Favorite Midwest Road Trips

On August 25, 2017 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Illinois, Michigan, Missouri, US Travel, Wisconsin4 Comments

I love the Midwest. I was born here, raised here, and it’s here where I gained my love for travel. My family has always had the travel bug, and we often explored towns closest to us as our family vacations. Once I started traveling and branching out on my own, naturally I chose to explore this region first. I haven’t been everywhere of note in the Midwest quite yet, but I have amassed a list of my favorite Midwest road trips that are tried and true. If you’re in the Midwest and are looking for a fantastic weekend trip, these destinations would fit the bill perfectly. Without further ado, here they are:

Milwaukee, WI – An easy hour and a half drive up Route 94 from Chicago, Milwaukee is the perfect place for a quick weekend getaway. Between the lakefront, the breweries and the amazing restaurants, you’re in for a treat. When we were there last summer, I fell in love with the Milwaukee Art Museum, Lakefront Brewery and the Milwaukee Public Market.
Warren Dunes, MI – The Warren Dunes (not to be confused with the Dunes in Indiana, which in my opinion are not as pretty) are a short-ish (2 hours) drive from Chicago. The State Park is beautifully maintained and makes for a lovely day at the beach. Bring a blanket and a picnic to make a day out of it, and if you want to spend the night, you can camp in the park as well.
Starved Rock/Matthiessen State Parks, IL – Speaking of camping, you can hike one or both of these parks in one weekend, especially if you camp near by like we did. Both parks are completely stunning, but Starved Rock offers a little more in terms of trails and lodging. Matthiessen State Park is a hiking wonderland filled with inventive bridges over streams and beautiful canyons. You can do either as a day trip as well, if you’re strapped for time.
Cedarburg, WI – Taking a trip to Cedarburg is like going back to a simpler time. It’s a super cute town just north of Milwaukee with super cute restaurants and shops. We visited this lovely destination after Kayaking the Milwaukee River and had fantastic burgers at Morton’s Wisconsin Restaurant. I’ve been trying to plan a weekend trip here ever since.
Grand Rapids, MI – It’s no secret that I love Grand Rapids; it’s one of my favorite cities in the U.S. It has all of my favorite things: breweries, antique stores and a great live music scene. I’ve been there twice in the past two years and each time we’ve found new reasons to love it. It’s an excellent choice for a fantastic weekend away.
St. Louis, MO – While St. Louis is a little bit longer of a haul from Chicago, it is definitely worth the trip. It has history, (more) breweries, baseball and beautiful parks. I had such fun time exploring this fun city, and I can’t wait to go again to hit the spots I missed. I would recommend going to a Cardinals Game, the City Museum, Delmar Loop and Four Hands brewery.
Galena, IL – Galena is wonderful. There’s no other way to put it. The city is nestled in between hills and the Galena River and has a rich history, being the home of Ulysses S. Grant. The Helluva Half Mile is a stretch of shops, restaurants and bars and runs right through downtown Galena. Pick any of the great B&Bs (I would recommend the Lamberson Guest House) in the area to stay for a weekend away and you’ll be in for a treat.
Lake Geneva, WI – Growing up, we spent many summer weekends cruising around Geneva Lake in Lake Geneva. Besides housing one of the best lakes in the Midwest for boating and swimming, the town of Lake Geneva also has some super cute hotels, restaurants and stores. Plus, it’s just an hour and a half drive from Chicago, which makes it a convenient weekend or day trip. My favorite part of the city is the trail around the lake, which is a peaceful walking path from which you can view all of the very large and very beautiful houses on the water.

What are your favorite Midwest road trips? Where’s your favorite Midwest destination?

