CHICAGO RESORTS

Wyndham Grand Chicago Riverfront (The Central Collection)

  • Near the magnificent mile
  • Odd numbered units & units ending in 14 have river views
  • On-site tavern & bar
  • Unit 2114 is an awesome one-bedroom
  • Unit 2203 is a nice one-bedroom Presidential Reserve unit
  • Unit 2211 is a nice one-bedroom Presidential Reserve unit (has nice view of the river)

Hotel Blake

  • Hotel, 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom lockoff units
  • Great views
  • Fitness center
  • Business center
  • Walking distance to many local attractions

CHICAGO RESTAURANTS/FOOD

  • 90 Miles Cuban Cafe (was on Diner's Drive-ins and Dives)
  • Ann Sather (909 W Belmont Ave) (great cinnamon rolls)
  • Bella Luna Cafe (was on Diner's Drive-ins and Dives)
  • Big & Littles (was on Diner's Drive-ins and Dives)
  • Black Dog Gelato (125 S Clark St) (Revival Food Hall)
  • Bop N Grill (was on Diner's Drive-ins and Dives)
  • Cemitas Puebla (was on Diner's Drive-ins and Dives)
  • Chicago Brewhaus (was on Diner's Drive-ins and Dives)
  • Chicago Pizza & Oven Grinder Co. (pizza made in a bowl) (awesome pizza) (get there right when they open or there will be a long wait) (773-248-2570) (2121 North Clark St.) (has valet parking) (Mon – Th 4 – 11 PM; Fri 4 PM – 12 AM; Sat 11:30 AM – 12 AM; Sun 11:30 AM – 11 PM)
  • Chilam Balam (was on Diner's Drive-ins and Dives)
  • Del Seoul (was on Diner's Drive-ins and Dives)
  • DMK Burger Bar (was on Diner's Drive-ins and Dives)
  • Eataly Chicago (43 E Ohio St)
  • Elephant & Castle Pub (185 N. Wabash Ave) (walking distance of the resort)
  • Galewood Cookshack (was on Diner's Drive-ins and Dives)
  • Garifuna Flava (was on Diner's Drive-ins and Dives)
  • Garret’s Popcorn (401 N Michigan Ave) (best popcorn I have had but expensive)
  • Ghiradelli’s Chocolate Ice Cream Shop (400 N Michigan Ave) (across the river from resort)
  • Glen's Diner (was on Diner's Drive-ins and Dives)
  • Gino’s East Pizzeria (162 E Superior St) (deep dish pizza) (excellent pizza) (must try)
  • Giordano’s Pizza (130 E Randolph St) (excellent deep-dish pizza)
  • Honky Tonk BBQ (1800 S Racine Ave) (was on Diners, Drive-ins, & Dives)
  • Hopleaf Bar (was on Diner's Drive-ins and Dives)
  • Irazu Costa Rican Dining (1965 N Milwaukee Ave) (was on Diners, Drive-ins, & Dives)
  • Kuma's Corner (was on Diner's Drive-ins and Dives)
  • La Scarola (was on Diner's Drive-ins and Dives)
  • Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria (439 N Wells St) (excellent deep-dish pizza)
  • Maggiano’s Little Italy (516 Clark St)
  • Manny's Deli (was on Diner's Drive-ins and Dives)
  • McCormick & Schmick’s (1 E Wacker Drive) (walking distance of resort) (Landry’s Select Club)
  • MFK (was on Diner's Drive-ins and Dives)
  • Morton’s Steakhouse (65 E Wacker Place) (excellent steaks, best I have had, but pricey) (walking distance of resort) (Landry’s Select Club)
  • Nana Organic (was on Diner's Drive-ins and Dives)
  • Panozzo's Italian Market (was on Diner's Drive-ins and Dives)
  • Pequod’s Pizza (2207 N Clybourn Ave)
  • Pizzeria Uno (29 East Ohio St) (original deep-dish pizza)
  • Portillo’s (100 W Ontario St) (very good food)
  • Safehouse (60 E. Ontario St) (if you know the password get immediate access. If not asked to complete a clearance test to gain access) (www.safehousechicago.com)
  • Saucy Porka (was on Diner's Drive-ins and Dives)
  • Smoque BBQ (3800 N Pulaski Road) (was on Diner's Drive-ins and Dives)
  • Sun Wah BBQ (was on Diner's Drive-ins and Dives)
  • Taste of Peru (was on Diner's Drive-ins and Dives)
  • The Corner Bakery (360 Michigan Ave)
  • The Depot American Diner (was on Diner's Drive-ins and Dives)
  • The Original Vito & Nick Pizzeria (8433 S Pulaski St) (was on Diners, Drive-ins, & Dives)
  • Tommy Guns Garage (dinner show) (321-225-0273 or 800-461-0178) (2114 South Wabash Ave)
  • Tre Kronor (was on Diner's Drive-ins and Dives)
  • Tufano's Vernon Park Tap (was on Diner's Drive-ins and Dives)
  • Weber Grill Restaurant (539 State St)
  • White Palace Grill (was on Diner's Drive-ins and Dives)

CHICAGO BARS

  • Signature Lounge (96th floor of the Hancock Building) (great place to have a drink & watch the sunset)

CHICAGO ATTRACTIONS/ACTIVITIES

  • Adler Planetarium
  • Big Bus tours
  • Blue Man Group (Briar Street Theater) (fantastic show)
  • Buckingham Fountain
  • Chicago Air & Water Show (usually 3rd weekend of August)
  • Chicago Art Museum
  • Chicago Crime Tour (1-1/2 to 2-hour tour)
  • Chicago Sports Museum
  • Cloud Gate (The Bean) (in Millennium Park)
  • Dinner boat tour
  • Field Museum
  • Grant Park
  • Grant Park Conservatory
  • Hancock Building (360o observation deck) (Tilt attraction)
  • Hop On/Hop Off Bus Tour
  • House of Blues
  • Lincoln Park Conservatory
  • Lincoln Park Zoo
  • Michigan Avenue (Miracle Mile) (shopping district)
  • Millennium Park (walking distance of resort)
  • Museum of Science & Industry
  • Navy Pier
  • Riverwalk
  • Seadog Boat Architectural Tour
  • Shedd Aquarium
  • State Street (shopping)
  • Taste of Chicago (5 days of food & entertainment) (around 4th of July)
  • Wendella Boat Tours (right across the river from resort) (architectural boat tour)
  • Willis Tower Skydeck (Sears Building) (Ledge - walkout window platform)

CHICAGO GROCERY STORES

  • Eataly Chicago (43 E Ohio St)
  • Jewel (550 N State St) (within a few blocks of the Wyndham resort)
  • Walgreens (410 N Michigan Ave) (within a few blocks of the Wyndham resort)

CHICAGO OTHER INFO

  • City Pass (www.citypass.com)
  • Good mass transit system (city buses, subway trains, EL trains)
  • Park at Midway ($12/day) and use orange line CTA train to downtown
  • Parking is $65/day at resort
  • Use Spot Hero or Park Wiz to find cheaper places to park in area

CHICAGO ADDRESSES

Wyndham Grand Chicago Riverfront
71 East Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: 312-346-7100

Hotel Blake
500 S. Dearborn Street
Chicago, IL 60605
Phone: 312-986-1234

NOTE: This is information I have compiled from comments posted on this site and other timeshare Facebook sites. I have been to some of these places (with * at end of name) and the others are recommendations from other people.