What’s really nice about your family coming to visit you in a different city is that you get to play tourist in your own town! My parents have been to visit Chicago pretty consistently every summer for the past few years, and at this point I think I’ve taken them to do just about everything here, including quite a few things that I wouldn’t normally take it upon myself to do otherwise. If you have family coming to Chicago, read on for my guide of what to do with them!

Things To Do With Your Family in Chicago

The Field Museum
We went to the Field Museum on their last day here this year, which was fun because I haven’t been there since I was a little kid! It was cool to see the new dinosaur (did you know they replaced Sue?!) and all the other exhibits they have on display. Idan and I really loved the Nature Walk exhibit, which had literally thousands of taxidermied animals. P.S. You can get a discounted admission to The Field Museum through Groupon, and then save extra money by using eBates!

The Art Institute of Chicago
I’ve always been such a big fan of the Art Institute, and one of the more unique experiences I’ve had there was when I did a Museum Hack Tour. Our tour guide took us all around the museum and showed us pieces we wouldn’t normally notice, and told us stories we never would have heard. It was really interesting, and I highly recommend a Museum Hack tour if you are visiting the Art Institute of Chicago!

The Escape Game
We took an hour out of our day exploring River North to play The Escape Game. I’ve been here about 3 times now and it is always SO fun and challenging. My family really loved the Gold Rush game and we finished in just under an hour. Use promo code LoveAlwaysAudrey to get 15% off any game until Sept. 30!

Games at the Chicago Athletic Association (and Cindy’s Rooftop!)
We did this on a rainy day. Right next to the lobby of the Chicago Athletic Association there is a game room, complete with bocce ball, pool, chess, foosball, and more. Grab a drink (or a cup of coffee) and enjoy some indoor fun with your fam. Oh, and while you’re there, check out Cindy’s Rooftop!

Cruise Along the Chicago River in an Electric Boat Rental
We had this planned this last trip, and it unfortunately got rained out (see: Athletic Association game room as a backup plan). I’ve rented a few times through the Chicago Electric Boat Company, and have loved my experience every time. I am usually the captain (if I can do it, so can you), and you can BYOB and cruise around the river.

Eataly
My family loved exploring Eataly, and they especially loved grabbing a bit of gelato. My brother was a big fan of trying all the samples they had to offer!

Shopping on Armitage Ave
This should come as no surprise, but I always take my parents shopping on Armitage Ave in Lincoln Park. There are so many cute stores and boutiques, and we always make a pit stop at Jeni’s Ice Creams (shocker). Check out the new Serena and Lily store, and definitely visit Art Effect, my favorite gift store on that block.

Tea at The Drake or The Langham
I haven’t done this yet. BUT, it’s on my list of “fun things to do with your family.” Next time, mom and dad!

Take the water taxi to Chinatown
I haven’t done this yet either! But it’s on my bucket list to take the water taxi over to Chinatown. I know what I’m doing the next time my parents are in town!

Royal Palms Shuffleboard
This place is SO fun! I never thought I’d love shuffleboard so much, but the Royal Palms has the greatest atmosphere, friendly staff, and great drinks. They also have a food truck station where different food trucks come every night to serve players. It’s $40 to rent a court for an hour (and there is an hour limit), and they have a ton of board games to play while you wait.

Parent-Friendly Places to Eat

My parents are notoriously picky eaters. They have to read and approve the menu before we go out anywhere, so for a foodie like myself it’s a bit hard to find somewhere we will all enjoy. Luckily, I’ve already done the hard work for you. If your family is full of picky eaters, are some parent-friendly places to eat in Chicago:

Cafe Ba-Ba-Reeba
My parents are absolutely obsessed with this place (and so am I!). We always order tons of tapas and eat every bite. It’s fun to share with everyone!

Brightwok Kitchen
Your parents can order whatever they want in this healthy build-your-own stir fry kitchen! Locations in both The Loop by the Art Institute or River North (State and Ontario).

True Food Kitchen
Another one that my parents are obsessed with. True Food is healthy and delicious, and great for any meal!

Sweetgreen
My family loves this place, and it was perfect for grabbing a quick lunch before continuing on to all of our activities.

Siena Tavern
There’s something for everyone on the menu at Siena Tavern! Located in the heart of River North.

Beatrix
Same thing–Beatrix is the perfect place to bring your family. Not too trendy, but there is something for everyone.

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You might also like:

Where to Eat in Chicago
Weekend Guide to Chicago
The Best Ice Cream in Chicago
What to Buy for a Chicago Winter

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I spent almost as much time planning my outfits in London and Paris than I did planning the trip activities. I was planning on bringing a carry-on and nothing else, so I needed to be strategic!

My strategy consisted of 2 things: repetition and dresses. I packed about 5 or 6 dresses, and 2 jackets (a denim jacket and a faux leather one). If you can’t tell from my London post, I wore this blue dress about 1,000 times. Unfortunately, I can’t find it online, but here are a few similar ones!

I also packed only 3 pairs of shoes: one pair of sandals, one pair of chunky heels (which I didn’t end up wearing), and white sneakers. I wore these sneakers almost every day of the trip minus one, and they far exceeded my expectations in terms of comfort and style. They looked cute with every outfit (at least I think so), and my feet were never tired or achy. I can’t recommend them enough! Also, any scuff marks on them quickly came out with a magic eraser.

I also bought this purse that I had had my eye on for a while… it turned out to perfectly fit everything we needed during the trip, including my Sony a6000 camera (review of that here). Every day, I carried 2 phones (my personal phone and our Insidr phone), a backup charger, gum, sunglasses, and my camera. I’m so glad I purchased this Cuyana bag before our trip!

Another staple of my travel wardrobe was this sweater and these jeans. I love these jeans because they are very comfortable and high waisted! Unfortunately I don’t have photos of the sweater, I think because I only wore it when the weather was terrible, ha!

Lastly, I packed my new Away suitcase which I LOVED. I got the bigger carry-on, and it was perfect for this trip. You can get $20 off of yours by following this link!

Overall, I probably could have packed even less than I did for the trip! My strategy of only packing staple items really worked out well. Let me know if you have any questions or need suggestions on what to pack for your trip!

If you liked this post, you might like:
Paris 5-day Itinerary
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Phoenix Travel Guide

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I’m by no means an expert at traveling the world, but throughout our 10-day trip to Paris and London, I picked up a few tips that I thought I’d share!

Paris:

• Buy a book of Metro tickets instead of just one at a time… it’ll save you a ton of time in the future!
• Do a bike tour on the first day to get the lay of the land! We are so glad we went with Fat Tire Tours.
  • Use discount code LOVEALWAYSAUDREY to receive 10% off our Paris Day Bike Tour with Fat Tire! Expires 12/13/18.
• Learn how to properly order coffee.
• Stop by a street market and grab some fresh fruit! And bring it to the Eiffel Tower or a park and eat picnic style!
• Try to learn at least a little French. Many people there speak English, but they truly appreciate the effort. I used Duolingo to prepare for the trip!

• Get a cell phone while you’re there. We used Insidr and loved it; we picked up our phone at the airport in Paris, and returned it by parcel from London. It had texting, calling, data, a mobile hotspot, walking maps, insider tips, and, probably most importantly, access to the invaluable Insidr team! They texted us every morning telling us what was going on in Paris that day and they were available at all hours to help with literally anything. We were SO glad to have our Insidr phone with us throughout our trip, and I highly recommend the service!
• Check opening hours of everything before you go–a lot of places are closed on Sundays or Mondays, and it’s good to know in advance.
• Most museums are open late a few times a week. It’s great to plan around this!
• Read my full Paris recap here!

London: 

• When using the Tube and bus: you can’t pay for 2 people using the same Oyster card, so buy one Oyster card per person. You can get the £5 deposit back AND any money leftover on it at the end of your trip.
• Budget extra for food–it’s extremely expensive. And don’t expect the food to be amazing.
• Buy tickets to the Churchill War Rooms in advance; the line fills up before it even opens! Same goes for the London Eye.
• Book all your dinner reservations in advance, but know that most restaurants there require a credit card to book a reservation, and many have strict cancellation policies (aka will charge you £30 if you no show).
• Museums in London are free! But you are encouraged to leave a few pounds as a donation.
• Read my full London recap here!

Both Cities:

• Get a suitcase with a removable battery pack! We used our battery packs a ton during our trip. We both have Away suitcases and love them.
• If traveling by Eurostar, arrive at the station at least an hour early since you have to go through passport control. We didn’t know we’d need to do this and were glad we got to the station early accidentally.
• Pack an umbrella. Trust me.

Any questions? Comment below! 