Top Five Friday, Favorite Chicago Restaurants, RebeccaWanderlusting

Top Five Friday #17

On March 30, 2017 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Illinois, Top Five Friday3 Comments

Favorite Chicago Restaurants

As much as I love to cook, I love letting someone else cook for me even more. There are obviously a ton of fantastic restaurants in Chicago, and I haven’t even gotten close to trying them all. However, I do have my favorites. These restaurants are our go-tos, the ones we frequent when we can’t decide on anywhere else or we want to go somewhere we know the food will always be excellent. Because Mike and I have discovered a lot of these restaurants together, they have come to be our happy places. We have plenty of great memories at each one. So, without further ado, here are my favorite Chicago restaurants, in no particular order:

Honky Tonk: We will make the trek to Pilsen any night of the week to get a delicious barbecue dinner from Honky Tonk. Besides the food, one of the best parts of Honky Tonk is the bacon and brew (a decadent piece of candied bacon atop a pint of OldStyle beer) and the live music. Mike and I like to split the goat cheese salad and the barbecue platter with macaroni and cheese and coleslaw. The food is so damn good. Pro-Tip: head to Punch House down the street for a cocktail after dinner.
Takito Kitchen: Come for the tacos and stay for the margaritas! This fantastic taco joint is located in Wicker Park. We have tried a good amount of the tacos here and I can tell you that they are all delicious. My favorite are the pork belly tacos. The salsas and avocado pine nut puree make for a great start to a fantastic meal, and the atmosphere is fun and comfortable. As for the drinks, try the cucumber margarita and you won’t regret it!
Furious Spoon: Where else can you get amazing ramen with a side of old school hip hop? Like the Shoyu Ramen with a Kirin on the side. This place is responsible for my newborn obsession with ramen, and the reason I started trying to make it at home. There are two Furious Spoon locations, one in Wicker Park and one in Logan Square, and both are fantastic. I prefer the one in Wicker Park because it is directly across the street from my favorite book store: Myopic Books.
Geja’s Café: Geja’s is probably the most romantic restaurant I’ve ever been to. If it isn’t the suave waiters or the Spanish guitar player, it’ll be the large pot of melted cheese that does you in. Mike and I like to split the beef tenderloin and scallops, but all the meals come with cheese fondue, salad, veggies and chocolate fondue and coffee to top it all off. Located in Lincoln Park, this idyllic date spot will provide you with so much food, you might need a nap afterwards.
Yuzu: If you are looking for the most beautiful and delicious sushi rolls, Yuzu is the place to go. Not only does this West Town gem serve the best sushi and robata, it’s also BYOB. The art on the walls and the atmosphere are super fun. Try the My Favorite Midwest Roll and you won’t be sorry. Pro-Tip: make a reservation as this place gets super busy, but for very good reason!

Have you been to Chicago? What is your favorite Chicago restaurant?

Luminaria at Lamberson Guest House, Galena, RebeccaWanderlusting

A Weekend in Galena – Part 2

On December 18, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Illinois, US Travel4 Comments

Our first full day in Galena was jam-packed with activities, all leading up to the Night of the Luminaria. We met Rose, of Visit Galena, and the last additions to our group, Max and Natalie, that morning at the Lamberson Guest House before Rose drove us all to Victory Cafe for breakfast. It was a perfectly cozy, small-town diner kind of place, with things like plate-sized pancakes and biscuits and gravy (my favorite) on the menu.

We all sat at a large round table in the window, having at least three different conversations at once at any given time. Though we were still all strangers, it felt comfortable to be sitting at a diner sharing a meal. After breakfast, we piled back into the van and took tours of both the Chestnut Mountain Resort and the Eagle Ridge Resort, which were both bustling due to the snow.

Both properties were gorgeous and catered to their own kind of clientele; Chestnut Mountain being more of a ski resort and Eagle ridge speaking more to the golf/spa/luxury crowd. In the summer, Chestnut Mountain has a unique zip line experience that I would absolutely love to come back and try.

After the resort tours, we moved on to Galena Cellars for a tour and a tasting. Our tour guide was a feisty, knowledgeable woman, who, once we were about to go outside, casually threw on a fur coat the size of a small car. She walked us through the vineyard, despite the snow and empty vines, and gave us some history on the winery and it’s owners.

