gorilla Bamboo Forest, the Strangler Fig Forest (which accommodates either chimpanzees or gorillas), and the Dry Riverbed Valley (which also accommodates chimpanzees or gorillas). The gorillas and chimpanzees who live there can usually be found sitting on the bamboo stands, swinging from the trees and 5,000 feet of artificial vines, or sitting outdoors on the logs (they're heated!). See if you can spot the tiniest members of the western lowland gorilla family. Born in May and June, 2019, two babies were born into a troop of seven adults, including adult females Bana and Bahati, and three juvenile females Bella, Nayembi, and Patty. Click the video link to learn more about the zoo's history.  Objective: Take a photo of a Regenstein gorilla. 

Find a rubber tree born in 1891. Lincoln Park Conservatory - 2391 N Stockton Drive  - The conservatory is open daily, 9am-5pm, reservations required at https://lincolnparkconservancy.org/conservatory-reopening/. A visit to Lincoln Park Conservatory offers a glimpse back in time: the Victorian-era glass house was built in the late nineteenth century, with four rooms displaying exotic plants from around the world. Take a moment to stroll the garden situated in front of the conservatory: it’s one of the oldest public gardens in Chicago, designed and planted in the late 1870s. See if you can find the 50-foot fiddle-leaf rubber tree dating back to 1891 (Hint: it’s located in the Palm Room.) Click the video link to learn more about the conservatory behind the scenes! Objective: Take a photo of the rubber tree!

Council Ring at the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool - 125 West Fullerton Parkway - Open daily, 7:30am-7pm. Tucked in a corner of Lincoln Park, the wild yet intimate Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool is easy to miss. This hidden oasis promises a moment of peace in the middle of a city on the move. The pool’s landscape is dotted with wild flowers and the water is often covered with water lilies in the spring. This is perhaps the best spot in the city to relax and reflect. Follow the stone walk encircling the lily pool towards the council ring rock formation. Click the video link to learn more about the history of this secret garden. Objective: Take a photo of the Council Ring. 

Stroll the Notebaert Nature Museum Trail and see if you can spot an animal! - The nature trail is located in the park space behind the Notebaert Nature Museum at 2430 N. Cannon Dr. For 160 years, the Chicago Academy of Sciences / Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum has connected people with nature and science. Inside the museum, you can interact with live animals, learn about the ecology of the Chicago region and let your imagination soar in the Judy Istock Butterfly Haven, but the grounds surrounding the museum also invite visitors to connect with urban flora and fauna. The Nature trail behind the Notebaert Nature Museum features a prairie and a pond, and is home to butterflies, ducks, geese, frogs and turtles. Stroll along the trail and see if you can spot an animal! Click the video link to learn more about the herons that call North Pond home. Objective: Take a photo of an animal in this nature oasis! There are plenty of squirrels and ducks, and you just might encounter a rarer critter, such as a white swan or turtle. 

Walk like an Egyptian at an Ancient Egyptian Temple in the heart of Lincoln Park - 2325 N. Clark Street. On November 4, 1922, British archaeologist Howard Carter discovered a step leading to a hidden tomb in the Valley of the Kings in Egypt. Later that month, he descended into the four-room chamber to discover the amazingly intact tomb of King Tutankhamun. The so-called ‘Boy King’ was entombed in three nested coffins within a stone sarcophagus. The final coffin, which held the mummified body of King Tut safe for more than 3,000 years, was made of brilliant, solid gold. Carter's discovery set off Egyptomania, a renewed interest in all things ancient Egypt. Around that same time in Chicago, the Reebie Storage and Moving Co., owned by brothers John and William Reebie, was planning to construct a new building for their business. John Reebie had visited Egypt at some point before 1921, and the brothers, inspired by Egyptian Revival architecture, decided to construct an ancient Egyptian temple of their very own, smack dab in the middle of the North Side neighborhood of Lincoln Park. Fittingly, the moving and storage company's logo became a pharaonic sphinx head. As Arthur Reebie, William's son, noted, “The Egyptians were the first moving and storage men. They floated the grain down the Nile and stored it for use during the lean times or famine.” The building's design was based on two ancient Egyptian temples, Dendera and Edfu, erected about 200 BC by Pharaoh Ramses II. Note the two statues of Ramses, representative of the two founding Reebie Brothers, that flank the entrance. See how many winged scarabs, or dung beetles, you can find on the façade. Try and test your hieroglyph reading skills too. From right to left they read, "I have put protection upon your furniture and all sealed things. I have guarded all your property every day warding off devouring flames and likewise robbery." Click the video link below to learn more about the moving company's history in Chicago. Objective: Snap a selfie while posing like an ancient Egyptian in front of this curious Clark Street temple. 

