3 Greens Market is part coffee shop, part food buffet, and part cafe serving burgers from a fav...
If you’re traveling with your family and want to hear Chicago blues or jazz, it can be tricky...
Andy’s Thai Kitchen is a smaller restaurant. One of my favorites is a duck egg dish, which is...
The Art Institute of Chicago is one of the top museums in the world and has an impressive array...
If you want a cozy, intimate blues experience, this is the place to go. There isn’t a bad sea...
Bar Louie is part of a group of bars, and there are several in Chicago. I prefer the one on Pol...
Bavette’s is one of my favorite places to eat in the city. I love the atmosphere, which featu...
Buona Terra is a small, family-owned restaurant with excellent Italian food. I recommend the gr...
At the Burger Bar Chicago, you can choose from do-it-for-me gourmet burgers or you can build yo...
This is my favorite Mexican restaurant in the city. They have an extensive menu, including seve...
Cafecito is relatively new and has three locations. It is a coffeehouse specializing in Cuban s...
This restaurant is in the bustling area near Rush & Division, which is popular among tourists a...
Caro Mio Italian Restaurant is another neighborhood eatery I recommend. The gnocchi with vodka ...
The Chicago Architecture Foundation is renowned for its historical and architectural tours of t...
If you’re looking for luxury accommodations close to the starting line, consider the Chicago ...
The steak at Chicago Cut can be summed up in one word: Yummy! In addition to the tasty food, th...
This restaurant is a must-try when you’re in Chicago, whether you’re a vegetarian, vegan, p...
City Suites Chicago is a great place to stay if you want to be in a bustling neighborhood, expe...
Outdoor dining is hugely popular in Chicago, but unfortunately, our summer season is way too sh...
I love the Congress Plaza Hotel and Convention Center because it’s close to the starting line...
If you want lodging that is reasonably priced and feels more like a condo than a hotel, we high...
My body would freak out if it ate a vegetable! But when I tried Dimo's, it was so good I couldn...
Ditka’s is a highly regarded Chicago favorite has really good lobster bisque and is known for...
DMK Burger Bar is my favorite burger place! I highly recommends the guac burger. It’s yum in ...
Duck Duck Goat tops my list because of the delicious Asian fusion food they serve and they have...
Just a few years ago, this stretch along the Chicago River was nothing but a desolate stretch o...
Forno Rosso is a casual pizza restaurant with great Neapolitan style pizza. Specialties include...
Freehand Chicago touts itself as a combination of hostel culture, innovative design and a commu...
It is soooo good. You can smell it for blocks. My favorite flavor is the Caramel Crisp—you ge...
This triple-tiered restaurant is a modern classic in Chicago. It’s the standard Gibson’s on...
This Chicago favorite is a crowd pleaser for any pizza eater. Gino’s East offers delicious de...
If you really want to save on hotel costs, consider staying farther out of the city near O’Ha...
If you’re looking to save a few dollars on your lodging, consider the Holiday Inn Chicago Mar...
Hotel Versey is a boutique hotel in a popular neighborhood location on the border of Lincoln Pa...
It’s the seafood at Hugo’s Frog Bar and Fish House that really stands, particularly the fre...
If you book early, the room rates can be family-friendly at the Hyatt Place Chicago/Downtown. T...
I recommend Italian Village because it's more upscale and central. They also have marathon spe...
Want to splurge a bit on dinner? Try Joe’s Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab. This is a L...
One of my favorite ways to see this magnificent city is by kayak. There’s something amazing a...
The facility is fairly large compared to the many smaller, intimate blues bars. This can make i...
La Scarola is a smaller, intimate restaurant with an old-school, Italian and family feel. I sug...
Le Pain Quotidien is a popular French-themed eatery for comfort food, small plates and quick bi...
Little Goat Diner is an upscale restaurant that is good for special occasion dinners—like fin...
The pizza is yum in the tum! I suggest the River North location because it’s typically not su...
While Lula Cafe is known for its brunch, it’s also very good for dinner. They serve standard ...
It is ideal for travelers who want to experience Chicago outside of the Loop. It’s situated o...
A hidden gem! They have the best spaghetti and meatballs in the city. The owner, Mario, will ev...
We have a history here that’s a little more diverse. We had all these expositions that were b...
For a beautiful view of Lake Michigan, walk all the way to the end of Navy Pier. The wind picks...
If you’re not looking to scarf down a heavy portion of steak and potatoes, go to Pacific Stan...
Close to the starting line and a popular hotel for marathoners, the Palmer House is the longest...
They char or fry the cheese then layer the bottom crust with it to give you a distinct Parmesan...
If you're looking to dine where deep dish all began, Pizzeria Uno and Due tops my list for "the...
I don’t eat a lot of meat, but Portillo’s cheeseburger served with an order of cheese fries...
Quartino’s is an Italian restaurant ideal for groups and families. The fun, lively atmosphere...
One of my favorite Italian places in the whole city. It's my go-to spot for Italian, and I've n...
This Lakeview/Lincoln Park restaurant is one of my favorites in the city. Great Italian food in...
This is comedy and improv at its finest, and Second City helped to launch the careers of countl...
I’m a sponsor and a volunteer at Shedd Aquarium. Many of their mammals were injured in the wi...
Spacca Napoli is a neighborhood eatery with some of the freshest Italian food in Chicago. Locat...
The St. Jane Hotel is a newer boutique hotel within a short distance of the starting line. If y...
Stan’s Donuts is scrumptious. I love ALL doughnuts, but my doughnut of choice at Stan’s is ...
Even if you’re not a shopper, I promise that there is a lot to see along the way, such as the...
Sweetgreen is famous for their salads, although they also serve bowls and soups like a waterme...
The Sweetwater Tavern and Grille is conveniently located on Michigan Avenue north relatively cl...
Meat eaters love this all-you-can-eat Brazilian steakhouse where the wait staff comes around to...
Although not as well known as some of the other pizza places in Chicago, Art of Pizza’s deep ...
During the workweek, this is a popular spot for business lunches. The menu has a wide selection...
The Field Museum is one of the largest natural history museums in the world and has an interest...
Although the Green Mill serves up more jazz than blues, I have to include it here. The club and...
As Irish bars go, it’s as close to being an authentic Irish bar as possible in terms of look ...
One of the things you must do while you're in Chicago for the marathon is spend some time by La...
Café Brauer is a Prairie-School-style architectural building completed in 1908 and listed on t...
The Thompson Chicago has a great Gold Coast location. There are so many reasons to love this ho...
A trip to this funky tiki cocktail bar will make you feel like you’re really “in the know....
This relatively new casual restaurant has a lot of grain bowls and healthy options that are als...
This is the original Tuscany restaurant in Chicago and is located in the city’s Little Italy ...
Urban Belly is a great ramen restaurant! It’s hard to go wrong there. I love the coconut curr...
This came recommended by a Racertrips Ambassador, and it lived up to everything he said about i...
Volare is a great choice for runners staying in the Michigan Avenue area. They have excellent p...
I love the great tours of the city they offer! I find the docents fun and informative....