We also got to see where the wine is fermented and barreled, and the bottling room. Once we were back inside the tasting room/store, she taught us her 5 S’s of wine tasting: see, swirl, sniff, sip and slurp. We were tasting their Seyval Blanc, which I would be happy to take more than one sip of!

From the winery, we moved on to lunch at Fried Green Tomatoes, an Italian Restaurant, which was in a building that used to house Ulysses S. Grant’s family’s leather shop. They sat us at a table in the middle of their main dining room, beneath a beautiful chandelier.

We could see the snow really starting to come down outside, making the street, in all it’s holiday cheer, look like scene from a postcard. They started us out with some wine and bread with olive oil and I knew we were in the right place. Mike and I shared the prime rib wrap and the Tuscan Mac and Cheese, and both options were fantastic.

After lunch, we had a few hours to ourselves before the Night of the Luminaria began. We browsed through the other half of the Helluva Half Mile, stopping into most of the shops and doing some Christmas shopping. On this side of Main Street, the stores we liked the most were Peace of the Past North, Stamp and Ink, and the Galena Garlic Company.

We ran back up to the Lamberson Guest House to drop off our bags, and ended up falling asleep for an hour which caused us to miss wine and cheese hour this time, much to my disappointment. We rushed out to see the living windows displays and all the candles, which lit up the town.

There were candles in their white bags lining every surface in town, and that coupled with the snow made everything look so beautiful. We walked across the pedestrian bridge to Grant Park to admire the statues and canons in the candlelight.

The park was a perfect winter wonderland with a beautiful view of downtown across the river. We walked back to Main Street and met the group at the DeSoto House, first for a drink in their Green Street Tavern and then for dinner downstairs in the General’s Restaurant.

Desoto House was built in 1855 and is the state’s oldest operating hotel. The restaurant was downstairs from the lobby and through an open courtyard with a beautiful Christmas tree in the center. In the restaurant, we sat down to order, starting with a couple bottles of wine for the table. I ordered the scallops for dinner, and they were so good that I forgot to take a picture until I was about half way through (whoops!).

Everything was cooked so perfectly and it was so good. I’m pretty sure everyone in the group was a member of the clean plate club, despite all the other meals we had that day. Everyone was in good spirits and talking animatedly. This was my first trip of this kind, and I am very grateful that I was enjoying it with such a fun group. After dinner, the group dispersed, with most of them heading back to Lamberson, and Mike and I going out to a bar called Gobbie’s for karaoke.

The heavy snow made it a slow night at the bar, but the karaoke was still going, and it was quite the sight to behold. The drinks there were good and decently priced. Rose met us for a drink before heading back home, and it was really nice to get to know her better, especially because we are both apart of the Bey Hive. After our drinks, we headed back to our respective homes (or temporary homes).

The Lamberson Guest House has a good library of DVDs to borrow, so Mike and I headed up to our room for some Captain American and a game of rummy and called it a night. The next morning, we awoke to the sounds of breakfast being made and came downstairs to find that our hosts had made us a three course meal for breakfast. From scratch. The menu included, a homemade gingerbread muffin with whipped cream cheese butter, a fruit salad with lemon poppy seed dressing (atop which sat a kiwi in the shape of a pine tree), and an omelet torte (which I was assured there was only eggs in the bottom and I could eat the top of).

The food was so good, and Brian and Michelle were very attentive while serving it. I was so tempted to stuff a few of those delicious muffins in my purse and run. I need to get the recipe. I don’t know how Michelle had time to prepare such a feast, but I hope she knows that it was the best breakfast we’ve had in a while! After we finished, Chris from Visit Galena showed up and had to roll us out to the van, one by one.

We drove over to the Ulysses S. Grant House for a tour. It was still snowing, and the big brick house looked so pretty. The inside of the house is filled with items that once belonged to the former president, or were replicas of things he had once owned. Our tour guide was sweet and had her presentation down to a science.