Site of St. Valentine's Massacre/Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder Co. 2121 N Clark St., Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder is open 4pm-10pm Mon-Thurs and 11am-10pm Fri-Sun. On the morning of February 14th, 1929, seven members and associates of Chicago's North Side Gang were gathered at a Lincoln Park garage that once stood here. Lined up against a wall, they were shot by four unknown assailants who were dressed like police officers at a time when gangs struggled to control organized crime in the city, namely the Irish North Siders, headed by George "Bugs" Moran, and their Italian South Side Gang rivals led by Al Capone. The garage is long gone but head across the street for one of the best pizza pies in town. Some say that some of the gang membes hid here in his historical greystone, looking out the window to watch as they soon-to-be-murdered arrived at the garage. Click the video link for more information on the infamous massacre. Objective: Take a photo of either the site of the massacre OR of your pizza pie from Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder Co. 

Discover hidden treaures in Chicago's picturesque Lincoln Park 

Treasure Hunt! Lincoln Park's Hidden Gems

chicago kids treasure hunt! chicago loop

Can you imagine a wonderland where you can...

Step on a moveable bridge? Hug a (bronze) cow? Slide down a masterpiece?

Well, guess what? You can have all of these amazing experiences right here in Chicago!
This city-wide treasure hunt promises fascinating experiences that will engage curious kids of all ages, including those of you who are kids at heart. Whether you're a local or visiting the city of Chicago for your very first time, this is your family's chance to discover some of Chicago's most incredible, yet hidden, gems! 

For this treasure hunt, instead off digging up buried loot, you'll need to take a photo of each 'treasure'! 

This is my invitation to kids and their favorite adults to get off the screens and out the door, where fun adventures galore - as well as the exciting history and culture of our amazing city - are just waiting to be discovered!

I'm Amy Bizzarri, author of 111 Places in Chicago That You Must Not Miss - Kids! You can find my book at your local library, bookstore or on amazon.com at https://www.amazon.com/Amy-Bizzarri/e/B00QMSNDOO%3Fref=dbs_a_mng_rwt_scns_share

Follow me on Instagram @amybizzarri 

Get ready for a grand adventure in Chicago!



Cows often met their brutal end in Chicago. At its peak, the 475-acre Union Stockyards slaughtered a whopping 18 million animals a year. But in the summer of 1999, a herd of cows ambled into town and were invited to stay for a spell. These weren't just any old cows. These were the Cows on Parade, a bovine bunch that reminded the city of its meat-processing past. Made of fiberglass, each of the 300 cows scattered around the city for the event boasted a distinctive dress or an original design. Inspired by a similar exhibit in Switzerland, shoe entrepreneur Peter Hanig paired up with Chicago Cultural Affairs Commissioner Lois Weisberg to bring the horned cows to Chicago. Artists were invited to choose from cows in three different poses and decorate theirs as they pleased. After the event was over, many of the cows were auctioned off for charity and went on to greener pastures. Click the video link to see more cows on parade! 

To complete this Objective: Take a selfie photo of yourself with the cow!

Milk a Bronze Cow: Cows on Parade

At the southeast section of Maggie Daley Park, beyond the skating ribbon, rock-climbing walls, picnic groves, and tennis courts, a pirate's ship, an enchanted forest, a watering hole, an imaginary harbor, and a moon crater invite kids twelve and under to jump, slide, swing, leap, hide, seek, and perhaps most importantly, imagine. The 3-acre Play Garden, the first of its kind in Chicago, is by far the coolest park in the city. Stroll the Enchanted Forest's winding pathways, lined with upside-down trees, towards the Turning Stone, a giant, upright stone that rotates on its vertical axis, so that even a small child can move it with a bit of effort. Board the pirate ship, which "floats" in the middle of “the sea," waiting patiently for little buccaneers to climb its ladders and catch fish in its nets. With a little help from the Lighthouse Tower's kid-powered beacon, talking tubes, periscopes, and spiral exit slide, pirate kids can safely steer their ship through the treacherous waves. Little ones ages 2-5 will want to cool off at the ‘Watering Hole,’ an animal-themed playground with water spray features perfect for hot summer days. The harbor is another spot for the preschool set, with its covered central marina and three full-sized play boats. Older kids will want to make a beeline to the crater, where spiral slides, wide slides, rail slides, and slides that emerge from a Play Pyramid offer hours of thrills. These are the highest and fastest slides in the city, so prepare for a grand whoosh straight down towards the (rubberized) ground. Click the video link to learn more about how this fun park was designed. 

