My Bachelorette Trip to Chicago
Hi all! I needed to buckle down and focus on something today. I really just needed a brain break for a moment and my blog is my favorite place to escape! A relatively easy post that I realized I hadn’t done yet is a post on my trip to Chicago for my bachelorette party! As you can probably imagine it was more brunch and lounge filled than party filled (a little of both….😉). One of my bridesmaids lives in a beautiful neighborhood of Chicago and graciously shared her home with the rest of us for the weekend, so we didn’t need to worry about a hotel!
Friday
Friday was our first travel day. It took us around 12 hours (including a stop of breakfast and lunch) so we arrived around 9:30. Bekah greeted us with a late dinner and delicious homemade cocktails! (AKA the best Moscow mule ever? Turns out it was made with Trader Joe’s ginger beer and TJ’s vodka!)
While we sipped (ahem- chugged) our cocktails, we got ready for a fun night out! Am I the only one who might enjoy the anticipation of a night out more than the actual time spent out? 😂 I LOVE helping each other craft the perfect outfit, laughing at each other trying to use false lashes, telling stories of the last time you went out together…etc. It’s the best part of the night in my opinion!
We started at Progress Bar in the Lakeview area of Chicago. It was super packed, but the bartenders were very kind and quick. If you visit, there’s a second bar inside Progress if you just keep walking past the first and through a doorway. That room seemed a bit more relaxed than the initial area. As in people were congregated together having conversation, while the first bar area was more for dancing. Since I’ve been there only this one time, it might not always be this way! We opted to stay in the more upbeat area to dance the night away! After Progress Bar we hopped right across the street to visit Roscoe’s. I ordered a round of lemon drop shots (my absolute favorite...I don’t ask for much) for my friends, and they were fantastic, obviously. They were served with sugared lemon wedges which I thought was so fun, but my friend assured me that that was the usual, and nothing special 😂 I must need to get out more often! Roscoe’s was definitely more wild than Progress! It seemed the intention at Roscoe’s was to dance, whereas the afterthought at Progress was to dance, ya know? We had tons of fun at both places. We then Uber-ed our way to a karaoke bar called Uptown Lounge. It wasn’t crowded at all so one of my bridesmaids was able to hop right up and sign Umbrella by Rihanna. It was hilarious and we all loved singing along. Then, of course, lots of other people showed up and since we knew we wouldn’t get much more of a chance to sing we went down the street to the Green Mill jazz club. We finished our night (it was morning, actually) at the Green Mill. This was hydrate time. We really only spent a short while here listening to the jazz to gather our thoughts and get a ride home. We met some of the most unique and kind women here, though! I almost wish this was where we spent the majority of our night because the people were so cool. And the music was phenomenal of course! Next time I visit Chicago, I’ll be sure to spend more time at the Green Mill. (Just found out: Apparently the Green Mill was Al Capone’s fave place?? I’m so intrigued!)
Saturday
Saturday morning we took our time getting ready, just like an easy Saturday morning should be. We all wore white to brunch and carried straw totes that I monogrammed for them! We visited M. Henry for brunch and I would have had it no other way 😍 so delicious! I ordered a half portion of a lemon-raspberry French toast AND the Fannie’s killer fried egg sandwich. (Because it was my bachelorette weekend and I do what I want). It was WAY too much food but I did make it through the French toast! I wish I had saved the photo of the French toast because, YOU GUYS, it was the most beautiful breakfast I think I've ever had! But of course I didn’t. From brunch we walked to a Starbucks (of course we did) for our daily iced coffees. While in Chicago we pretty much walked everywhere, which I think was one of my favorite things about this trip. It’s so nice to be in a city where literally anything you need is within walking distance! It makes spending time with your friends even better! Conversation en route to your next engagement are so much more likely to be entertaining when you’re constantly tripping over cracks and gawking at the blooming tulips and roses. Right before we went back to my friend's apartment after grabbing coffee, we stopped at the beach! I literally couldn't shut up about visiting the beach beginning when we decided we were going to make this trip! I don't remember which beach it was, but it was SO CLEAN. So we spent some time just relaxing there (too cold to swim in May!) and then we went back! When we returned to my good friend’s apartment, I’ll be totally honest, it was nap time 😂. I actually used the time to get organized and freshen up, but the rest of the crew did indeed nap, which I LOVE. I think when you become a mom, naps cease to exist even when they’re available to you. We spent the rest of the day shopping, drinking more coffee, and visiting the many parks and attractions Chicago has to offer! I was amazed at the size of Chicago’s parks- they’re ginormous!!! And unlike New York City’s parks (which I also love, just making a comparison), these parks are definitely meant for children to actually play. If you have children and are planning a trip to Chicago, PLEASE reserve time to visit Maggie Daley park! There are lots of different sections for different age groups and ABILITY LEVELS. Truly a space for everyone. There is also plenty of things for parents to do surrounding the park, and Navy Pier is within eye-shot (not within walking distance, but can still be part of your itinerary). After our full day of sightseeing, we grabbed some local Thai food and headed back. I immediately switched into my pajamas and got cozy. My bridesmaid Amanda and I stayed in Saturday night and watched Monster in Law (best movie ever? She hadn’t seen it! Can you believe it??) while the others went out again for drinks! I WISH I had that kind of energy, let me tell you.
Sunday
On Sunday we traveled all the way home! I wanted to include Sunday in my post, however, because we stopped at a coffee shop that might have changed my life. I ordered an almond croissant and iced coffee, my usual order in case you were curious 😉, and it was THE BEST almond croissant I’ve had. Make sure you stop by Phlour Bakery & Cafe next time you’re in Chicago, and get the almond croissant. (I’m also a huge fan of Goddess and the Baker which we didn’t have time to visit this time around- but you must).
As I said, my friends and I were lucky enough to get to stay with someone who lived in Chicago and didn’t need to book a hotel, but if you’re on the hunt for one, I will always recommend the Palmer House. For how beautiful it is, you pay an average price and you’re in the best location. Their amenities are endless, they have THE most friendly staff, and you feel as if you’re staying in luxury!
Please let me know if you’re planning a trip to Chicago and need any other recommendations!! Chicago is a lovely place to visit and I can’t wait to explore it again.
Thank you for reading!
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