Loulou's views

I'm back from an incredible press trip to Chicago with Choose Chicago --one of the best big cities on earth. In fact, Chicago was just voted the Best Big City in the United States   for the seventh years in a row , and I have to say... I agree. When visiting Chicago, there is so much to see and do--and the city caters to every type of tourist, whether you're into sports, (from the Chicago Bulls tot he Bears to the Cubs--they've got it all!) sightseeing, shopping, dining, or just taking in the stunning and historic architecture. From the award winning food scene, beautiful parks and green spaces, luxury hotels, attractions, and vibrant neighbourhoods, it's a city everyone should add to their travel bucket list.  Here's a rundown of where I stayed, where I dined, and what I visited, to help you plan your itinerary for your upcoming Chicago trip!  How to get there We flew out of Ottawa with Porter, and landed in Toronto's downtown Billy Bishop airport. Flying Porte...

I had the great pleasure of once again joining Choose Chicago on a press trip to experience the vibrant city of Chicago. Chicago was recently voted the Best Big City in America and as usual, Chicago was a dream, and I can't wait to return. (To read more about all the fun things to do in Chicago if you're planning a trip to the Windy City for your next holiday escape, you can read my article in Canadian Geographic Travel ).  Here are a few highlights that'll help you plan your next Chicago trip with ease--how to get there, where to stay, where to dine, and what to do:  Porter Airlines Travelling during the pandemic can be challenging, but my flight with Porter Airlines made the experience smooth, comfortable, and safe. I had all the necessary documents with me (proof of vaccination and rapid test for entry to the USA) and Porter took care of the rest--I was met with excellent service checking in, and in-flight (we loved our flight attendant so much!) along with tasty snack...

"Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop to look around every once in a while, you could miss it." We're all familiar with this line from the classic movie, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, which took place in Chicago—the famous city I got to experience for the first time on a recent press trip. I was so fortunate to be travelling with some wonderful Canadian journalists, led by the most professional (and fun) PR firm, Fathom Co. (hi, Mark and Laura!) and hosted by Choose Chicago. Chicago—I definitely choose you! Some cities leave me yearning for more; I feel this way about New York City, and I feel this way about Chicago now. My first time visiting the Windy City left quite an impression on me, even though I was only there for a few days. I explored as much as I could, making good use of my time from morning to night. I walked around Millennium Park, took my picture by the famous "bean", watched Hamilton for the first time, (more on that late...