I’ve often had the privilege of traveling to fun, exciting cities for work. When this happens, I try to make the most of all the free time I have to see the sights and eat at great restaurants. Sometimes, I end up with a good bit of time, as happened on a recent trip to Chicago. With about a half-day and an evening to myself over a two night stay, I was able to try seven new and fun things that I’d recommend to others who have limited time in the Windy City.

1. Stay in a hotel with a view. This is the view from my room at the Holiday Inn at the Mart Plaza. This makes it easy to enjoy the city from the sky. And, chances are, the hotel will have a restaurant and/or bar that also has a view so you can enjoy the gorgeous skyline as much as possible.

 2. Walk along the Chicago River on Upper Wacker Drive. You’ll see riverwalks, cute cafes, skyscrapers and trolly buses. 

 3. Enjoy a cocktail at a swanky rooftop bar, like the Terrace at Trump. This bar boasts amazing views of the Wrigley building, Tribune Tower, Chicago river and the lake. It’s pricey and requires reservations even for seats at the bar (crazy, I know!) but it’s worth it if you’re only in town for a short time and want to indulge a bit.

 4. Have dinner at a unique restaurant. I’m lucky enough to have a wonderful family friend who lives in Chicago and he recommended Vermillion, a Latin-Indian fusion restaurant. Although Atlanta has plenty of diversity in its food scene, this was a combination of flavors I’d not had before and I was glad to have tried it!

 5. Grab a late-night snack that can also work for a quick breakfast. We happened upon Firecakes on our walk back to the hotel and the homemade pastries immediately caught my eye. Hotel breakfasts can ruin a corporate daily food allowance, so picking up an eclair, while a sweet indulgence, was definitely worth saving dollars for a better meal at dinnertime.

 6. Take the Chicago’s First Lady river cruise. This architectural cruise lasts 90 minutes – short enough to fit into a long break in your schedule. It goes up and down the Chicago river, pointing out all the unique and wonderful buildings, and their fascinating history with the city and the river. From the abandoned US Post Office building (I wish they’d offer tours of THAT) to the older buildings that are updating their look by adding space along the riverfront, there are facts and stories abound to keep your interest. The photo ops are also fabulous.

 7. Make use of all your breaks during your work/school trip to take in the views. On my busiest day, I knew I didn’t have much time to plan even a lunch outside of the conference. However, the venue was on the river so I escaped for 20 minutes during a break for a lovely walk. I love being in new cities and taking in the beautiful views.

 Chicago is a wonderful city and its walkability makes it easy to enjoy it even if you’re on a busy work trip or there for a conference. Step outside, walk a few blocks, grab a coffee and enjoy the bustle, the river, the lake and the stunning architecture. Can’t go wrong!