If you liked this post, you might like:
Tips for Traveling to Paris and London
What I Wore in Paris
London Travel Guide
Mexico City Travel Guide
Chicago Weekend Guide
Phoenix Travel Guide

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As part II of our trip, we took the Eurostar over to London! Read part I of our trip here. Minus a bit of a delay, I couldn’t believe how easy taking the Eurostar between Paris and London was. I should also mention that we were able to bring our Insidr cell phone with us to London with no issue switching between countries. We used it as our phone and mobile hotspot for the rest of the trip!

Thursday – Day One

When we arrived in London, we went and dropped our stuff off at our Airbnb, and promptly headed to the nearest pub (across the street) for some food. The bartender quickly explained to us some very important advice: “chips” are like American steak fries. “Fries” are like thin, McDonald’s fries. So there you have it!

We were so excited to start exploring that we went straight to Bond Street for some window shopping! We made our way through the shops there, and ended up right in Soho. I wanted to visit this store called the House of MinaLima– it’s the storefront for the graphic designers of the Harry Potter movie series! Every bit of HP paraphernalia from the movies, from the Daily Prophet covers to the Hogwarts letters Harry receives, was created by the two designers. We spent forever in here talking to the staff and looking at the posters. It was pretty spectacular.

Later that afternoon we ended up seeing a movie (HA!). We both hadn’t see The Avengers yet and really needed to give our feet a break. I know, I know. WE WERE ON VACATION, OKAY?

We had a late dinner at Gymkhana, which is a really unique and contemporary Indian restaurant. The service was great and the place was packed! And the food was really good.

Friday – Day Two

The next morning we got up bright and early to do some sightseeing. Our Airbnb was right by Buckingham Palace so we went there first! The Changing of the Guard just happened to be starting when we got there, so we got to see that (which took forever but was pretty cool).

We strolled over to Westminster Abbey but didn’t go inside (it was like $25 per person to enter! No way. We’ve seen enough churches). It was still gorgeous from the outside!

We also went to the V&A Museum this day. We really loved this one; it’s free to enter and is right off the Tube!

We went to one exhibit in particular that we really liked: The Future Starts Here. It was all about the future and how technology has changed everything so far and is continuing to do so more than we know. It’s probably the only exhibit Idan and I have been to that we read literally every single word from every single plaque. That exhibit cost extra but we both thought it was well worth it!

We also really loved the castings room at the V&A Museum. Even though they weren’t the real deals, it was still a gorgeous room and it was cool to see all the statues!

Friday night we ended up getting Indian food for dinner… again. We went to Masala Zone in Soho and really loved it!

Saturday – Day Three

Saturday was Royal Wedding Day! Idan and I had assumed that every pub in town would be open and showing it… after all, it’s an event that won’t happen again for another 20 years or so! Alas, we walked around for about 3 miles and NOT ONE PUB was showing it. We finally found one in Soho but they were only showing it on tiny TVs and they wouldn’t turn on the sound. So, we resorted to Planet Hollywood. With all of the other US tourists. Ha!

Earlier in the trip, Idan surprised me by telling me he got us tickets to see Harry Potter and the Cursed Child!! If you couldn’t tell from my outburst about the store above, I am a Harry Potter fanatic. Always have been, always will be. So you can imagine how excited I was that he got these tickets!

It was honestly the best play I’ve ever seen. The special effects were out of this world. You definitely need a knowledge of Harry Potter before going to see it, so I recommend at least watching the movies before you go (if not taking a Harry Potter literature class in college, like myself ).

In between the two parts of the play, we had a dinner break, so we went shopping at Liberty London (the most gorgeous department store I’ve ever seen), and got a quick bite.

Sunday – Day Four

On Sunday, we went on an entire-day-long tour of England. The tour was literally called “England in One Day” and spanned Stonehenge, Bath, The Cotswolds, and Stratford-Upon-Avon. We left at 8am and returned at 8pm! Looong day, and lots of time on a bus, but totally worth it.

Stonehenge rocked! Sorry.

I deeply regret that the above picture is the only one I took of Bath. And the lemonade girl doesn’t look very enthusiastic about her job.

However, Bath was our favorite part of this day! It was the most charming town, and Idan and I kept saying we’d love to come back for an entire summer. We said that about Giverny, France, too, but I think we liked Bath even more. We definitely wish we had had more time here!

Stratford-Upon-Avon was our last stop on the tour, and it was Shakespeare’s birthplace! We got to tour the school that he grew up going to, and shop around a little bit. Again, it was a very charming little town and we wish we had more time here, but there’s always next trip!

When we got back from the tour we were so exhausted that the thought of going out for dinner was just terrible. So we ordered food in… Indian, of course.

Side note: I’ve heard from a lot of people that Indian food is pretty much the only good food in London. I agree, hence getting Indian food for dinner 3 times.

Monday – Day Five

Monday was our last full day in London, but was my favorite day (aside from seeing the Harry Potter play). We started off at Winston Churchill’s War Rooms, which were seriously cool. We forgot to buy tickets in advance, so we arrived about 15 minutes before opening. The line was already pretty long, but we got in within about 30 minutes.

The War Rooms were especially amazing because I feel like Churchill has been nodded to a lot recently–in The Darkest Hour and The Crown. Luckily, I watched both before visiting, so this exhibit felt very relevant. I highly recommend a visit to the Churchill War Rooms!

After that, we walked to Sketch for afternoon tea. So, funny story here. Halfway through the trip, Idan and I decided that we were spending wayyyy too much money on food and decided we should cancel our Sketch reservation for a cheaper tea place. Well, I forgot to cancel it, and they charge your card if you don’t cancel within 24 hours. So off to Sketch we went! And I’m so glad for my silly mistake. It was worth every penny.

If you haven’t seen all over Instagram, Sketch is a stunning and creative restaurant in Mayfair. The afternoon tea experience was EXCELLENT. I mean it.

Our server was the sweetest person I think I’ve ever encountered, and she was so knowledgeable about teas and what to pair them with. I think I had about 4 pots of tea myself, and Idan had 5.

The food was delicious–I recommend arriving hungry–and you can order more of whatever you love. My favorite thing was a coronation chicken sandwich–I ended up getting seconds of that!

The scones were to. die. for.

They had a special “wedding” cake in honor of the Royal Wedding, and it was so delicious. I am currently drooling all over my keyboard just thinking about it.

I could go on and on forever and ever about how much I loved Sketch, but you should just go and see for yourself.

Our last stop of the day was the Harry Potter Studio Tour! This was the first thing we booked for the trip (after flights), because tickets sell out so quickly.

It was incredible. We got to see almost every prop and costume that was used during the movies, learn all about how the movies were created, and learn secrets regarding how they made all that magic.

Of course, I HAD to take this picture. Duh.

The whole tour probably took us about 2 hours to get through, although they recommend you budget for 3 hours. We had to take a train to get there from London (I put us on the wrong one. Idan was not pleased.), and then the Studio has a shuttle bus that picks up from the train station! That’s a few pounds to get on, just FYI.

When we got back, we grabbed a bite of pizza for dinner at Pizza Pilgrims, and went home to pack!

We went home on Tuesday after a lovely 5 days in London, and started thinking of what our next big trip should be.

Some things we wish we did this time/want to do the next time we’re in London:

• Shopping and tea at Harrod’s
• Sunday Roast at Hawksmore, Seven Dials
• Bob Bob Ricard for champagne
• Walk around Notting Hill
• Go to the world’s largest antique market at Portobello Road
• Go to the Borough Market
• Go to Kensington Palace and see the Diana exhibit
• Do the London Eye
• See Big Ben (it was under construction this time)

If you liked 5 Days in London, you might like:
Tips for Traveling to Paris and London
What I Wore in Paris
Mexico City Travel Guide
Chicago Weekend Guide
Phoenix Travel Guide
Paris 5-Day Itinerary

Save this post for later:

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After 27 years, I finally made it to Paris, and it was everything I dreamed it would be. Paris is the most amazing city; it’s eclectic, romantic, mysterious, charming, and just dreamy. Our 5 days there were certainly not enough (although I think I put together a pretty good 5-day Paris itinerary), and we will absolutely be back!

Like many of my other travel posts, I thought I’d outline what we did while we were there. Enjoy, and let me know if you have any questions!

P.S. See everything I wore in Paris, and my Paris travel tips.

Saturday – Day 1

Idan and I met at the airport (CDG), and took the RER from there. The RER is just one of the trains that runs throughout the city, and it’s relatively easy to navigate! The train from the airport cost about 10 euros. Right before got on the RER, we picked up our Insidr phone, which was a pre-paid cell phone that we ordered before arriving. The phone had cell and data service, plus a mobile hotspot, and was extremely helpful during our time there.

When we got to our Airbnb in the Marais, we found out at the very last second that it had been cancelled due to some water damage in the apartment. I am normally a huge advocate for Airbnb so I won’t let one bad experience change my thinking, but this was definitely stressful! Luckily, I had Hotel Tonight on my phone and made a quick, last-minute booking using their service. The new hotel was only a 5-minute walk from our original location, and it turned out to be really cute. And, since the hotel was so last minute, it was actually cheaper than the Airbnb would have been.