My favorite part of the house was the carpet/wallpaper combo, and the statue of Julia Dent Grant out front. Mike and I ran through the deepening snow to take pictures of it, and consequently, got the best view of Galena from where she stands.

After the tour, we decided to head back to Chicago because of the weather. We made the very snowy drive home at a snail’s pace, giving us more time to gush over our time in Galena. Who knew that this little city just three hour’s drive from Chicago would make for such an amazing trip.

Thank you to Visit Galena and the Lamberson Guest House for giving us such a wonderful, relaxing weekend!!

Mystic Blue Cruises, Chicago, RebeccaWanderlusting

Boats & Blogs

On August 19, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Illinois, US Travel1 Comment

This past Tuesday, I was lucky enough to take part in a Lake Michigan Cruise with Mystic Blue Cruises. This event, which was put on by The Windy City Blogger Collective, was attended by some amazing Chicago Bloggers. I was so happy to take part in it for a multitude of reasons, but the top two reasons were: 1.) I was able to chit chat and network with some bloggers I admire, and 2.) this was one of the items on my 26 in 26 list (and I gleefully check marked it as soon as I got home).

I rushed to Navy Pier after work, afraid I was going to quite literally miss the boat, but I just made it. The boat departed at 6:30pm, pulling away from the pier and headed out into the lake. It was an absolutely gorgeous evening, a gracious departure from the gloomy clouds that hung over the city in the morning.

The wonderful Mystic Blue staff provided us with delicious snacks and libations, which were enjoyed on the upper deck of the massive boat. The cruise moved south first, towards the Museum Campus. We cruised along, unhurriedly, parallel to the skyline.

As we moved, the sun set behind the buildings, and the sky changed colors in a slow, beautiful transition. Once we reached the area around the Museum Campus, the Mystic Blue boat turned around and headed back the way we came.

The views were stunning, and, being the bloggers that we are, every single person on the boat had their cameras and phones trained towards the skyline or out towards the lake.

Once we passed Navy Pier on our way towards North Avenue Beach, the sun had almost fully set. The group was enjoying the snacks and drinks, playing giant jenga and mingling.

As we made our final turnaround to return to Navy Pier, it was full dark and the city lights were on and welcoming. We returned to the pier and went on our own ways. It was a wonderful event and such a beautiful evening. Thank you to Mystic Blue Cruises and Windy City Blog Collective for hosting!

If you’re interested in booking this cruise, head to Mystic Blue Cruises’ Website.

Have you ever been on a Lake Michigan cruise? Which one did you choose?

Matthiessen State Park, Hiking, RebeccaWanderlusting

Hiking in Matthiessen State Park

On August 2, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Illinois, US Travel4 Comments

Located in the town of Oglesby, IL, Matthiessen State Park is about an hour and a half drive from Chicago. We arrived in the very cute town of Utica at just around lunch time. We stopped in their tiny but picturesque downtown area to have lunch at Canal Port, a restaurant/bar with a great beer and whiskey selection. We both ordered sandwiches, which served as excellent pre-hike fuel.

We also stopped at Mill Street Market to pick up some ice and firewood for our campsite. The store had general grocery items and all the last minute camping supplies you could want/didn’t know you needed, like extendable forks for cooking over the fire. From there, we drove to the park, which is just past Starved Rock State Park. We had to park in the overflow parking lot in the Delta Area of the park, so we went into our hike knowing that it might be a little crowded. And it was, near the entrance to the trail and at the base of the waterfalls, but along the trails, we didn’t pass very many people.

As we walked up to the trails, we passed the “fort”, a log cabin building that was currently hosting a graduation party, and walked down a flight of stairs and across a bridge to a fork in the road. We chose to hike the Upper Dells trail first, a path that took us up past one canyon and down into another. The stairs led down into the moss-covered rock canyons, the walls rippling upwards, pockmarked with small caves. The creek running through the canyon was shallow and clear.

