BY LEENTJE DE LEEUW
BRIGHT LIGHTS NEAR THE BIG CITY (3 DAYS)
Day 1: Retail Therapy Begins
Start with shopping in Libertyville, Gurnee, and beyond. MainStreet Libertyville offers local charm and unique boutiques, while Gurnee Mills boasts over 160 stores. Try Kaiser’s Pizza or The Shanty in Wadsworth. Splash and stay at Gurnee’s Great Wolf Lodge or enjoy Santa’s Rock N Lights in Grayslake.
Day 2: Shop ‘Til You Drop Continues
Visit Woodfield Mall, Illinois’ largest shopping center. Explore The Streets of Woodfield, dine at Medieval Times or Wildfire Schaumburg, and immerse yourself in Illumination at The Morton Arboretum or Holiday Magic at Brookfield Zoo.
Day 3: Retail Bliss & More
Conquer Rosemont’s Fashion Outlets, Oakbrook Center, or Yorktown Center. Savor lunch at Everdine’s Handcrafted Grilled Cheese Co. in Aurora and grab deals at Chicago Premium Outlets.
Merry And Magnificent Chicago (3 days)
Day 1: Winter Wonderland Magic
Start at the Museum of Science and Industry with Christmas Around the World and Holidays of Light. Explore Macy’s windows, dine at the Walnut Room, and enjoy Lou Malnati’s or Giordano’s pizza. Visit The Art Institute, Millennium Park, and ice skate at Maggie Daley Park. Witness ART on the MART and dine at Fulton Market or Mickey Finn’s.
Day 2: Magnificent Mile Shopping
Discover The Magnificent Mile with the Shops at North Bridge, American Girl Place, and Burberry. Sip coffee at Starbucks Reserve Chicago Roastery, try Garrett Popcorn Shops or Nutella Cafe Chicago. Experience The Nutcracker and choose between Lincoln Park Zoo’s ZooLights or Chicago Holiday Lights Segway Tour. Dine at The Cheesecake Factory, Grand Lux Cafe, or Butch McGuire’s.
Day 3: A Festive Farewell
Start your day at Lou Mitchell’s for a classic diner breakfast. Explore the traditional German Christkindlmarket for unique holiday gifts, roasted nuts, pretzels, sausages, and hot spiced wine. Bid farewell to Chicago, cherishing the memories of this merry and magnificent holiday escapade.
For more trip ideas and inspiration, visit enjoyillinois.com