Objective: Take a photo of the park from atop the highest slide!

Play at the Coolest Park in the City - Maggie Daley Park

When the Crown Fountain was unveiled to the public in 2004, few expected that Millennium Park's latest art installation would become Chicago's unofficial downtown water park. In 1999, the Crown family agreed to sponsor a fountain for the new park and held an informal design competition. Spanish artist Jaume Plensa's video sculpture-style fountain installation, ultra-modern yet inspired by Europe's earliest public fountains, won. Two 50-foot LED towers project video images of the faces of diverse Chicago citizens, replacing the gargoyles common in medieval-era European fountains. Every few minutes, a stream pours from their digital mouths, perfect for cooling oneself on a hot summer day. The towers are separated by a 232-foot-long stretch of black granite, where children gather to splash and play, breaking the images of the faces, sky, and city that reflect upon the 1/8 inch deep reflecting pool. In a 2017 interview with Chicago Gallery News, Plensa noted that he always checks in with his unique fountain whenever he finds himself in Chicago "to be sure that it still exists... We spent almost four years working on the project. We had so many people helping on different levels – architectural, LED screens, the water systems, the big plaza, well a lot of things. It’s funny that we had the capacity to keep everyone on my first concept. It’s really amazing. And every time I’m returning to Chicago to see the piece, I’m really happy because people completely embrace the piece, and it’s not anymore mine." Click the video link to learn more about the park's history!  

Objective: Take a photo of your feet splashing in the fountain!

Splash Away Your Cares in the Crown Interactive Fountain

When the building opened for the Exposition in May of 1893 and even when it became the Art Institute in December, it was missing a crucial feature: the two bronze lions that stand guard in front. Those weren’t unveiled until several months later, on May 10, 1894. Modeled by the sculptor Edward Kemeys, and weighing more than two tons each, they were described by Kemeys himself as “on the prowl” (the north lion) and “in an attitude of defiance” (the south). Kemeys was America’s foremost animalier, or animal sculptor, who had been inspired to teach himself sculpture when he saw an artist modeling a wolf’s head from wax at the zoo in New York’s Central Park. Originally studying animals in zoos to create his life-like replicas, he eventually began taking trips to the American West in order to observe the animals in the wild. He hunted the majestic animals found on the plains and in the mountains, dissecting them (as Leonardo Da Vinci did with human corpses) to understand their skeletal structure and musculature for his sculptures of panthers, bears, deer, jaguars, and more. The Art Institute lions are modeled on African lions, made larger than life. Since their installation, they have become icons not only of the museum but also Chicago itself, donning the hats or helmets of the city’s various sports teams and festive wreaths during the holiday season." Click the video link to learn what the lions wore to protect themselves during the pandemic! 

Watch the video to find out what the lions were wearing during the pandemic and add the answer in the box below.

Meet the Lions of the Art Institute of Chicago!

The Fine Arts Building is open to the public, free of charge, Monday – Friday 7:00 am-10:00 pm, Saturdays 7:00 am – 9:00 pm, and Sundays 9:00 am-9:00 pm)  Step inside the elevators at the Fine Arts Building, and you'll immediately notice two oddities: the lack of buttons and the human operator. The three elegant elevators are the oldest in the city, original to the building, which opened in 1885 as a factory and showroom for Studebaker carriages. Three elevators stop at each of the building's ten floors, offering the opportunity to experience how the vertical transportation device functioned before technology made the experience altogether swifter and seamless. The whirr of the engines, the clinking of the chains, and the many jolts, jerks, squeaks, and thuds make this elevator experience a mild version of the ominous ride at Walt Disney World, Tower of Terror. You'll have to wait in view of the glass windows so the operator can spot you and stop to pick you up in the first place. Then you'll have to let the operator know your destination. Many of the operators have been on the job here for so long that they've memorized frequent visitors' favorite floors by heart. In 1898, the building was converted to studio and gallery spaces, and students of the fine and performing arts have been boarding the elevator to make their way to voice classes, dance rehearsals, instrument tunings, and general inspiration for over a century. The inscription that greets visitors passing through the entrance hall is a potent reminder of the artistic passions that have been cultivated here: All Passes - Art Alone Endures. Click the video link to learn more about the famous elevators here. 