The view from our room and the hotel lobby at the Hotel Handsome in Paris.

We ended up just walking around and getting Italian food for our first dinner in Paris. We were completely exhausted and it just seemed like a good option, ha!

Sunday – Day 2

Our second day started bright and early with a bike tour with Fat Tire Tours! You guys, I can’t say enough good things about this company. The staff is SO nice and our tour was just awesome.

Throughout the 3-hour tour, we went alllll over Paris, stopping by a ton of good sites to snap photos, and got some exercise in! I love to explore new cities by bike, and Paris was no exception.

Also, thanks to Idan for riding one handed so he could document this. ;) 

Use discount code LOVEALWAYSAUDREY to receive 10% off our Paris Day Bike Tour with Fat Tire! Expires 12/13/18.

When the tour was over, we stuck around the area and headed back to the Eiffel Tower to go to the tippy top! The line was a little long but it was worth it–and I’m pretty scared of heights but I was fine. There is also a cafe and gift shop at the top, so you can hang out and enjoy the views!

After all that, we were exhausted again so went back to the hotel for a siesta. We hadn’t made dinner plans for that evening, so we did a quick search on Google Maps and found a little restaurant called L’Auberge Nicolas Flamel. It also happened to have a Michelin star! For those of you who are Harry Potter fans… does that name sound familiar? Turns out he was a real person! Who knew? Anyways, the food was really good–we opted for the tasting menu and a bottle of wine and it was perfect. I was so glad we decided to be adventurous!

Monday – Day 3

On Monday we decided that we really needed to do a load of laundry. Idan had just come from a 2-week trip to Israel, and we were counting on our Airbnb having a laundry machine… so we had to find our way to a French laundromat!

Luckily, our Fat Tire Tour guide had told us how to find a laundromat–they are called laveries. He recommended one in our neighborhood and off we went!

It was a rainy morning so while we were waiting on the laundry, we ducked into a cafe and ate our petite dejuner (breakfast!) on the covered patio. They had the heaters on and it was lovely. In Paris, breakfast consists of a croissant, a baguette, some marmalade, a coffee, and a juice (usually orange). I don’t know how these people are so skinny!

Note: My friend Rebecca’s blog helped so much with every aspect of planning our Paris trip–even learning how to order coffee!

That day we had lunch at this cute spot called Cafe Charlot. It was recommended by a friend and they had yummy burgers!

After that, we headed to the Jardin du Luxembourg. It was absolutely stunning!

We also stopped by Les Invalides–Napoleon’s burial place. Idan was really interested in the history, and they had a war museum inside as well. Napoleon’s actual tomb is GIGANTIC–you have to see for yourself.

That evening we went to Ellsworth for dinner, which was pretty good! We were surprised to hear every single person in the restaurant speaking English–I guess it’s a popular tourist spot!

I should also mention that at this point we had checked into another hotel–the first one could only house us for 2 nights so we switched! The new hotel was also absolutely adorable.

Tuesday – Day Four

Tuesday started bright and early with a day trip to Giverny and Versailles.

Giverny is the home of Claude Monet, my most favorite artist. When I was little, my mom bought me this book about a little girl that goes to visit Monet’s Garden, and it was one of my most beloved stories. I spent my whole life dreaming of visiting Monet’s Garden, and I was on the verge of happy tears the entire visit.

I think I did a pretty good job of hiding it in photos, but the place was definitely packed with tourists. It was pretty hard to move around, but that didn’t stop me from enjoying every second. We got to go inside his house and all throughout his gardens–even to the famous lily pond.

Idan and I were amazed at how gorgeous the French countryside is, and decided we’d love to go back eventually and spend a few days just relaxing and enjoying the scenery.

Next up was Versailles!

The Palace of Versailles was incredible. Opulent, gorgeous, but absolutely packed to the brim with tourists. At one point in our tour I actually stayed back and let Idan go in to take pictures because I couldn’t handle being herded anymore. But it was still SO cool.

The gardens are a huge point of interest in Versailles, and I wish that we had more time there–but again, Idan and I swore that we’d be back. I think you’d need at least a day to explore the whole town and gardens!

I should mention that we booked our Versailles and Giverny day trip through Viator–a company we have used time and time again (not sponsored).

That night, we had our favorite meal of the entire trip at Frenchie. This was recommended to me by SOO many people and I’m really glad we listened!

We went to their wine bar (not the main restaurant) and seriously, it was one of my top meals EVER. They seated us right up against a window where we could see the whole kitchen–it was really, really cool. Also, we got there right when it opened and were able to beat the crowds. The place filled up FAST.

I promise these will be the only photos you’ll see of our food from the trip (and we took pictures of all of our meals), but it was seriously to die for.

We ordered this zucchini flower for an appetizer, and it was so good that we ended up ordering more. It was stuffed with some kind of curry-coriander sauce, and my mouth is watering just thinking about it.

Idan also convinced me to order the duck. I usually really do not like duck; I find it too rich. This duck, however, was the most delicious thing ever. It was seriously perfect. Again, my mouth is watering.

Wednesday – Day Five

On the itinerary, Wednesday was going to be our “anything we didn’t do” day. This turned out to be a LOT. We spent our time in Paris kind of slowly; just wandering, taking in the sights, and relaxing a bit.

Our last full day in Paris needed to pack in a lot, so we woke up early and grabbed breakfast at The Broken Arm. It was so cute, and we sat outside.

While we were eating, a group of adorable 4-5 year olds passed us in a line with their teachers, and they had vests on that said “No pictures!” I guess American tourists just think they are adorable and take pictures of them? I thought that was kind of funny (and also creepy).

That morning we went to Notre Dame, and stopped by this English book store right down the street after. It was really cute, and I think we would have spent more time there if we didn’t have so much left on our list to do that day!

The Musee D’Orsay was about a 25 minute walk from there, so we walked along the river to get there. It reminded me of the Chicago Riverwalk!

I really liked the Musee D’Orsay; it was stunning in architecture and I loved seeing so much impressionist work.

After that museum, we went to Le Saint Germain for lunch and sat on the patio. The weather had finally really cleared up so it was sunny and 75 and we were loving every minute of it!

I dragged Idan shopping around that area, and we went into this incredible taxidermy shop called Deyrolle. Yes, taxidermy. I know it’s kind of gross but I can’t even explain how cool this store was. The website doesn’t show much, and you’re not allowed to take photos inside, but I highly recommend stopping in!

After that, we stopped by Palais Royal on our way home. To be honest, I just wanted a photo on these columns.

Palais Royal turned out to be even better than the columns, though (which, by the way, were completely overrun with bloggers, ha!). The gardens were beautiful and people were sitting around the fountain and relaxing. It was so nice!

After this, I dragged Idan to do some shopping at Sezanne and Merci. Because who can go to Paris and not stop by those? Merci is incredibly expensive, but the store itself is very well designed and definitely worth popping into.

We went back to the hotel for a much needed siesta, and then grabbed dinner at L’as du Fallafel! This was another recommendation from many people, and we loved it.

We picked this night to go to the Louvre because we knew it was open late. The Louvre is FREAKING HUGE. I had always heard this, but never really understood it until visiting. Our Fat Tire tour guide told us that if you looked at every piece in the Louvre for just 3 seconds, it would take you literally weeks go to through it all.

Idan and I are really not huge museum people, so we googled “top 10 things to see at the Louvre,” and got right to work. A little crazy? Maybe. Practical with our time? Definitely.

(Note: the above pic is from another day that we stopped by the front of the Louvre on bike!)

The last thing on our list was to see the Eiffel Tower sparkling at night. It sparkles every hour on the hour starting at 10pm (for 5 minutes), and we made the 10pm show. It was spectacular and definitely a moment I won’t ever forget.

On Thursday, we woke up bright and early and took the Eurostar to London to continue our journey. More to come in another blog post!

Paris exceeded my expectations in so many ways, and I just can’t wait to go back. I hope you enjoyed our 5-Day Paris Itinerary! Do you have any suggestions for next time? Leave a comment!

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If you liked this post, you might like:
Tips for Traveling to Paris and London
What I Wore in Paris
London Travel Guide
Mexico City Travel Guide
Chicago Weekend Guide
Phoenix Travel Guide

Save it for later:

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Oh, Chicago. I’ve lived here for 4 years and couldn’t love this city any more. Piggybacking off of the success of my Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona guide, I thought I’d start a new guide series: CHICAGO!

