Christmas in the Windy City

It may not officially be winter, but it is already starting to look a lot like Christmas in the Windy City. If you are someone who loves the lights, thrill and cheer of the Holiday Season this post will give you some of the perfect spots to check out around the city.

If you are fan of Eventbrite, a simple search for “Lights Tour” will yield results for a variety of Trolley Tours, Bus Tours and so many other adventures that will aid you in seeing all the shine and sparkle that the city has to offer.  If you’re looking for something more self-guided, hit the spots below for your daily dose of holiday cheer. 

Holiday Lights Tour

This year I had the pleasure of attending a Holiday Lights tour with the Ladies of the Brown Girls Brunch Club. We started the tour on the south side of Chicago in Merrionette Park at 115 Bourbon Street ( 3359 W 115th St, Merrionette Park, IL 60803). Here we boarded the coach bus in preparation for our journey.

Millennium Park

The first stop on our tour was Millennium Park. Here we got to marvel at the lights surrounding the bean, make a quick stop at the restroom and see the Christmas tree. Aside from stopping at the park to observe the lights, there are a number of other holiday attractions. These include Ice Skating at Maggie Daley park or right in Millennium Park at McCormick Tribune Ice Rink, caroling at the bean and even the NEW Millennium Park Art Market.

State Street

After spending time at Millenium park, we loaded the bus for a short drive down to State Street which is home to the Macy's Holiday Windows. There are several windows filled with creative and imaginative Christmas scenes for all ages.

CHRISTKINDLMARKET

Due to the heavy traffic, we unfortunately did not get a chance to head into the market however it is another popular holiday attraction. The market is housed in Daily Plaza and is a bustling hub of activity.

This market is a copy of the Nuremberg Christmas Market in Germany. Here you can not only look at the lights and sounds, you also have the option to purchase things like spiced wine, ornaments, strudel and more.

Zoolights at Lincoln Park Zoo

Since we opted to pass on the market, we got to spend extra time roaming through the twinkling lights and animal pens of Lincoln Park Zoo. Rhey have turned the zoo into a sparkling wonderland for children and adults. It is completely free for all ages and you will find a variety of activities for the family. Not only can you spend time looking at the animals which have not been caged for the winter, you can also enjoy holiday snacks and wine, listen to strolling carolers and numerous other holiday themed activities.

Our journey ended after the zoo however, yours doesn't have to stop there. Check out Frosty's Christmas bar for some adult fun.

Frosty's Christmas Bar

If you are looking for a place with Christmas Cheer and good drinks, Frosty's is the place for you. The bar sits at 809 W Evergreen Ave, Chicago, IL 60622. It can be easily noticed by the large candy cane adorning the entrance.

Pricing

Frosty's does charge a cover, however it can vary depending on the package chosen, tickets can be purchased online. If you are looking to save on coin and simply check out the bar, weekdays are your best bet($15). Weekends the price jumps to $25. They also offer a variety of packages fir New Years and BYOB Trolley Rides.

The Bar

The entrance to the bar is festive and made for the perfect Instagram or Snapchat photos. Upon entering the red curtains you are greeted with wall to wall lighting and the nutcracker standing at attention at the end of a long hallway.

Frosty's although bright and festive was smaller than I originally imagined. The establishment boasts 4 bars and 3 floors of holiday cheer, with the bottom floor being coat check. The main floor is the largest holding 2 full bars.

There are a number of seasonal cocktails to also keep you in the Christmas spirit. I opted for the eggnog.

The drink, although included in my ticket purchase, is generally $12. It was tasty, but very very small. Overall, I was honestly underwhelmed. For it to be a Friday night, I expected more. However, I am open to trying the bar again, if not for anything else but great photos.

Until next time loves... check out the photos below. Don't forget to follow me on Social Media!