Objective: Take a photo of the antique elevator. 

Ride an Antique Elevator

Head to one of Garrett's Popcorn Shops at 4 E. Madison Street. Garrett's Hours: Sun-Thursday 10 am-8 pm and Friday-Saturday 10 am-9 pm. Garrett Popcorn Shops was started by a female entrepreneur, who developed the now-famous recipes in her family kitchen. The first shops in Chicago opened in 1949, and sold popcorn for 5 cents a bag! Ask for a sample of the iconic Chicago Mix! Click the video link to see behind-the-scenes at this iconic popcorn shop! Objective: 

To complete this objective, hit the "Guess" button below when you get there.

Sample the iconic Chicago Mix at Garrett Popcorn Shop

Composed of thousands of inlaid chips in over 250 vibrant colors, Marc Chagall's beloved mosaic, The Four Seasons, was created for and given as a gift to the people of Chicago. It stands as one of our city's most beloved public art treasures. Made in Chagall's studio in France, stones from around the world were gathered to bring the artist's bright vision to life: marbles from Italy and Belgium, granites from Brittany and Norway, green stones from the Mines of Solomon in the Sinai, stained glass from Paris and Venice, and pieces of Chicago brick. Six scenes wrapped around four sides of 70 feet (21 m) long, 14 feet (4.3 m) high, 10 feet (3.0 m) wide rectangular box portray Chicago in every season. In the winter scene, a mother lovingly holds a toddler on her lap. In the spring, a serenaded young girl dances joyously. In the summer, picnicking Chicagoans celebrate the sunshine. The harvest is gracefully gathered in autumn. Chicago motifs appear throughout the mosaic: a cow recalls the stockyards and a Ferris wheel evokes the spinning centerpiece of the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition. When asked why he chose the four seasons as his theme, the 87-year-old artist replied: "In my mind, the four seasons represent human life, both physical and spiritual, at its different stages."  

Objective: Take a photo of the SUN in the mosaic.  

See Chagall's Famous Mosaic Up Close

Can you guess what materials were used to make this sculpture? What do you think it depicts? Miró’s Chicago is a piece of public art made of steel, concrete, bronze, wire mesh and ceramic tile. It's also known as The Sun, The Moon and One Star and it's nicknamed “Miss Chicago".  This sculpture faces another iconic sculpture of the city, the Chicago Picasso and was unveiled by Jane Byrne. Click the video link to learn more about the sculptor, Joan Miro. Objective: Take a portrait photo of Miss Chicago!

Objective: Take a selfie with the sculpture!

Miro's Miss Chicago

Is it a pigeon? A skeleton? A hungry insect? An Afghan hound? Theories abound but no one knows for sure what exactly Picasso intended to portray with his iconic, unnamed, 50-foot-tall steel sculpture. Some say it's a woman's head, inspired by one of Picasso's muses, a French woman named Lydia Corbett. Others believe it depicts Picasso's friend's Afghan Hound. Some say it's a baboon's head; others believe it's an Egyptian deity. Many are convinced it's an abstract pigeon; perhaps this is what draws many of the dastardly city birds to the surrounding Daley Plaza. The renowned artist never revealed what the statue represented.  Poetry set the statue in motion when Chicago architect Richard Bennett wrote Picasso a poem asking him to make a sculpture for the city. Picasso accepted, later noting "You know I never accept commissions to do any sort of work, but in this case, I am involved in projects for the two great gangster cities" (Chicago and Marseille, France). He was offered a $100,000 payment but refused; the grand sculpture would be Picasso's gift to the city of Chicago. The beloved sculpture of today wasn't received with open arms. At the dedication ceremony on August 15, 1967, Mayor Richard J. Daley pulled a ribbon, unveiling the sculpture; despite a few hesitant applauses, the crowd mostly gasped and stood silent. Chicago Tribune columnist Mike Royko wrote that the sculpture had a "long stupid face...like some giant insect that is about to eat a smaller, weaker insect...Its eyes are like the eyes of every slum owner who made a buck off the small and weak. And of every building inspector who took a wad from a slum owner to make it all possible." Despite the crowd's silently stunned reaction, Mayor Daley had unwitting foresight when he declared, "We dedicate this celebrated work this morning with the belief that what is strange to us today will be familiar tomorrow." Click the video link to learn more about Pablo Picasso.  

