Create a Route

You can plan a new trip or share your past travels.

Have an account?

Your email *

Username *

Name of Route *

Opening notes

Route map

The map will be displayed once your route has been saved.

Daily itinerary

Stops for the day

Stops

Enter stops made for this day of travel.

1	Stop Name *
1	Stop Name *

Add a stop

Notes for the day

Stops for the day

Stops

Enter stops made for this day of travel.

1	Stop Name *
1	Stop Name *

Add a stop

Notes for the day

Add a day

Closing notes

Would you like this route to be public or private? *

Public - for completed travel. Share your route with other travelers. Private - for planning future travel. Save under your account for your eyes only.

Just a few more steps and your route will be ready to share!

Route Region *

Travel year *

Terms and Conditions *

I certify that I have personally taken this route and that the opinions and statements are mine alone. I also confirm that I own the rights to the photo(s) and grant permission to The Smart Route to use them in the media.

Cover Image

Maximum file size: 5 MB.

Gallery Images

Maximum file size: 5 MB.

Contact Email (not visible to other users)

Submit route for publishing?

Your route will be submitted for review and published to the site upon approval.

Continue editing?

Your route will remain here in the Route Builder after being saved, allowing you to edit it while browsing the site.

Are you human?

Arrived around 9:15AM on Saturday morning via Amtrak Lakefront line from Elyria, Ohio – comfortable seats, and much less expensive than flying. Train times are awful though, so I would recommend taking the train there and flying home, if you’re going that route.
We stayed at Freehand Chicago. It’s a hostel, but WAY more comfortable than any European hostel I’ve seen, and perfect for a weekend trip. I met up with some friends from Minneapolis, and I only paid $47 for one night by the time we split the room. Also, Chicago is the perfect halfway point as it’s around 6 hours from both Cleveland and Minneapolis.

Day 1

Brunch on Saturday at Bellatrix. Excellent mimosas and pastries! Gourmet lunch food.
Drinks at Kerryman Bar – good selection of beers and whiskies
Dinner at Lou Malnati’s – my favorite deep dish place!
Stopped by Pops for Champagne bar at night. Would be good, except we weren’t in the mood for dropping $200 on a bottle.

Day 2

Firecakes – AMAZING doughnuts.
Brunch at Brunch. My favorite place out of any of them! Amazing food, great customer service, everyone who worked there seemed to love their job.
The Bean (or Cloud Gate) – must see attraction in Millenium Park.
Walked down The Magnificent Mile (Michigan Ave.) for some shopping.

I stopped by another friend’s house in the city for dinner after my Minneapolis friends left, and my train departed at 9:30pm. Didn’t arrive back to Elyria until 5:00am. It was a rough Monday morning, but Chicago is a great place for food!

Year traveled: 2017

The Smart Route

Find the smart route by viewing itineraries for all types of travel destinations

Weekend in Chicago

Contact This Traveler

Weekend in Chicago

Login

Sign up for The Smart Route