We followed the creek towards a small waterfall that we had to cross rocks and 2x4s to get too, only to realize that there was another, larger waterfall beyond it. To get the larger waterfall, we stripped off our shoes and socks and walked through the creek. We zigzagged across to each side until we got up to the bottom of the waterfall, the view was absolutely stunning. At the moment we reached the waterfall, it started to rain, and it didn’t fully stop for the rest of our time in the state park.

Luckily, the foliage above provided great coverage for most of the trails. After slipping our shoes back on, we climbed up a set of stairs that led out of the canyon and over a bridge that stood directly above the falls. On the other side of this bridge, there is a dirt, illegitimate path that takes you up to the side of the waterfall and provides a gorgeous view, too good to miss. The actual path from the bridge leads through the woods back to the fort again, in a roundabout way.

We took the other path next, to the Lower Dells. The path brought us directly to yet another set of stairs, leading down to another bridge. We crossed, went down another set of stairs, and that’s when it really started to rain. The bottom of this canyon was 100% mud, and the rain made it one big mess.

After a pep talk from Michael, we went through it towards the next waterfall anyways, despite the obstacle. It really is a miracle that neither of us didn’t fall face first into the muck. We picked our way carefully across the well trampled path, and splashed through the streams to rinse off our shoes. The last waterfall seemed to be the most beautiful because it was the hardest to get to.

It had the largest pool at the bottom of it, people were swimming, kids were sliding down the rocks and everyone seemed determined to ignore the rain. The caves around the cave were climbable and fun to explore. We crawled through them, dodging ankle-twisting holes and daddy long legs.

The way back to the head of the trail was just as slippery and treacherous, but we made it! Those stairs were a little bit harder on the way up then down, and by the time we made it back to the fort, we were exhausted. We headed back to the car, ready to start the second leg of our adventure, camping at KOA campground.

Have you ever been to Matthiessen State Park? Which trail was your favorite?

Up North, Maiden Lake, WI, RebeccaWanderlusting

Up North: A Photo Blog

On July 5, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn US Travel, Wisconsin6 Comments

Of all the places I have traveled, my favorite place of all can be found Up North. A tiny town on a beautiful lake, hours on the boat spent with family, home cooked meals, what more could a girl ask for? I’ve written about Maiden Lake before, but this time I will let the photos do (most of) the talking.

Picture this: A gravel driveway leads to a picturesque cabin perched on a hill overlooking a beautiful lake. The front door leads to a homey kitchen flanked by a bedroom, bathroom and living room, all of which are cozy as can be. At the back of the first floor is a fairly new screened in porch, perfect for catching a glimpse of the true blue lake below or snagging a quick cat nap. Above and below the first floor are more beds to sleep the multitude of house guests that flock to this Midwest Paradise.

From the porch, a thin stone-lined path leads down to a semi-private cove of Maiden Lake; the trees swaying in the light breeze flash views of the cobalt water as you move down the path. Once at the shoreline, the lazy waves from the speedboats racing by lap at the rocks, creating a unique melody.

In the early morning, before the speed boats are allowed to create a wake, the lake is perfect for kayaking, paddle boarding, or swimming across. The water is calm and it’s glassy surface perfectly reflects the sky above. You could paddle into the center of the lake and almost feel like you’re the only person around.

Once the boat is loaded with all the chips, dips, snacks and booze it can carry,we cruise around the lake, tubing and water-skiing. This was the first year ever that I was able to get up on the skis and take a few turns around the lake. It was exhausting and so gratifying.

In the middle of the day, when the sun is especially hot, we anchor on an edge of the lake to mix the cocktails and go for a swim. The water in Maiden Lake is as clean and cool as they come. The neighbors’ boats circle around the lake as we watch, riding out the waves they make while we talk and laugh and dive into the water to cool off.

The evening activities typically include wine by the lake, sunset cruising, delicious meals, boat parades and perhaps some fireworks. Whatever we choose to do, it is always relaxing and revolves around enjoying the cabin and the lake.