Objective: Take a selfie with Chicago's Picasso!

Slide down the base of the Chicago Picasso

Note: The McCormick Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum is open Wednesday-Sunday 10 am-5 pm through October 26, 2024. General admission runs $8/adult, $6/ages 6-12 and free for ages 5 and under.)  Visit https://www.bridgehousemuseum.org/ for complete info.

The Chicago River is a winding, wonderful and wacky body of water. It flows backward, right through the heart of Chicago, linking Lake Michigan to the Mississippi and the Gulf of Mexico. Not only does it get dyed bright green on St. Patrick’s Day, but it also has its own incredible, unique bridges that open and close to traffic, as well as its very own troupe of water taxis. Located on the south end of Michigan Avenue, the museum begins at river level and spirals five stories up. This one-of-a-kind museum takes you inside a Chicago drawbridge, where you’ll have the chance to see firsthand all the large and small gears that so elegantly lift our city’s bridges. Educational exhibits showcase the history of both the river as well as the science and technology behind it all. Be sure to climb to the tippy top of the Bridgehouse, where you’ll be treated to a splendid 360-degree view of both the city and the river. 

Click the video link to see Chicago's movable bridges in action. 

Objective: Take a photo of your feet on the moveable bridge!

Cross one of Chicago's iconic movable bridges and visit Chicago's smallest museum

A kid-friendly, city wide treasure hunt that will introduce you to some of the city's most incredible hidden gems!

Chicago Kids Treasure Hunt! Chicago Loop

dolly parton tour of nashville 

She was born in a tiny cabin on the banks of the Little Pigeon River in eastern Tennessee and moved to Nashville the day after she graduated from Sevier County High School in 1964. Dolly Parton went on to become the “Queen of Country Music,” composing at least 5,000 songs to date. Since releasing her debut album, Hello, I’m Dolly, in 1996, Dolly Parton has changed the face of the music industry, breaking glass ceilings in both country and pop music with her powerful voice. 
Visitors to Music City can still experience the places where she made her mark—from the studios where she recorded her first albums to the clubs where she sang her heart out, to the many places inspired by her glamorous style and no-nonsense outlook on life. This tour showcases all the Nashville sites associated with Dolly Parton, from the honky tonk where she tested her songs and her wits to a sleek rooftop bar inspired by her unique style. 
The best time to take this tour is during daytime hours. The first five destinations can easily be reached by foot, but the last three are a bit further away: your best bet is to travel to them via one of Nashville's many e-scooters, found at docking stations across the city; ride share or car. 

Country Music Walk of Fame

Legends Corner 

Tootsie's World Famous Orchid Lounge

The Ryman Auditorium

Printer's Alley

RCA Studio B

Arnold's Country Kitchen

Graduate Hotel Rooftop

Meet the Queen of Country - Dolly Parton! - by touring the Nashville places that are associated with one of Tennessee's brightest stars.   

Dolly Parton Tour of Nashville 

discover the sweet & secret side of disney springs! 

This fun tour will unveil some of the secrets of the Springs, with stops at four sweet spots for refueling on the way.

Aerophile Giant Balloon -
Up, up and away!


The Ganachery - Exotic Truffles Hotspot 

 Cupcake ATM - Satisfy your sweet tooth 24/7

Gideon’s Bakehouse - the haunted mansion of cookies

Vivoli il Gelato - the best ice cream outside of Italy

Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar -
“Come on! Show a little backbone, will ya?!”


Amphicars -
Drive and dive


Take a step off the well-worn tourist path and explore the sweet, secret side of Disney Springs. 

Amy Bizzarri

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