Chicago is often called “the city of neighborhoods.” And it’s for good reason–the neighborhoods in Chi Town are diverse and plentiful, and each one has something different to offer. While I can’t possibly cover all of them (there are seriously SO MANY), here are some of my favorite neighborhoods to explore:

The Loop

Chicago’s downtown neighborhood is called The Loop because of how the L trains run around it (forming, you guessed it, a loop). Everything business is down here, including my job! People don’t tend to spend a lot of time down here on the weekends; I’d compare it to the financial district of Manhattan. However, here’s where you’ll find some of the most recognizable Chicago landmarks: the Bean and Millennium Park, and the Art Institute of Chicago. You’ll also find most of the theaters of Chicago, including the Chicago theater, the Oriental theater, etc.

River North

River North is called that because it’s directly North of the river. I know, we have some REALLY unique neighborhood names! River North is a more posh area of town–lots of high rises and fancy restaurants. It’s perpendicular to the famous Michigan Ave, and a lot of my restaurant recommendations are in that neighborhood. Most people will say that River North is as close to Manhattan as Chicago gets.

Gold Coast

The Gold Coast is a pretty small neighborhood, but full of charm. Think: million dollar homes, trendy bars and restaurants, and super swanky shopping.

Old Town

Old Town Chicago is, for the most part, a strip of bars, restaurants, and shops along Wells Street. Wells is a very charming street, and one of my favorite places to take out of town guests. It’s also home to The Second City, the famous comedy center!

Lincoln Park

Lincoln Park is just the cutest. Lots of families and students (DePaul is in this neighborhood), and plenty of restaurants and bars. One of the best things to do is to walk up Clark street and just explore. I also highly recommend walking through the park and the zoo (pictured above) for the best views!

Lakeview

If you walk far enough up Clark St from Lincoln Park, you’ll hit Lakeview. I used to live in Lakeview, and I can’t say enough good things. First thing you need to know: Lakeview is HUGE. It actually comprises multiple mini neighborhoods: Wrigleyville (where Wrigley field and some crazy rowdy bars are), Boystown, Roscoe Village, Southport, and East Lakeview. If you visit over Pride weekend you might just catch the Pride parade (pictured above)!

I lived in East Lakeview, but frequented Southport Corridor on weekends. Walking around Southport has always been one of my favorite activities.

Wicker Park/Bucktown

Wicker Park is one of our more interesting neighborhoods (but it’s gentrifying pretty quick). You can go vintage shopping on Milwaukee Ave, or do some fancy shopping on Damen Ave. There are some amazing restaurants and bars, and you could easily spend all day in this neighborhood.

Logan Square

Logan Square is a super up and coming neighborhood that is home to many fantastic restaurants and cocktail bars. It’s always a treat for me to get over there and if you’re looking for an off-the-beaten-path neighborhood to get cocktails in, this is it.

Pilsen

Pilsen is a traditionally Hispanic neighborhood that has a TON of flavor. There are some really great restaurants there, and it’s just fun to walk around and soak up the culture.

Andersonville

A bit off the beaten path (at least for visitors), Andersonville is Northwest of Lakeview. They have a lot of local stores and restaurants, and I love walking around there and exploring!

Hyde Parke

Probably best known to visitors as being Obama’s home, Hyde Park is also home to the University of Chicago. It’s one of the most gorgeous college campuses I’ve ever seen, and it’s absolutely worth a visit. It’s also home to the Museum of Science and Industry if you’re headed there anyway!

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You might also like:

Where to Eat in Chicago
Weekend Guide to Chicago
The Best Ice Cream in Chicago
What to Buy for a Chicago Winter
3 Years in Chicago

The post Chicago Guide Series: The Neighborhoods of Chicago appeared first on love always, audrey.

If you’ve seen my Phoenix, AZ guide, you know I love to show people around places I love. Probably the most-often-asked question of me is “how should I spend a weekend in Chicago?” After all, Chicago is THE best place to visit (I might be biased), and spending time here should be on everyone’s list. After having many, many weekend visitors over the past few years, I think I have this tourist thing down pat. Here’s my weekend guide to Chicago:

Friday Night

You’ve just arrived in Chi-town and you are STARVING. I get it. This shouldn’t come as a shock, but you just need to start with deep dish pizza.

My personal favorite is Lou Malnati’s, but Chicago has pleeeenty of different deep dish offerings. I like to tell people this: if your favorite part of regular pizza is the crust, go to Lou Malnati’s (and get the butter crust). If you’re more of a cheese person, go to Giordano’s (whose pizza can only be described as cheese casserole). If you can’t get enough tomato sauce, you have to check out Pequod’s in Lincoln Park.

After you’ve gotten your deep dish fix, roll yourself on over to a comedy show. Chicago is famous for its improv and sketch shows, and I recommend both The Second City and IO Theater. Both are in the Old Town/Lincoln Park area. I couldn’t pick a favorite club–just read reviews of specific shows before you book.

Saturday

Grab brunch somewhere in the Gold Coast. I like to recommend the Three Arts Club Cafe at Restoration Hardware, even though I myself have not been yet. There is definitely bound to be a line, so try to get there somewhat early (they open at 10am on Saturdays and Sundays).

After brunch, walk down Dearborn St. to State St. You’ll be in the heart of the Gold Coast, which is one of Chicago’s fanciest neighborhoods. Stroll down Rush St. and you’ll see what’s basically the Rodeo Drive of Chicago–the nicest designer stores are here. From there, head East to the famous Michigan Avenue. Michigan Ave is where the rest of the world likes to think Chicago does its shopping. Head south on Michigan Ave so you can experience the Magnificent Mile and you’ll find yourself face to face with The Bean.

The Bean is a staple of Chicago’s landmarks, and, I have to admit, is pretty cool. Take some selfies, and then explore the rest of Millennium Park. There are a handful of cool things to see there, including artwork, the Lurie gardens, the Jay Pritzer pavilion (kind of looks like a cornucopia), and the Crown Fountain (those pillars with moving faces on them).

It’s also worth going up to Cindy’s Rooftop inside the Chicago Athletic Association. Cindy’s offers amazing views of Millennium Park and Lake Michigan!

When you’re done exploring this area of town, hop on a Chicago Architecture Tour. If you do ONE thing in Chicago, this must be it. I’ve been on so many Architecture Tours myself at this point, and they just never get old. You get to boat up and down the Chicago River and learn all about Chicago history and architecture. I can’t recommend it enough! Two of my favorite companies are Wendella (more of a cruise) and Seadog (speed boat that takes you out on Lake Michigan as well).

If you have time, check out the Art Institute of Chicago. It’s one of my favorite museums in the world. I also recommend taking a tour with Museum Hack – they offer interesting tours of the Art Institute and you learn more than you normally would at the museum. Plus their guides are hilarious.

After activities, refuel with dinner!

There are a ton of great places to get dinner in Chicago, but if you are visiting you MUST try to get a table at the famed Girl and The Goat. It’s hands down the best meal I’ve had in my life, every single time. If you book your trip early enough, you’ll be able to get a table (use OpenTable or give them a call). You definitely need to make a reservation well in advance (like, months). If you can’t get into Girl and the Goat, other favorites are Sunda (Asian infusion), Cafe Ba Ba Reeba, Gilt Bar, Beatrix, Little Goat, and Au Cheval. Click here for my full list of all the best restaurants in Chicago!

Sunday

Get out of downtown and explore one of Chicago’s many neighborhoods! For first-time visitors, I always recommend visiting the famous Wicker Park. There are plenty of shops, restaurants, and bars, and you could spend all day there.

If you’re visiting Wicker Park during the summer, go put your name down at Big Star. This is a Chicago favorite, with a huge patio, delicious tacos, and refreshing margaritas. While you’re waiting for your table to be ready, go shopping around Damen and Milwaukee avenues! There are tons of interesting stores, AND a Jeni’s Ice Cream. Yes, I’m suggesting you get dessert before lunch.

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If you can squeeze it in…

Go to a Cubs game. Tickets can be kind of pricey these days ever since their World Series win in 2016 (best year ever), but the experience of catching a game during the summer just can’t be beat. Grab a beer and a hot dog, bring sunscreen, and you’ll be set for the day. It’s truly one of the most local experiences you can have.

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Getting Around Chicago and Safety

Chicago has one of the best public transportations systems in the country (aside from New York). You can take a bus or train to get almost anywhere! Ubers/Lyfts are also plentiful, and not too expensive unless it’s surging.

I personally do not take the El (train) after ~9pm by myself. It can get a little seedy, BUT the bus system is generally very safe. I have taken the bus home from the bars at 2am before with no problem (but if you’re my mom or dad, you didn’t read that).

It’s very easy to feel safe in Chicago, especially if you’re in touristy areas on the North Side. However, remember that crime happens in all big cities and you need to be aware of your surroundings. When it comes to getting around, it’s always better to be safe than sorry with Ubers/Lyfts/cabs.

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Any questions? Something I missed? Comment below! Enjoy Chicago!