Every year that we make the trip Up North, it seems that I want to stay longer and longer. You can’t beat the peacefulness, the fresh air, the hours spent out on the water… I’ve said it once, and I’ll say it again, I can’t wait until next year.

Grand Rapids, MI – Day 1

On April 19, 2016 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Michigan, US Travel6 Comments

I don’t know if it’s because of the first reappearance of warm weather or all of the brewery visits, but I absolutely loved our time in Grand Rapids, MI. While it was a pretty short trip, we certainly made the most of our time there. We left early Saturday morning after stopping for coffee, and arrived in Grand Rapids around noon (because of the hour time difference). We started at the Frederik Meijer Sculpture Garden, where it seemed everyone else was starting as well.

There was a line to get in, a $14.50 entrance fee and another line to move through the butterfly sanctuary. BUT! Once we got outside into the sculpture garden proper, we were very happy. The walk through the park was really, truly lovely. The weather was perfect and the sculptures were spread throughout the park so there wasn’t so much of a crowd.

We waltzed through the sculptures and headed to the Japanese Garden to walk around the pond. It was beautiful and tranquil. The walk took us past multiple waterfalls, a gorgeous gazebo, a Japanese Tea House, and a life-size zen garden.

After we had taken it all in, we decided we deserved some lunch and headed to the Electric Cheetah. There was a twenty minute wait, which we spent out in the sunshine. Once we were seated, we perused their extensive root beer list and both chose the Brix Soda Co. The root beer gave us enough pep to devour our amazing “Hot Goat Blast” (goat cheese, cream cheese, veggies and naan) appetizer.

For the main course, I ordered the “I’m not your bro, bro” sandwich which was chicken, bacon, and provolone deliciousness, and Mike had a gigantic reuben sandwich. The Electric Cheetah was everything I wanted it to be: fun décor, delicious food, great service, and root beer to spare. After lunch, we walked down the block to The Sparrows coffee shop for a little more caffeine. The café was super cute inside and they have a bevy of unique periodicals and magazines. They also have an outdoor seating area that was perfect for days like the one we were enjoying.

From there we zipped over to the highly anticipated (to me, anyways) antique stores. As we approached the large warehouse across from the Amtrak Station, I thought perhaps our Google Maps had made a mistake. But no, this HUGE warehouse was just what we were looking for and was chock-full of antiques. I couldn’t wait to explore it. The warehouse was comprised of three different shops: Warehouse One, Lost + Found, and Century Antiques.

I loved exploring the zig-zagging booths of antiques, piled high in Warehouse One and Century, but I really loved the beautifully curated antiques and furniture at Lost + Found. Though rummaging the booths and treasure hunting are a few of my favorite things, there’s something to be said for a well laid out antique store.

Once I had my fill of heirlooms and trinkets, we headed to our hotel to check in. I know I said we were staying at the City Flats Hotel, but it turns out they had overbooked themselves and needed to bump our reservation. So Mike upgraded us to The JW Marriott Grand Rapids instead.

Our room was gorgeous. It had a huge fluffy bed, a city view and a prime shower. Needless to say, we were pretty happy with the change. After reading ourselves for a night on the town, we hit the road. We drove over to Brewery Vivant in the East Hills Neighborhood first. It is a beautiful brewery, with a great outdoor area and a regal dining room with stained glass windows.

We ordered the Vivant taster which included the Farm Hand, Triomphe, Big Red Coq, and Undertaker beers. We also got the marinated olives and the bone marrow to go with our beverages. It was my first time trying bone marrow and I hate to admit it, but it wasn’t for me. Mike liked it though. The beers, however, were all amazing. We bought a 4-pack of the Undertaker to bring home with us.

From there we parked back at the hotel and walked over to Founder’s Brewery. As it turned out, we were there the night of their annual Black Party, celebrating the success of their black beers (stouts, porters…). We bee-lined for the bar and ordered a couple ales (palm reader for me) and settled in to enjoy the live music.
The band, The Animal Years, was fantastic! In fact, they were so good, we are going to see them again on Thursday here in Chicago.

