Romantic Restaurants, Getaway Places in Franklin Park

"One of the best and largest natural history museums in the world, the Field Museum’s museum collection has swelled to more than 24 million objects since it opened in 1893. This a place to feed your fascination for the natural world, with grand Neoclassical halls housing fossils, priceless gemstones and animal and plant specimens. There’s also compelling anthropology for the Ancient Americas and Ancient Egypt, as well as Tibet, China, Africa and cultures in the Pacific Islands."

"The Field Museum encapsulates a variety of exhibits that bring the pages of history to life through works of art, sculptures, artifacts, and interactive activities. Included in CityPASS 4 hours Learn More"

"Head to Field Museum, and snap a selfie with Máximo, the largest titanosaur — stretching 122 feet from head to tail, peeking behind your shoulder."

"With more than 2 million guests every year, John G. Shedd Aquarium is Chicago’s most visited cultural attraction. The aquarium is conveniently located in Chicago's Museum Campus, right next to the Field Museum and Adler Planetarium."

"If you have started visiting museums in Chicago, you should definitely come here. Aquariums exist in many cities, but most are not that big. You will enjoy a lot while visiting this aquarium, the largest aquarium in the world."

"If you’re not in the mood for shopping, check out Navy Pier which is a Chicago Landmark and offers a variety of attractions for all ages to enjoy. If you’re interested in learning about science, I recommend visiting Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry, which is the largest science center in the Western Hemisphere."

"The only Chicagoans you'll run into at Navy Pier are the employees but out-of-towners and suburbanites seem to love the downtown pier that extends into Lake Michigan. Once used by the military, it's now Chicago's largest tourist attraction. You can just walk up and down the pier, taking in skyline and lake views."

"Celebrate the maritime pride of Chicago at this landmark pier on Lake Michigan. Featuring fun things to do all year long, enjoy waterfront attractions, sightseeing cruises, art, theater, and the Centennial Wheel. Category: Activities, Attractions, Family / Kids"

"Machine: Engineered Dining and Drink has Dirk Flannigan in the kitchen fashioning a Modern American menu of smoked mushrooms with crispy with chicken skins, Parmesan, chestnut crumbs and puffed wild rice; pillowy gnocchi with duck confit; lavender chicken; Scottish salmon; and pan-roasted Branzino. Cocktails are something to look at as well as ingest. Shareable sips include a fountain of six house-made wine shots."

"Wicker Park's new "engineered dining and drinking" spot is taking advantage of its spacious sidewalk real estate with a 105-seat patio. The restaurant's in-house florist will also expand its operations with a flower cart. Diners can purchase bouquets for their loved ones as the cart passes by."

"Out in Winnetka, Michael Lachowicz has been quietly impressing North Shore residents for more than a decade. The chef and owner, who worked under Jean Banchet at the legendary Le Francais, prepares traditional French comforts with modern twists. Expect delights to include butter fried veal sweetbreads, sautéed wagyu beef, filet of loup de mer, and roasted venison with sauce grand veneur."

"Sometimes, whether to enhance celebration or assuage gloom, you just need a ginormous honking dessert. The 23 Layer Chocolate Cake at Michael Jordan's Steakhouse outdoes the colossal creations of other steakhouses with 23 layers of chocolate ganache topped with whipped cream. It's not just big - it's delicious and a wonderful way to share a chocolate confection."

"If you don’t want to bake, or fry in this case too, then decorate with DIY cookie and doughnut kits ($14) starring colorful icing and sprinkles. You may find inspiration in the bakery’s smiley face cookies and Easter lamb cakes, wearing icing medical masks. Owner Can Lao, who revived the historic bakery in the Bridgeport neighborhood back in February, recently added Chinese egg tarts, plus a few staple items like paper towels, gloves, milk and Yakult, the yogurt-like drink."

"Restaurants Bakeries Bridgeport. This iconic Polish bakery closed in October 2019 after decades of serving pączki, doughnuts, cookies and other candy-colored sweets to its fans. Thankfully, new ownership swept in and restored the spot to its former glory."

"If you’re wondering what happened to Bridgeport Bakery 1.0, it closed. But thankfully version 2.0 has the same delicious treats as the original. And while they have a lot of baked goods besides donuts, we like coming here for their long johns and bismarks."