If you liked this post, you’ll like:
Where to Eat in Chicago
Guide to the Neighborhoods of Chicago
The Best Ice Cream in Chicago
What to Buy for a Chicago Winter
3 Years in Chicago

The post Weekend Guide to Chicago appeared first on love always, audrey.

In 2018 I hope to travel a bit more to new places (I find myself going to the same places over and over again, mostly Arizona since I love going home). Idan and I are hopefully visiting Israel in May (!!!) and I would like to squeeze in one more international trip if I can. Everything on here is on my personal travel wish list, and I know that any jetsetter would love these items! Without further ado, some gifts for travelers:

Shop these gifts for travelers:

Travel hair dryer // Silk eye mask // Carry-on suitcase // Luggage tag // Cosmetics case // Passport case // Sleepy lotion

P.S. Don’t forget to check out the Holiday 2017 page, with more gift guides and holiday fun!

The post Gifts For The Travel Bug appeared first on love always, audrey.

Mexico City has been on my radar for a while now. Recently, I won a trip to Paradisus Los Cabos (in Cabo) as part of a social media contest (post about that coming later), but it was for 3 days and we wanted a longer summer vacation. “Where else in Mexico can we go for another leg of the trip?” we wondered, and that’s how our Mexico City trip was born.

Summing up this post in case you don’t have time to read: I definitely recommend visiting Mexico City. Okay, moving on to the details!

Note: I took almost every single one of these photos with my Sony a6000. I’ve sung this camera’s praises here, and really, really recommend this camera for trips! All other photos were taken with my iPhone 7+ which also takes stunning photos, especially in portrait mode.

Where We Stayed

We stayed at the Hyatt Regency in Polanco and loved it. The hotel is right in the Chapultepec Park where the National Museum of Anthropology and Castillo de Chapultepec are located! Their breakfast buffet was extraordinary (they had a make-your-own chilaquiles bar… sold.) and their service was really great. We would definitely stay there again!

Museo Estudio Diego Rivera y Frida Kahlo (Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera’s house)

This was the absolute best way to start our trip. Visiting Frida Kahlo’s house was like Disneyland for artists. It’s exactly what you’d imagine it to be: colorful and fascinating. We loved learning about her life – she truly was an incredible woman! Also, her ashes are in an urn in her house still. Kind of creepy but cool? Cool.

This kitchen!! Look carefully at the tiling.

All her paints are exactly as she left them before she died.

Floating Gardens of Xochimilco

We loved this part of the trip. Reviews online are mixed, but Idan and I truly enjoyed it. Our tour (this was the same day as the Frida Kahlo visit) took us to Xochimilco, which is known for its floating gardens (the boats you see here).

While on the boat, a boat with a Mariachi band came and tied up next to us, and then they came onto our boat and played for us! It was around 180 pesos per song, and everyone on the boat pitched in. They even took requests!

THEN, this woman who has a “restaurant” on her boat came and served us all lunch! The food was absolutely delicious. It was perfect.

Diego Rivera mural at the National University of Mexico

On the last part of our Frida Kahlo – Xochimilco tour day, we stopped by the National University of Mexico. It’s a gorgeous campus and we loved seeing the Diego Rivera mural. One thing that we found so interesting about the campus was that there were so many dogs there! It was like one giant dog park that everyone in Mexico City was at – and SOOO many breeds were represented! We were seriously fascinated by this (and also tried to pet every dog we could).

Teotihuacan Pyramids Tour

This was suuuuch a fun day. We took a tour with a company from Viator, and they picked us up in the city and drove us out to the pyramids. Looking at reviews of the tour company now, I’m actually pretty surprised at some of the negatives – we had a really good time. So I guess use whatever tour company you want, but you should definitely go to the pyramids no matter what!

We were really glad we wore workout clothes – these things are HUGE and we climbed multiple pyramids. Also, two people in our group fell so you definitely have to watch your step.

After the tour, they took us to a local market where we learned about mezcal and tequila and had a tasting! I learned that I do not like mezcal. They also taught us about Obsidian, a rock that the local culture was known for exporting. It wasn’t really my style but I did appreciate the art of how they sculpt the rock!

Then they took us to a cute little restaurant where they had a Mariachi band and a buffet… two things I am known for enjoying. The food wasn’t stellar but after a full morning of hiking pyramids, food just sounded really good. Plus look at the tables!

Palacio de Bellas Artes (Palace of the Fine Arts)

How beautiful is this building?! That’s Mexico City’s Palace of the Fine Arts. I have about 500 more photos of this on my computer but here are the best ones.

TIP: There’s a Sears across the street from the palace that has a coffee shop on one of their top floors – visit there for the best view! You’ll have to buy a coffee but it’s totally worth it. Plus, the coffee is pretty good there!

With my Sony a6000! I can’t recommend this camera enough.

On our last night here, we ended up seeing the Ballet Folklorico de Mexico at the Palace. This is not your typical ballet – it’s a mix of traditional Mexican dances! It was completely mesmerizing and beautiful and I absolutely recommend going to see this show. We sat in the nosebleeds (like, the very top row. There were no rows behind us) and it was still amazing! I think tickets ended up being like $20 each in USD.

I wore this fun yellow dress and brought this Packed Party zip pouch along with me – it was the perfect little clutch for the night!

Free Walking Tour with Estación Mexico

One cool thing we did was a free walking tour! We met in the morning at the Zocalo (City Center) and walked allllll around. Our tour guide was super friendly and knowledgeable and we just loved her! You obviously have to tip at the end (it’s a “free” tour) but Idan and I thought it was worth every peso. ;) You can book your tour here!

This is the city center where they have a model of the Pyramids! They don’t look so daunting when they’re in model form.

I just loved all the tile detailing all over the city.

We ran into a protest! I don’t know what they were protesting, though, ha.

This is their POST OFFICE.

Have you ever seen a post office that is this pretty?! Nope, me neither.

This shot ^ was Idan’s idea. Gotta give credit where credit is due!

Chinatown in Mexico City! Who knew?

Look at these cakes (!!!)!

There was color and texture everywhere we turned.

Casa de los Azulejos (House of Tiles)

Of COURSE I loved this building. It’s covered in gorgeous tile (the pics might not do it justice) and is just the prettiest thing I’ve ever seen. It’s a 2 minute walk from the Palace of the Fine Arts!

I got this shot with my Sony a6000 by lowering the shutter speed and increasing the f-stop. I love that it can be shot with automatic or manual mode so I can play around with the settings!

Lucha Libre Fight

One of the most entertaining things we did was go to a Lucha Libre fight. Since the tickets were relatively hard to buy online, we decided to get adventurous and walk to the stadium ourselves to get our tickets.

First of all, the walk there is super seedy. There was a point where Idan whispered to me to put my camera away… so there’s that. I would probably take a cab there if I had to do it again! When we got there, we saw this area to buy tickets and assumed noone was home. Wouldn’t you?

But after speaking with some other Americans, we found out that there was a person behind the counter, and it’s just a one-way mirror, ha! After the trek there and the language barrier to buy tickets, we were pretty proud of ourselves once we had tickets in hand.

The show itself was awesome. It was everything I expected it to be – and it wasn’t overly touristy either! There were soooo many Mexican families there – their kids could not get enough. Once I got past the misogyny of the half-naked girls introducing the fighters (is it actually possible to get past that? I hate it. That’s a conversation for another time, though. #feminist), the show was really funny and entertaining. I definitely recommend seeing this show!

Market de Ciudadela

We loved visiting the Market de Ciudadela. It’s sensory overload in the best possible way. We brought plenty of cash and I ended up taking home some fun textiles for my bedroom!

Secretaria de Educacion Publica (Secratary of Public Education Building)

We loved visiting this special building. It’s where the Secretary of Public Education office is, and it houses some really amazing murals by Diego Rivera. Besides being know as Frida Kahlo’s husband, Diego Rivera was a known communist and amazing artist, and all of his murals have a lot of meaning. If you visit here, I would recommend googling all the murals in advance to see what they mean – we found ourselves looking them up a lot while we were there and we loved learning their history!

I want to live in this courtyard.

Castillo de Chapultepec

This 18th-century palace served as the home of the Mexican President until 1939 and now houses the famous Museo Nacional de Historia and it. is. stunning.

¡Viva Mexico!

National Museum of Anthropology (Museo Nacional de Antropologia)

This museum is SO COOL. You can see so many historical artifacts it’ll make your head spin! And their exhibit on evolution is really interesting. You could spend hours in this museum so wear your walking shoes! Admission is 57 pesos per adult.

Where to Eat: Azul Historico

This was probably my favorite meal we had on the trip. Our friends got us reservations at this place and we were so thankful! I ordered chilaquiles rojas and ate it in approximately 5 minutes. The whole restaurant was so beautifully decorated and we loved the ambiance.

Where to Eat: Churreria el Moro

We visited this delicious Churro place a few times while in Mexico City. It’s THAT good. But we did have to wait a decent amount of time in line – worth it!

