9 CHICAGO BUCKET LIST EXPERIENCES FOR GIFT GIVING
Recent studies have shown that most people prefer a gift of experience over material objects especially for Birthday's and Holidays. An experience is shared - something they'll savor in the moment and treasure for a lifetime! And since the Holiday's are fast approaching, we thought we'd give you some Real Life Chicago Bucket list experiences to give to, and share with your favorite human on your list!
Whether your person is a foodie, a sports fan, a theatre buff, or an adventurer, these Chicago-exclusive experiences will give them something they'll brag about and relish long after they've returned home! Not to mention, we're pretty sure any one of these will land you on their nice list well into 1st quarter!
1. YES, CHEF!
Yes Chef! Chicago. A Bear inspired Food Tour
If you're a foodie, and as big of a fan as we are of The Bear on Hulu - you'll love this flavorful adventure! You'll taste this experience at the Chef-driven fine dining restaurants and the iconic beef joint that inspired the Emmy winning show, The Bear. Plus you'll learn some fun behind the scenes stories and anecdotes about these hot spots where Carmi and his posse frequent. It's delicious on every level.
Pro tip: Show up hungry!
THE DETAILS
Length of tour: 3 1/2 hours
Transportation via AC/heated mini bus to multiple locations
Vegan options avail. Must reserve at booking
Location: Varies by tour
BOOK
2. HOLY COW! IT MIGHT BE, IT COULD BE, IT IS! . . .
Wrigley Field Tour
Built in 1914, Wrigley Field is the second-oldest ballpark in the majors behind Fenway in Boston. AND Wrigley and Fenway are the only two original ball parks remaining in existence. Yup. Chicago loves their classics! Did you know that from 1921 to 1970, Wrigley Field also served as the home stadium of the Chicago Bears? Wrigley is also the ball park where Babe Ruth made his "called shot" to a bleacher location, then homered in that very spot in the 1932 World Series.
Now is your chance to get your ride or die an insiders view of the historic friendly confines. Highlights of the guided tour include the Dugout, visiting Clubhouse, Press box, the Field, and more! Pick a public or VIP Private Tour and experience one of the greatest vintage ballparks still standing today! From ACME, you jump on the red line and you're there! This brings new meaning to the tune "Take me Out to the Ball game"!
VIP Tours are also available!
THE DETAILS
Length of Tour: 75- 90 minutes
Price: $30 per person (kids free) (public tour)
Location: Wrigley Field, 1060 W Addison Street
DETAILS & BOOK
3. ALL THE WORLD'S A STAGE
Chicago Theatre Tours
Now is your chance to put your main character center stage at this legendary Chicago landmark. Walk in the footsteps of iconic artists of the past and present, like Frank Sinatra, Aretha Franklin, Alicia Keys, David Letterman, and hundreds more. In this historic architecturally significant guided tour, you'll go behind the scenes, and center stage. You'll have backstage access to ogle famous signatures and artist dressing rooms. And you'll experience the grand lobby and 7 story auditorium.
This French Baroque style theatre first opened in 1921 and was the first lavish movie palace in the US and served as the model for others to follow. The 3,600 seat auditorium is 7 stories tall, the grand lobby was modeled after the Royal Chapel of Versailles. Its iconic vertical C-H-I-C-A-G-O sign has beckoned theatre goers for just over a century! Now is your chance to be the star and take center stage at this iconic Chicago landmark.
THE DETAILS
Length of Tour: approx. 60-75 minutes
Cost: Adults $27 per person plus service fee
Location: 175 N State Street (just blocks from ACME)
BOOK
4. FEELING SAUCY?
Cooking Classes at Eataly
The first Eataly opened in Turin, Italy, in a former vermouth factory in 2007, and since that time 40 additional locations Worldwide have opened. Eataly is the fusion of two words, Eat and Italy, and it was created to bring the food and culture of Italy to the people in the form of a multi-functional marketplace. Its entire being is based on the philosophy that "people can eat, shop and learn about high quality food". And who can argue with that?
Give the gift of a cooking class at Eataly and learn from authentic Italian Chefs who cook from the heart. One day it's Pumpkin ravioli, the next, it's Gnocchi al Burro E Tartufo, or Tagliolini Burro E Caviale. You may not be able to pronounce the offerings, but your mouth will be too busy for words! You pick the dish and the date! You'll also enjoy wine and antipasto pairings as you're creating your culinary masterpiece. The real beauty of a cooking class is that you're taking home an actual skill as a bonus gift! It's very much the gift that keeps on giving by sharing with your friends. Not to mention, if your partner masters an astonishing dish, you win too! Private classes are also available.
