Goose Island holiday ale

Wine may be the more common seasonal libation, but Goose Island brewery provides another means to be merry.  Every month, Chicago’s premier craft brewery hosts a beer academy that allows participants to indulge in a range of custom blended brews.  This month’s workshop features the festive theme of holiday brews.

On December 28 at 6:30 PM, the Beer Academy kicks off at the Goose Island brewery on Clybourne.

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Biking Chicago

Chicago is a great scenic city and the views are best appreciated up close and in motion. Biking is one of my favorite ways to enjoy Chi-town, which is pretty bike friendly.  You’ll see lots of bikers whizzing down Lake Shore Drive but I don’t recommend that for tourists. If you want to gaze at Windy City landmarks as well as roll down the lively streets, a bike tour is just what you need. One of the city’s most engaging bike tours is “Bikes, Bites and Brews” at Bobby’s Bike Hike.  You really haven’t seen Chicago unless you’ve tasted it as well. Read More »

The argument could be made that Philadelphia is the birthplace of the America. It was here that the Declaration of Independence was written, signed and read in 1776, and the Constitution would later be drafted and signed in the same building. A trip to Philadelphia is a great way for kids (and adults who have been away from a classroom for decades) to learn more about how a handful of British colonies came to be the United States of America.

Carpenters’ Hall – The Very Beginning

Although many guidebooks will direct visitors to start their trip at Independence National Park, the events that took place there would not have been possible without the gatherings held in the middle of the night at Carpenter’s Hall. In this building, the would-be founders came together in secret to discuss things like liberty and treason, risking their lives to do so.

Independence Hall

Once you’ve gotten an appreciation for what was risked, it’s time to learn more about how and where our version of democracy came to be. Independence Hall is free to tour, but timed tickets must be picked up at the Independence Hall Visitors’ Center. The ticketed tour will take you through the building where both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed. Although much of the furniture in the room has no historical significance other than looking like it belongs, you can see the chair in which General George Washington sat when he presided over the negotiations that would result in our Constitution.

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Chicago Lake Street Bridge

My advice is often requested by visitors and tourists for what to do and see in Chicago. As a born and bred Chicagoan,  I’m pretty persnickety about what passes for essential Chicago sights. You’ll never hear me telling people to head to the Magnificent Mile or to check out Navy Pier.  Yes, both  of these spots are popular Windy City attractions but neither of these glitzy destinations truly define Chicago.  If you only had a  day to grab a sense of Chicago history and attitude, these are the five things I’d suggest for your itinerary: Read More »