"If the birthday star wants to share the stage with an over-the-top cake, Urban Icing is the place to go. Whether you prefer some traditional sweet confections or a 3D-shaped cake, this spot has got you covered. In addition to being a boutique bakery, Urban Icing is an event space where you can let them take care of all the details of your child’s party."

"(Primary Neighborhoods: Various events and locations, city and suburbs). Pancakes may not be the first thing that flips in our minds when we think about food truck fare, but if cupcakes sell like hotcakes, why not sell some hot cakes too. That’s the thinking behind this gourmet pancake truck."

"Decisions can be difficult when constructing your perfect ice cream cake. Choose from 10 different ice cream flavors, all made with organic milk and cream, and decide if you prefer crumbled brownies, blondies, or cookies as a base. Rachel Kamins launched Bartleby’s in 2018 after working for Ben & Jerry’s and Zingerman’s Bakehouse and calls herself the “caker, baker, and ice cream maker.” Fittingly, she makes everything, from the ice cream to the crushed cookies and brownies to all her sauces, from scratch."

"You’ve probably done your research about the best restaurants in Chicago and stumbled upon Au Cheval in your findings. Au Cheval has been acclaimed as one of the best burgers in the world by the press for years, but its sister spin-off location is giving it a run for its money (while saving your dollars and patience). Small Cheval offers their version of the single two-patty cheeseburger for $9.95."

"While the rest of Chicago waits for a burger at Au Cheval, you can head over to its sister restaurant, Small Cheval, for a slightly smaller version that’s equally good – and cheaper. The stripped-down menu focuses just on the necessities: a hamburger ($8.95), cheeseburger ($9.95) and golden fries ($2.95). Each is topped with pickles and dijonnaise – and with crispy bacon for an added charge."

"Fall 2017 saw the opening of West Loop B&B the Publishing Houseand its subterranean wine bar. Visitors have a global selection of more than 70 bottles from which to choose. The drinking menu complements the season-driven fare — from charred broccolini to seared scallops — and a nice mix of cheeses and charcuterie."

"If you are looking for a casual place for lunch, check out The Polo Café. Stop in for the crème brûlée French toast or the pan-seared salmon fillet, and don’t miss the “Taste of Chicago” sliced mozzarella bread. If you really want a one-of-a-kind visit to the Polo Café, they also have a “Gospel Sing-Along Brunch” every Sunday morning."

"Originally designed by visionary architect Daniel H. Burnham as horse stables, the DuSable Museum’s 19th-century limestone and timber structure is now one of the South Side's most prominent cultural institutions. Older children will appreciate the museum’s well-curated exhibitions of art, poetry, and notable topics like the experience of black people in the armed services. A post shared by Eric Robinson (@erceo) on Aug 23, 2017 at 11:58am PDT"

"The DuSable is the nation's oldest museum dedicated to the exploration, documentation, and celebration of the African-American experience. It's in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood and is an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution. Its holdings include 15,000 paintings, sculptures, and historic memorabilia that illuminate the African-American experience."

"The DuSable Museum of African American History in Chicago highlights African American history, culture, and art. Founded in 1961 as the Ebony Museum of Negro History and Art, the DuSable Museum today has a collection comprised of more than 13,000 different objects to include works by Langston Hughes, St. Clair Drake, and W.E.B. Du Bois."

"PilsenImmerse yourself in Mexican culture The Pilsen neighborhood in itself is rich with Mexican murals and culture, but the National Museum of Mexican Art holds a 10,000-piece permanent collection by artists from both Mexico and America, offering a 3,000-year overview of works that often go overlooked in the American art world. Enjoy folk art, photography, sculpture, paintings and more, and make a visit here a priority during October for the museum’s Día de los Muertos exhibit, which features altars and other Day of the Dead art. What to know before you go: The museum is open 10am to 5pm Tuesday through Sunday, and admission is always free."

"National Museum of Mexican Art is a museum that is ideal for your toddlers and preteens. Located in the Pilsen neighborhood, the museum has a permanent collection of 10,000 pieces. These pieces are a vibrant curation of Mexican history and culture."