THE DETAILS
Length: Approx. 2 hours
Location: 43 East Ohio Street (literally a block down from ACME
BOOK
5. FROM FLAME TO FORM
Private Glassblowing Lesson at Ignite Glass
Learn the delicate art of Glassblowing in your own private lesson with a master Gaffer. Glassblowing is an ancient craft that involves shaping molten glass by blowing air through a long metal tube, known as a blowpipe, to inflate and form a bubble of glass. This process uses heat, gravity, and specialized tools to manipulate the softened glass into various forms, from delicate vases to intricate sculptures.
If your Boo digs this art, and wants to create their own glass blown wonder, you can sign them up for a private lesson at Ignite Glass. Their newy crafted piece will be sent to them a few days after creation.
THE DETAILS
Length: Book custom time
Cost: varies by the time
Location: Ignite Glass; 401 N Armour Street
BOOK
6. FUNNY BUSINESS
Improv Classes at The Second City
Second City, the countries first and most influential improvisational theatre was founded in 1959 and has launched the careers of some of today's most prominent and successful actors, late night hosts, and comics. (Cue the name dropping . . . Steve Carrell, Tina Fey, Steven Colbert, Eugene Levy, Catherine O'Hara and ton more)!
Imagine taking the first step to helping your comedic sidekick realize their biggest dream by signing them up for improv classes at Second City. No guarantees of fame and fortune of course, but they'll have a great time, enjoy a lot of laughs, and meet lifelong friends along the way. (We know this from experience!)! If improv isn't their thing, they also offer classes in writing, acting and more. By the way, they also offer youth and teen classes in case you've got that funny kid with aspirations.
There are a lot of options, so we'll just leave the location and the link right here to learn more! And scene . . .
THE DETAILS
Location: 230 W North Avenue
FIND OUT MORE
7. FLYING HIGH Chicago Helicopter Tour
If you're up for a high-flying adventure, look no further than the sky for a breathtaking (and possibly hair raising) Helicopter tour of Chicago by Fly Heli Toura. On this tour, you'll be hovering over the 3rd largest city in the US - and some of the tallest skyscrapers anywhere! You'll see the Willis Tower like never before, and the iconic Hancock Building in all its glory, plus dozens of others. Marvel at full on views of Chicago's brilliant architecture, the stately bridges spanning the Chicago River, and of course Lake Michigan and its indelible shoreline.
One of the best parts? The breathtaking photos and videos you'll capture . . .
THE DETAILS
Length: 3 options to choose from: 10 miles/8 points of interest, 16 miles/24 points of interest, 30 miles/29 points of interest
Cost: Cost varies by tour
Location: The Vertiport: 1339 S. Wood Street
BOOK
Note: There are several helicopter tours in Chicago. Choose the one that best fits your desires!
8. BOTTLE YOUR VIBE
Create your Signature Scent at Aroma Labs - Chicago
Crafting a signature scent is about capturing your vibe. You start with a feeling, maybe a memory, and start blending until it smells like your mood in motion. A little smoke, some citrus, maybe a hit of something unexpected. There's no formula, just instinct. You tweak, you test, you chase the moment until it all just clicks — when it finally smells like you, (but turned up a notch.) It's a messy, creative, kind of magic.
Creating your signature scent is part art, part alchemy. And at Aroma Labs, their Aromatenders (we love that title) are on hand to walk you through the adventure of sensory discovery. You'll use scented test strips to find all your favorite notes - a little bit of this, a touch of that - it's entirely up to you! You'll walk out of the store with your custom blended creation in a bottle. Plus, they'll keep your "recipe" on file should you decide to reorder! There are few things more personal than your very own - custom scent. And bonus . . . you'll be able to detect your partner in a crowd!
THE DETAILS
Length: 45-60 minutes
Cost: $25 - $89
Location: 50 E Oak Street BOOK
9. RAMP UP YOUR MUSEUM VIBE
Private VIP Museum Tours with Museum Hack
Museum Hack is a Private Tour Company that gives new meaning to the term "Museum tour", specializing in providing a tour experience in a totally different, behind the scenes manner. So if your favorite aficionado covets the masters at the Art Institute of Chicago, (or other local museums), this may be just the gift! You won't live the experience through the eyes of a typical guide droning on with century's old facts you learned in 7th grade art class. Nope! In fact, you should expect the unexpected! These private VIP tours are not only informative, but fun, engaging, illuminating, and imaginative! You can actually have a hand in creating the experience that's right for you!
THE DETAILS
To be frank, there are too many variables to give you all the details . . . but we'll leave the link right here and you can style the kind of tour you want to gift!
CONTACT
Hopefully this has given you the inspiration to turn it up a notch on your gift-giving game. . . After all, Bae deserves the best for putting up with us all year, Am I riiiight? Of course, the cherry on top of all these experiential gift ideas would be a night or two at ACME - and a few cocktails at The Berkshire Room - We are central and close to all of these activities, and an entire experience on our own. Even better - If you Book Direct, you save the MOST! Seriously!
What, like we're not going to give ourselves a plug? ENJOY!!