Where to Eat: Mercado Roma

This place had the coolest atmosphere – it was like a farmer’s market in that it had many different food stations with every cuisine you could think of. Admittedly, the meal we had was not good — we ordered tacos and guac, thinking that local flavor would be best! But then we looked around and all the locals were eating cuisines from other cultures – Japanese, Italian, and even American burgers, ha! So if you go here I would recommend NOT ordering traditional Mexican food and following whatever the locals are doing!

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For Next Time:

There were a few things we didn’t get to do that are definitely on my list for next time (and there will be a next time)… touring the Luis Barragán houses, doing a street food walking tour, and taking a cooking class with Casa Jacaranda. I also think that next time I’d like to try staying in a different neighborhood, like Roma or Condesa. Every neighborhood is different and has its own individual feel.

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Some Tips For Visiting Mexico City:

• Bring lots of loose change in pesos for public bathrooms. All of the public restrooms in Mexico City charge you a few pesos to use them. Also, some charge extra for toilet paper so bring some tissues with you!
• Brush up on your Spanish and/or download Google Translate. Surprisingly, very few people we encountered spoke any English. The language barrier was difficult at times, but not insurmountable.
• Don’t drink the water! I don’t need to tell you why. Also, keep a bottle of water in the bathroom for brushing your teeth! And don’t eat fresh fruit/veggies.
• Take Ubers instead of taxis and avoid rush hour at all costs. We took like 3 taxis the whole time we were there and had terrible experiences. Uber was really great there, though! If you haven’t used Uber before, click here for a free ride!
• Have your hotel concierge book your restaurant reservations as many people don’t speak English and you’ll have trouble on your own.
• Book the most popular restaurants months in advance – they didn’t have any availability at some of the restaurants we wanted to go to (ex: Pujol).
• Call your cell phone provider and ask if they provide coverage in Mexico – mine did!

Safety

I’m by no means an expert, but we felt safe in Mexico City almost the entire time we were there. The only time we were a little worried was while walking to the Lucha Libre stadium – and even that wasn’t that bad. If you’re street smart, you’ll be fine. I’ve felt more worried in Chicago before than I did in Mexico City! And we were all saying on the trip that we felt safer there than we would in Europe right now. So there’s that.

Weather

We visited in early July and it was beautiful in the mornings (70 and sunny) and super rainy/drizzly/cold in the evenings. It rained every day from 5-7pm pretty much on the dot. I was glad that we packed light jackets! But we did have to run to a store for umbrellas at one point.

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Overall, I highly recommend visiting Mexico City. It’s such a great, colorful city – very metropolitan but also full of fascinating history. It’s also relatively inexpensive and can definitely be done on the cheap! I will absolutely be visiting again.

If you liked this post, you’ll like:
Paris 5-day Itinerary
London 5-day Itinerary
Tips for Traveling to Paris and London
Chicago Weekend Guide
Phoenix Travel Guide

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Would you visit Mexico City? Do you have questions? Comment below!

PIN FOR LATER:

The post Visiting Mexico City appeared first on love always, audrey.

I currently live in Chicago, but I grew up in the gorgeous 48th state of Arizona, and visit about once every few months. AZ is quite a stranger to most people who haven’t been there — many people I talk to imagine cacti, tumbleweeds, and dirt. And while Arizona does have all of that, it has a lot more to offer, and it’s a lot prettier than people think! I’ve lived in quite a few cities in AZ — Tempe, Flagstaff, Gilbert, and Scottsdale. Each city in Arizona has something different for everyone, and I wanted to highlight the best things to do in Arizona, especially if you’re vacationing there. If you currently live in AZ, you might learn about something you didn’t know before!

I’ve broken everything out by general geographic area, but know that the Phoenix metro area is surrounded by multiple freeways, so nothing is too far away.

I’ll be updating this list frequently, so be sure to check back if you’re planning a trip! Also feel free to give me a shout if you’re visiting Arizona and have more questions; I’m more than happy to brag about this amazing state!

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WHAT TO EAT:
(Food broken down by neighborhood)

Phoenix

The Clever Koi
OMG you guys, this place is divine. I recently went to this delicious Asian food restaurant and got some ramen. Let me tell you — The Clever Koi lived up to all my expectations and more. NOTE: The Clever Koi is also now open in Downtown Gilbert.

Pizzeria Bianco
I could go on all day about this place, but the reviews of Pizzeria Bianco speak for themselves:

“The New York Times call the pizza ‘perhaps the best in America’ (‘The Road to Pizza Nirvana goes through Phoenix’, NYT, July 2004.)”
“Rachael Ray declared Pizzeria Bianco the winner of her Pizza Madness Bracket, a contest of pizzerias across the nation in 2010.”

If you’re going for dinner, be sure to get there with some time to wait! The lines can get pretty long, especially on the weekends.

Matt’s Big Breakfast
Matt’s is your typical local breakfast joint, and it’s popular for a good reason. But fair warning: be prepared for a bit of a wait! This place is that popular, and they only take reservations for parties of 6 or more. They also have a new-ish location in the Biltmore Area.

Culinary Dropout + The Yard
Culinary Dropout has an eclectic American menu, but perhaps the most important dish is the pretzel bites. They come with a vat of cheese for dipping, and it’s impossible to resist. At their Phoenix location, this restaurant is attached to a place called The Yard, which has lawn games and a huge patio! Definitely recommend if you want a chill night out! Plus, it’s cooled during the summer so you can still enjoy it, even in August.

The Coronado
The Coronado is a vegetarian/vegan restaurant, coffee shop, and bar located in the historic Coronado neighborhood of Phoenix. This neighborhood is positively full of gorgeous historic homes that I want to move into immediately. Eat and drink here, then walk around the neighborhood during the day and gawk at the houses!

Beckett’s Table
Beckett’s Table is a very popular comfort-food oasis, with unique twists on American seasonal favorites. If you’re looking for some Southern hospitality, check out their sister restaurant, Southern Rail.

Flower Child
Flower Child is a Fox restaurant, and it certainly lives up to its parent company’s success. It’s healthy and adorable, with cute decor and a great outdoor seating area! Plus, it’s right next to some of my favorite stores: Frances, Local Nomad, and Practical Art.

Phoenix Public Market + Café
I’m into any place that sells local goodies and delicious food. Phoenix Public Market is an open-air market that’s open year round, and features local farmers and artists looking to celebrate neighborhoods and neighbors. The café, on the other hand, is a a casual urban hangout offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The open-air market is open Saturdays (May-Sep) from 8 am to Noon, and Saturdays (Oct-Apr) from 8 am to 1 pm, so if I were you I’d go during one of these times so you can experience the Market AND Café at the same time! Bingo!

Desoto Central Market
Desoto is a great gathering place for a group with many unique eating habits. They combine quite a few boutique eateries such as an oyster bar, a burger joint, a Southern kitchen, Mexican-Asian fusion, a coffee + tea shop, and a salad and fresh-pressed juice kitchen. Desoto also is home to many free classes and events, like yoga, Latin dancing, and swing dancing to a live swing band!

Federal Pizza
Another great pizza place in Phoenix is found in Federal Pizza. Created by one of my favorite restaurant groups, Upward Projects, Federal Pizza has something for everyone. They have an extensive and creative salad menu, as well as, of course, pizza. I recommend the meatball trio as an appetizer!

Windsor
Another Upwards Projects concept, Windsor is a New American mecca. Their menu is pretty expansive, and the best part is that they’re attached to Churn. Up next…

Churn
Churn is attached to Windsor, and is by far my favorite ice cream in Arizona. Yes, the whole state. Their delicious ice cream is homemade, freshly churned, and has only good stuff – no chemicals. Their staff are the friendliest people you’ll ever meet, and they sell a variety of vintage goodies for the kid at heart. Grab a cone (or two) and sit on their back patio (which is heated during the winter). It’s divine.

Joyride Taco House
Joyride is and forever will be one of my favorite Mexican joints. The decor is impeccable, and their patio is amazing. Everything they serve is absolutely perfect, from their margaritas to their tacos and burritos. Definitely check them out if you want some Mexican flavor!

Luci’s Healthy Marketplace
Luci’s is a great little lunch spot with a twist: not only do they have good prepared food (and iced tea), but they have a store with natural/organic local and regional vendors, including food, wine and beer, supplements, cosmetics, baby care, pet care, cleaning, gifts and more. It’s like a mini, local Whole Foods!

Cibo
Cibo serves up 100% neapolitan pizza and they serve it up GOOD. But don’t take my word for it — look at their menu here.

Tempe

House of Tricks
House of Tricks is a local favorite; they have a rotating menu by season and it’s always good! My favorite dish there in the past was the bone marrow — if they have it, try it!

