Final Morning in Chicago Before an Evening Flight
Upon waking, it was the last day of our three-day weekend in Chicago before our evening flight home.
While my friend stopped at Stan’s Donuts, I went to the Nutella Cafe and caught it during a lull, so it was pretty quiet and fast (not cheap, but still a fun experience).
Last reminder—most of the trip was comped, so I will make sure you know what I paid for throughout the day!
Lincoln Park Zoo: A Free Chicago Attraction
We didn’t have much on the docket for the day and started at the Lincoln Park Zoo—a fantastic free attraction to visit in Chicago.
We got there super early, so we had the chance to wander a bit before some of the more popular enclosures opened.
Chicago-Style Hot Dogs at Devil Dawgs
After the zoo, we headed over to Devil Dawgs for some pretty amazing Chicago-style hot dogs. These were my favorite hot dogs of the entire trip! So good, and they have such a cool variety of hot dogs. If you love hot dogs, you’ll find something to enjoy here! I am a sucker for a Chicago dog, but the Icelandic dog looked amazing too, as did many of the offerings. The menu was quite extensive, and I can’t wait to go back!
Free Attractions in Chicago: Cultural & Design Stops
We wandered over to a couple of the city’s other free attractions after this to enjoy some air conditioning and sit for a bit. We really enjoyed the architecture at the Chicago Cultural Center and had some interesting looks at art and design at the Design Museum of Chicago (it’s tiny).
Lunch at Lou Malnati’s & More Chicago Food Stops
We had lunch reservations at Lou Malnati’s after this, and I managed to find a Firecakes Donuts location along the way (I really am a sucker for pistachio, and I’m happy to pay for donuts just about any day).
The service and food at Lou Malnati’s were well worth the long walk, and we loved our visit.
Before heading back to grab our bags, I stopped at Portillo’s for a second shot at their hot dogs (my first try on my last trip ended with a hot dog scented purse, and it was…not great).
Delicious? Yes. As good as Devil Dawgs? Not really.
Heading to O’Hare International Airport
After scarfing down the hot dog in the hotel lobby, we hopped on the train to head back to Chicago O’Hare International Airport.
The train ride isn’t particularly long, but make sure you time it right so that you don’t miss your flight.
We got a great sunset view during take-off, and it was the perfect way to end a great weekend getaway!
Check out days one and two of my three-day weekend in Chicago here!
