Less Is More: How to Make 48 Hours Count in Chicago

Head to the Riverwalk for a different perspective on the Chicago skyline. (Photo: Getty Images)

By Sherry Ott / Ott’s World

The sun looked like a giant nectarine as it rose with soft orange and pink glows, lighting up the clouds and bouncing off of Lake Michigan. It almost seemed as if rainbow sherbet had melted in the sky. As I ran along the lakefront path with a number of other athletic Chicagoans, I thought what a shame it was that I didn’t have a camera — but sometimes these moments are better left to the memory rather than a memory card.

If you have 48 hours in a city, you often feel like you have to jam in everything in a short time. However, this trip I decided to slow down and spend more time just looking around, to focus on the idea that less is more. What can you do in 48 hours in Chicago? Turns out, quite a lot.

Where to Stay

First, I needed to find a place to stay. I was drawn to one of the most distinct buildings in the Chicago skyline — people know it as the Aqua building. There are no stuffy right angles here, just flowing, undulating curves! Of course with all of these curves the building had to be designed by a woman — right? The 81 story Aqua building is the tallest building designed by a woman-owned architectural firm and the first skyscraper from Chicago’s Jeanne Gang, of Studio Gang Architects.

Undulating and curvy — the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel is eye-catching inside and out. (Photo: Sherry Ott)

The inside of the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel was designed to feel welcoming and homey. Designer Jim Hamilton gave a nod to Chicago when he selected elements that represented Chicago’s history and feel. The signage around the hotel is made of wood and nods to Chicago’s printing history, and the Filini Restaurant and Bar is held up by steel beams paying homage to Chicago’s reputation as the birthplace of the skyscraper. The lobby has a warm welcome feel to it with a long modern fireplace and reclaimed Chicago brickwork.

My room had a gorgeous balcony view that wrapped around one of the corners of the building and looked down upon the pool and outdoor running track. I honestly spend a number of hours wrapped up in my robe and slippers simply slowing down and enjoying the room and view.

My view from the groovy balcony at the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel. (Photo: Sherry Ott)

Things to Do

1. Millennium Park

What is now Millennium Park was first conceived in 1997 with a vision of turning the area into a new public space for residents of Chicago. It is one of my favorite parks in the world. I can wander for hours looking at the public art and beautiful architecture. And that’s pretty much exactly what I did.

The Cloud Gate Sculpture (a.k.a The Bean) is probably one of my top ten things to photograph in the world. You can sit and come up with so many unique ways to photograph it utilizing your manual settings to get creative. My best advice:Ggo at different times of the day. Walk around it, lay down, crouch, touch it, and see what great compositions you can come up with.

Cloud Gate in all of its bean-shaped glory! (Photo: Sherry Ott)

Playing with exposure and light on the bean. (Photo: Sherry Ott)

The bean makes it easy to do selfies! (Photo: Sherry Ott)

The Crown Fountain is another favorite stop in the park. The fountain consists of two 50-foot glass block towers at each end of a shallow reflecting pool. The towers project video images of faces of Chicagoans, which move and even spit out water like the gargoyles on old European architecture. You can walk through the shallow pool and enjoy the reflections and ripples from a photographic perspective.

The reflections in the Crown Fountain are beautiful. (Photo: Sherry Ott)

2. Bridgehouse Museum

I also took the time to visit a little-known museum in Chicago that is right under everyone’s nose, the McCormick Bridgehouse and Chicago River Museum. The Michigan Avenue bridgehouse is a building that thousands of people walk by every day and is one of the most photographed buildings in the city — yet I bet you didn’t know you could actually go inside! I first learned of the museum from my friend Lisa when she spent a ‘Night at the Museum’, and I knew that the next time I was in Chicago I wanted to go check it out for myself.

The Bridgehouse Museum is one of Chicago’s lesser-known gems. (Photo: Sherry Ott)

I met the museum director, Ozana, who walked me through the building and its fascinating history. It’s a chance to learn about the significance of the Chicago River — which has a dirty (literally) history, but it is the sole reason why Chicago exists today. The exhibits cover the settling of the city and its growth, the creation of the bridges, sewage and pollution issues, and finishes up with a plan for the future to continue to make the river a focal point in Chicago’s landscape. You can even go down to the ground floor and see the mechanical gears and machinery that lift the bridge. You can also view the somewhat rare bridge lifts (only 40 a year) from the museum in the fall and spring. This trip fits any budget too: only $4, and every Sunday it’s free!

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3. Chicago Riverwalk

After the Bridgehouse Museum, I spent some time on the river and along the Riverwalk. The Riverwalk is a beautifully manicured path along the river where you can catch a different vantage point of the skyscrapers as well as stop and enjoy lunch or watch the boats go by. It was created in 2008, and every year more and more is added to it, making it a real destination for tourists and locals.

The view from the Riverwalk always makes the buildings look taller and more spectacular. (Photo: Sherry Ott)

What to Eat

1. El Ideas

Thanks to Andrew the Concierge at Radisson Blu, I did one big splurge in Chicago. I decided that checking out a Michelin-starred restaurant was worth the trip to the questionable neighborhood and the dent in my pocket book. I took the El to El Ideas, where the dining is creative and communal, and the kitchen is open. The staff actually invites you to come into the kitchen and see what they are doing and be a part of the action. Yes, you can even ‘help’ if you want to.

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The night was incredibly fun and memorable as I spent most of it back in the open kitchen watching the inner workings of the art and science of gastronomy. El Ideas, was so good that I licked my plate!

Plating the final course: huckleberries, chocolate, and marshmallow. (Photo: Sherry Ott)

Brussels sprouts, seaweed, bellota and ash. The ash was actually burned brussels sprouts and was entirely edible. (Photo: Sherry Ott)

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2. Food Truck Eating

I spent the rest of my short time in Chicago eating at food trucks and places where I could conserve my money after my high-end dining experience at El Ideas! I was pretty excited when I checked the Chicago Food Truck Finder website, and spotted some great options parked right outside my hotel! After waiting in line with businessmen, I took my lunch and headed to the Riverwalk for a picnic and people watching!

My 48 hours in Chicago was simple and refreshing. Instead of running around to all of the main attractions, I just focused on a few key things and did a lot of strolling around with my camera. Sometimes going slow is the best itinerary in fast-paced cities.

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