Oregano’s
With its multiple locations all over the state of AZ, Oregano’s has awesome Italian food in a great atmosphere — it’s very casual! They have a ton of locations, so be sure to see if there’s one near where you’re staying (there probably is). Oh, and you can’t go there without getting a pizza cookie (a melty chocolate chip cookie with a few scoops of vanilla ice cream on top).

The Yard
The Yard I mentioned above is also in Tempe! Go there for drinks, games, and a fun atmosphere, and thank me later!

Cornish Pasty Co
Cornish is a Tempe staple, and one of my all time favorites. A pasty is kind of like a hand pie, and filled with yummy goodness. Idan’s favorite is The Pilgrim, which tastes like Thanksgiving, and my favorite is The Chicken Pot Pie or The Meatball. You must go here if you’re in Tempe! There’s also a location in Old Town Scottsdale.

North Scottsdale

North Italia
North Italia is a delicious Italian food restaurant with locations in both North Scottsdale (Kierland Commons) and Arcadia. They’re so good!

True Food Kitchen
True Food is my family’s go-to. Their food is affordable, healthy, and delicious! It’s great for any meal. They actually just opened a location in Chicago as well (thank goodness)! Everyone I know loves True Food Kitchen — give it a shot!

Old Town Scottsdale

Postino, multiple locations
My all-time favorite restaurant in Phoenix is Postino — they have tons of locations in Tempe, Scottsdale, Phoenix, Gilbert, and North Scottsdale. It’s an appetizer and wine bar (serving sandwiches and salads as well), and the best thing to do there is get a bottle and a bruschetta board! You can get both for $20 on Mondays and Tuesdays after 8pm. Another suggestion would be to split a salad and a bruschetta board with a friend.

Chopshop, Tempe, Chandler, Paradise Valley, and Old Town Scottsdale
Chopshop is another one of my all-time favs — it’s a very healthy fast-casual restaurant with locations in Tempe, Old Town Scottsdale, and Downtown Chandler. My favorite things there are the beet salad and the kale cleanse juice.

Chompies, Tempe and Scottsdale
If you’re looking for a typical Jewish deli, Chompies is it. They have locations in Tempe and Scottsdale, and the best matzah ball soup in AZ. Pick up a box of black and white cookies while you’re there!

Olive & Ivy, Old Town Scottsdale
Olive & Ivy is the perfect date night spot in Scottsdale! It’s not too pricey, but it feels luxurious enough to make any dinner there a special one. The service is impeccable, too!

Barrio Queen
This is another one of my family’s staples! Barrio Queen serves amazing Mexican food — and if you go, you have to get the tableside guac!

Arcadia Farms Cafe
This cute little place is just lovely for lunch! Again with the New American food — can’t go wrong with that, though right? Everything here is local, fresh, natural, and organic.

The Mission
World-renowned Latin cuisine in the heart of Old Town Scottsdale. You’ll love it.

Sugar Bowl
The Sugar Bowl is a super old, super famous, and super delicious vintage dessert restaurant! The brownie sundae is my go-to, but I also have gone for just a cup of coffee with friends. It’s Instagram heaven, too. Check out the arcade games in the back!

Sumomaya
Sumomaya is a delicious twist on Mexican AND Asian food — you have to try it to believe it. Be sure to make a reservation… this place gets packed!

Arcadia (between Scottsdale and Phoenix)

OHSO Brewery
OHSO is one of my Phoenix all-time favorites. It’s a brewery with GREAT food, and they encourage dogs on the back patio! The Arcadia location backs up to a canal, and during nice weather months it’s common to see people biking to and from OHSO along the canal. They even have a bike station with tools so you can give your wheels a tune up while waiting for your food! Win! NOTE: They are opening up another location in Downtown Gilbert soon!

The Stand
Okay guys, The Stand is one of Arcadia’s best-kept secrets and in my opinion, completely underrated. The Stand serves up burgers, tacos, and some damn delicious milkshakes. Don’t say I never told you about this hidden gem!

Chelsea’s Kitchen
I LOOOVE this place! They have free salted chocolate chip cookies for while you’re waiting (in a jar at the front), and they have a great back patio with a fantastic atmosphere. A true local restaurant, this will always be one of my favorites.

The Henry
I know I keep saying that all these restaurants are my favorites, but it’s because they are! The Henry has an amazing brunch menu and their patio is amazing. If you need a place to work from home, The Henry it is! They have a whole separate room with huge tables, outlets aplenty, and free wifi. It’s my go-to whenever I work from Phoenix (which is quite often). When the weather is nice, the patio is delightful (especially if you can get by the fire!).

The Parlor
The Parlor is a fantastic pizza spot in Central Phoenix right by the Biltmore. They have amazing pizza, but I’m especially a fan of their risotto.

La Grande Orange
La Grande Orange is a cult Phoenix favorite. A combined dessert and gift/kitchen shop, they also have a cute little restaurant on the side with yummy pizza. Personally, I like to go here for the desserts and gifts. They make the most darling cakes for special occasions — show up with one of these at a birthday dinner and you’re sure to be the best guest! Don’t forget to get a shot of the infamous orange mural (pictured above). It’s the cutest thing!

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WHAT TO DRINK:

The Beverly (Old Town Scottsdale)
The Beverly is a classy cocktail bar, and a great date spot! Idan and I and our friends frequent this every time I’m in town (there are about 5 more pictures just like the ones above, we’re just wearing different clothes).

UnderTow
According to all my friends who still live there, UnderTow is THE newest, hottest bar. It’s an underwater-themed tiki bar and you have to make a reservation to get in. Your visit is limited to 90 minutes because it’s that popular. If you go, let me know how it is!

Cold Beers & Cheeseburgers (Old Town Scottsdale)
This place is exactly what it sounds like. Go here to watch a sports game (go sports!).

Whiskey Row (Old Town Scottsdale)
If you want country music, you’ve got it at Whiskey Row! It’s Dierks Bentley’s bar, and he’s known to make appearances from time to time

Casey Moore’s Oyster House (Tempe)
Casey Moore’s is a cult Tempe favorite; an old Irish bar filled to the brim with hipsters and craft beer. I think they serve oysters, too. ;)

Four Peaks Brewing Co (Tempe)
One of AZ’s proudest achievements: Four Peaks Brewing Co. Get a Kiltlifter if you go! It’s their most popular brew.

Bitter & Twisted (Downtown Phoenix)
Bitter & Twisted is a classy cocktail bar in the heart of Downtown Phoenix. Perfect for date night or an evening out with the girls!

The Whining Pig (previously The Cat’s Meow) (Arcadia)
This interesting bar has classic game consoles like Nintendo at every table, plus lifesize billiards with bowling balls! They also have old classic snacks for purchase if you’re feeling nostalgic. I absolutely love this unique spot!

Crescent Ballroom (Downtown Phoenix)
This bar and concert venue is perfect if you can catch a show! Find their schedule here.

The Duce (Downtown Phoenix)
A quirky place with a boxing ring smack in the middle. They have fresh juice cocktails and lots of games to play!

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THE PHOENIX COFFEE SCENE

Sip Coffee & Beer House (Old Town Scottsdale and Arcadia)
Sip has great coffee, tea, and beer. They’re a daytime and late-night venue, and they often have live music (call ahead and check!). They also have board games so good luck not spending your entire night there.

Cartel Coffee Lab (Old Town Scottsdale and Tempe)
Hipsters of Scottsdale and Tempe unite at Cartel Coffee Lab. They really do have good coffee, though, and a lot of space indoors and outside for working or catching up with a friend.

Press Coffee Roasters (North Scottsdale)
If you’re looking for a great coffee shop in North Scottsdale, this is the one. It’s in the Kierland Commons mall, and has a great selection of beverages. I personally love their teas, and can spend hours on hours sitting there and working and watching people go by.

Lux (Downtown Phoenix)
Out of all of these coffee shops, Lux is the greatest. It’s a downtown cult favorite, with a lot of space and a variety of different foods and drinks. Lux is open late and they do serve alcohol, so you can burn the midnight oil or grab cocktails with friends. Be sure to grab one of their free postcards — they’re always creative and are fun to collect!

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WHAT TO DO IN PHOENIX

Hike Camelback Mountain
There are 2 trails — Cholla and Echo Canyon. Depending on who you talk to, one is easier than the other, so I won’t sway you either way. But I will say this: no matter which side you hike up, this hike isn’t for the faint of heart — it’s pretty difficult so be prepared! And for Pete’s sake, please don’t hike in the summertime. I do not want to see you on the news one day. Don’t be a hero.

Hike Piestewa Peak
Another of my favorite hikes in Phoenix. It’s right off of the 51 freeway, so very easy to get to from wherever you’re staying! This is also a tough hike, but I believe in you!

Hike Tom’s Thumb
If you’re looking for an easier hike, check out Tom’s Thumb on the McDowell Mountain Preserve. An easier hike with the same entrance is the Gateway Loop, about a 3.6 mile loop with a steady incline. When I lived in Scottsdale, I hiked Gateway all the time before work in the morning! It takes about an hour if you’re speedy.