We stuck around until the end of their set and then headed to our next brewery: Grand Rapids Brewing Co. I ordered the Violet MacMillan, a cranberry beer that tasted like ale mixed with cranberry Sprite in a really delicious way. At this point in the night, we were ready for something cheesy, so we ordered a couple of small plates. We got the BBQ quesadilla and a chorizo pizza bread concoction that really hit the spot. The atmosphere of this brewery was more sports bar-like than the other two, but we enjoyed our time there and Mike was happy he could catch up with the hockey game on that night. Our last stop on our self-guided brewery tour was The BOB, a multilevel super bar situated in downtown Grand Rapids. We started in their brewery on the basement level where I tried the Blondie beer and discovered where my craft beer limit ends.

We made our way up to the rooftop that we spotted from the street, walking past what looked like some sort of rave and multiple bachelorette parties. The floor with the roof top terrace provided city views and a sliver of the Grand River. We sat and drank our beers and gushed over the beautiful city. More beer, 14 holes of Golden Tee and a truly awful cover band later, we headed back to the hotel to crash into our heavenly cloud of a bed.

To be continued…

Randolph Street Market, Chicago: A Photo Blog

On June 29, 2015September 9, 2015 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Illinois, US TravelLeave a comment

Randolph Street Market, Chicago:
A Photo Blog

If you’re ever lucky enough to find yourself in Chicago the same weekend as Randolph Street Market, take it as a sign and high tail it over to Randolph and Ada Streets. This festival happens one weekend a month, every month, and is a modge-podge of vintage, hand-made and curated goods. Though there is a $10 fee to enter the market, the browsing alone is well worth it (check www.livingsocial.com for discounts!). We saw everything from bowling pins to records to dinosaur succulent planters (no, I’m not kidding, and yes, they were amazing. Website: www.nestchicago.com ) and much more in-between. The market occupied a large outdoor parking lot, as well as the Chicago Plumber’s Hall building. There’s plenty of food stands of all tastes to keep you nourished for many hours of perusing, and adult beverages if boozy buying is your thing. I particularly enjoyed the large selection of vintage jewels and was on the look-out for the PERFECT cameo necklace the entire time, which I did not find but had tons of fun looking through everything in my search. I would love to go on and on about how amazing everything at Randolph Street Market was, but I think I can let the pictures do the work for me. For upcoming markets and more information see: www.randolphstreetmarket.com .

Until next time, Randolph Street Market; I will definitely be back.

Randolph Street Market Photo Blog

On June 29, 2015 By rebeccawanderlustingIn Illinois, US Travel1 Comment

If you’re ever lucky enough to find yourself in Chicago the same weekend as Randolph Street Market, take it as a sign and high tail it over to Randolph and Ada Streets. This market/food extravaganza happens one weekend a month, every month, all year, and is a modge-podge of vintage, hand-made and curated goods. Though there is a $10 fee to enter the market ($8 on the market website), the browsing alone is well worth it (check livingsocial for discount tickets!). We saw everything from full sets of bowling pins to used records to dinosaur succulent planters (no, I’m not kidding, and yes, they were amazing.) and much more in-between. The market occupies the Chicago Plumber’s Hall Building, as well as the large outdoor parking lot next to it. There’s plenty of food stands of all tastes to keep you nourished for many hours of perusing, and adult beverages if boozy buying is your thing. I particularly enjoyed the large selection of vintage jewels and was on the look-out for the PERFECT cameo necklace the entire time, which I did not find but had tons of fun looking through everything in my search. There were vintage board games, vintage Chanel, typewriters, and so much more. It took about three hours for me to get my fill of browsing these goodies, so plan on spending an afternoon at the market if/when you go. I would love to go on and on about how amazing everything at Randolph Street Market was, but I think I can let the pictures do the work for me. For upcoming market dates and more information, click here.