Hike the Hole in the Rock
I can hardly call this a hike. Known more for its picturesque views, Hole in the Rock is located right by the Desert Botanical Garden and the Phoenix Zoo. The entire hike will take you about 15 minutes (if that), but the view from the “top” is really gorgeous. Note: I “hiked” this in a dress and sandals once, if that tells you how easy it is!

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Take a day trip to Sedona

Sedona is, in my opinion, one of the most gorgeous places on the planet. The red rocks are absolutely stunning any time of day. Sedona is about a 2 hour drive from Phoenix, and it’s almost a straight shot up the I-17. If you go to Sedona, you have to go hiking. Some of my favorite hikes are Cathedral Rock (difficult), Devil’s Bridge (moderate), and West Fork (easy). You can also hike down to the picturesque Oak Creek Canyon, where I spent many weekends when I was in school at Northern Arizona University.

Keep in mind – if you park anywhere in Sedona that’s not a parking lot, you’ll need a Red Rock Pass. A daily pass is $5, but you can get weekly passes as well for cheaper.

Downtown Sedona is a bit touristy but there are some great places to eat and shop! Some of my favorites are Picazzo’s (gluten-free everything, and it’s so yummy), Javelina Cantina (Mexican food), and the L’Auberge Restaurant.

You can’t go to Sedona without exploring Tlaquepaque. This amazing place (don’t make me spell it again) is a haven for local artists. You’ll love the architecture, stores, and restaurants. Leave yourself a few hours to explore — you’re going to need it!

Now, when you’re done exploring Sedona, if you have time, drive North up the switchbacks and…

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Explore Flagstaff

I’m partial to Flagstaff because it’s where I went to college, but I truly am in love with this little mountain town. Go explore Downtown Flagstaff — they have amazing restaurants, unique stores, and beautiful historic buildings. This will have to be another guide for another time, but be sure to walk around the historic downtown square, as well as the few blocks South of the railroad tracks. Some of my recommendations for food are Diablo Burger, the Lumberyard, and Criollo Latin Kitchen. If you’re there in the morning, you absolutely must check out Macy’s Coffee and Biff’s Bages (across the street from each other). If you have time, go up to Snowbowl to see the gorgeous mountain and if it’s warm enough, take the ski lift up to the top! Now back to Phoenix…

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Things To Do In Phoenix

Lounge at The Westin Scottsdale
Go to the pool at the Westin in North Scottsdale — they have a lazy river and it’s perfect for cooling off!

Chill at The Teapot on 5th
The Teapot is a family-friendly tea and coffee house located on Phoenix’s historic Roosevelt Row. It also serves as an event space! Bring the kids–they’ll have a blast.

Explore Old Town Scottsdale. Aside from all the amazing restaurants, there are tons of art galleries and interesting shops! You could spend all day here.

Watch Live Bull Riding at The Buffalo Chip in Cave Creek
Go to the Buffalo Chip to watch live bull riding on Friday at 8pm, 9:30pm, or 10:45pm. It’s free, but a bit of a drive unless you’re staying in Cave Creek! I think it’s worth the drive; you won’t have ever seen anything like it if you’re not from the Southwest.

Desert Botanical Garden
The Desert Botanical Garden is home to AZ’s beautiful desert foliage. Stay awhile, take pictures, and if you’re there during the right time of the year, check out the Chihuly Exhibit!

Musical Instrument Museum
I’ve never been to the MIM but I’ve only heard good things, and I do have it planned for the next time I visit home! MIM has been recognized by TripAdvisor as one of the top 20 museums in the United States and is rated the #1 attraction in Phoenix by TripAdvisor reviewers.

Roosevelt Row Arts District
Roosevelt Row is a cool walking area where you can see some of the best arts & culture Phoenix has to offer! This is in Downtown Phoenix right off of 3rd st and Roosevelt. Check out some of the murals; especially all the bird art pieces!

Phoenix Art Museum
I love the Phoenix Art Museum; it’s the perfect summer activity (you know, when going outside is not an option). Their photography and fashion collections are amazing, and definitely visit during First Fridays!

Go Vintage Shopping on 7th Avenue
The Melrose District on 7th Ave is well known for being vintage heaven. Check out Modern Manor for midcentury modern furniture, Retro Ranch for vintage clothes, Melrose Vintage for various vintage goods (this one is great for the Francophile), and Zinnias for an eclectic mix of all of the above. If you’re in town at the right time, you might be able to catch Sweet Salvage, a vintage shopping event that happens the 3rd weekend of each month. Trust me, it’s worth the wait. Bring cash so you can scoop up your goodies before someone else does!

Grab a book and a beer at First Draft Book Bar
My favorite bookstore from my childhood, Changing Hands, opened this second location a few years ago and it’s been wildly successful–I mean, who doesn’t want to sip on a cold one while enjoying their new favorite book? If you find yourself in Tempe, visit the original Changing Hands. It’s one of my top 10 favorite places on the planet.

Arizona Science Center
Even as an adult, I think the AZ Science Center is so cool. I’ve been going since I was a kid, and every time I go there’s something new to learn!

Rent a boat on Saguaro Lake
Have some fun in the Arizona sun! Renting a boat on Saguaro Lake is relatively inexpensive, and super fun! Pack sunscreen — that AZ sun is unrelenting.

Paddle board on Tempe Town Lake
Tempe Town Lake is another man-made body of water, but it offers great views of downtown Tempe! Again, bring your sunscreen and have fun!

Go horseback riding
It’s Arizona, and horse ranches are aplenty. A few well-rated places for horseback riding around the Phoenix area include Spur Cross Stables, Cave Creek Trail Rides, and MTM Ranch! If you want to venture outside of Phoenix, you can look at some of these places.

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Shopping:

Frances
This modern boutique in Central Phoenix is charming and full of AZ pride. I love shopping here for gifts, or when I need a little something for myself that reminds me of home. I would compare their clothing and accessory collection to Anthropologie (but local). Definitely check this place out! If you visit during December, definitely attend their indie craft festival, Crafeteria. And if you’re a music fan, visit Stinkweeds next door for a huge selection of vinyl records.

Bunky Boutique
This cute little boutique in Phoenix LOVES Arizona. I practically drool over their Instagram every day; everything is just so darling! Their products are super unique and just scream “desert goddess.” This is a must visit!

Phoenix General
Phx General co-owners Kenny Barrett and Joshua Hahn handpick locally made gifts that are ethically created, sustainably sourced, and that invoke the “Desert Modern” aesthetic. So yeah, I want to shop here all the time.

Vida Moulin
This Phoenix boutique just screams bohemian, and I want everything they sell, including their cute swimsuits.

The Biltmore Fashion Park (In between Phoenix and Scottsdale)
This mall covers almost all of my favorites, like lululemon, Jo Malone, and J.Crew. It also houses some of my favorite food spots: Blanco Tacos & Tequila, and True Food Kitchen. While you’re in the area, check out Nordstrom Last Chance down the street!

Last Chance
Nordstrom’s Last Chance is a crazy money saving store for people who have a lot of patience and a lot of coffee. You have to dig, but once you find the perfect sweater/boots/handbag, it’s all worth it. For example, one time I bought a Marc Jacobs bag for $30. It had a few tears in the nylon, so I took it to a seamstress and she fixed it for $6. The bag was $500 new, and I got it for $36 + a little bit of sweat. If you see something you love, don’t put it down for a second, lest it be scooped up by another hungry shopper. You’ve been warned. Happy shopping!

Scottsdale Quarter & Kierland
The Scottsdale Quarter & Kierland are right across the street from each other (and you can easily walk between both). They have quite the selection of favorites, like J. Crew, Anthropologie, Lululemon, etc. The mall is outdoors, and it’s really pretty walk around during nicer weather months! If you go, check out True Food Kitchen or North Italia for lunch or dinner.

Outlet Shopping
Phoenix is home to many outlet malls, including the Phoenix Premium Outlets, the Outlets at Anthem (on your way up north to Sedona or Flagstaff), and the Tanger Outlets in Glendale.

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Seasonal Phoenix and Scottsdale Events — Mark Your Calendar!

Winter

Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction

Waste Management Phoenix Open

Spring

Cubs Spring Training

McDowell Mountain Music Festival

Scottsdale Culinary Festival Various dates throughout the winter and spring

Spring AZ Restaurant Week

Chipotle Cultivate Festival

Spring Junk In The Trunk Vintage Market

Fall/Holiday

Fall Junk In The Trunk Vintage Market

Arizona Taco Festival

Glendale Glitters

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I will be updating this Phoenix travel guide frequently, so keep coming back! If you have any other suggestions, please let me know; I’m always open to adding to the list. Enjoy the sunshine!

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