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Course Charted: Your Guide to Slow, Sustainable, Savvy Travel

What began as a journey half-way around the world, into the courtroom, and behind a camera has brought me here - helping you chart a course for memorable, meaningful travel...

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road trip

Ultimate Guide to the Coolest Attractions along Route 66 from Chicago to St. Louis

Route 66 attractions

From walking in Abraham Lincolnโ€™s footsteps in Pontiac, Illinois to ascending St. Louisโ€™s famed Gateway Arch, this guide will take you to the coolest attractions along Route 66 from Chicago to St. Louis!

Categories Destinations, North America Tags chicago, midwest, road trip

Course Charted About Me

Hi! I’m Alana, a Chicago-based attorney turned travel writer, photographer, and travel content creator here to help you travel smarter to Chicago and beyond. Click below to learn how I escaped the 9-5 for the 24/7!

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alanainwanderland

APRIL in #Chicago is full of blooms and mild(er) t APRIL in #Chicago is full of blooms and mild(er) temperatures so itโ€™s time to get excited for the many activities in the Windy City this coming month [SAVE THIS REEL as a reminder to do something fun in April!]:
๐ŸŒท๐ŸŒท๐ŸŒท tulips along Michigan Ave and State Street bloom towards the end of the month
๐Ÿƒ Garfield Park Conservatory | @gpconservatory and Chicago Botanic Garden | @chicagobotanic feature gorgeous spring flower displays
๐ŸŒธ cherry blossoms bloom at Chicagoโ€™s sprawling Jackson Park and apple blossoms line the riverwalk
๐Ÿ™๏ธ Chicago rooftops are much more welcoming during Aprilโ€™s warmer days (check out Utopian Tailgate | @utopiantailgate seen in the Reel!)
๐ŸŽจ Art on the Martโ€™s famous digital projection displays are back on April 14th
๐Ÿ“ฝ๏ธ Chicago Latino Film Fest starts April 13th
๐Ÿฉฐ Little Mermaid runs at the Joffrey Ballet | @joffreyballet April 19-30
๐Ÿ“š Chicago Humanities Festival starts April 13 with events ranging from lectures and discussions to screenings and musical performances
๐Ÿ›ฅ๏ธ River cruising is in full swing this month so check out my favorite tour operators like @cflcruises, @wendellaboats and @shorelinesightseeing for a beautiful ways to see the city from the water and learn facts you didnโ€™t know about Chicago!
What are you excited about this month in Chicago?? ๐Ÿ™๏ธโ˜€๏ธ๐Ÿƒ ๐—™๐—ผ๐—น๐—น๐—ผ๐˜„ โ†’ @alanainwanderland ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—บ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ!
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#chicagospring #chicagorooftop #thingstodoinchicago #chicagofun #windycity #tulipseason #chicagothingstodo #chicagoevents #chicagoinfluencer #tulipfestival #chicagofestivals #chicagorestaurants #chicagoviews #chicagophotographer #chicagophotography #chicagoarchitecture #chicagoexplore #chicagobars #chicagotravel #visitchicago #chicagolifestyle #springtravel #bucketlistadventures #travelinfluencer #chicagobloggers #bestdestinations #alanainchicago #chicagoblogger #bucketlisttravel
manifesting #Chicago spring through my lens ๐ŸŒท๐ŸŒท๐ŸŒท
๐˜๐—ฎ๐—ด a friend who needs to see Chicago in bloom with 100,000+ tulips lining michigan ave and state street next month ๐Ÿค// #AlanaInChicago 
โ€ช__________โ€ฌ
โ€ช๐Ÿ“Michigan Ave, Chicago, USA ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธโ€ฌ
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#chicagophotographer #chicagophotography #chicagospring #windycity #chicagoloop #ThingsToDoInChicago #chicagoflowers #chicagoexplore #tulipseason #travelinfluencer #chicagohome #chicagoevents #chicagolife #chicagofun #chicagoillinois #chicagothingstodo #chicagoinfluencer #visitchicago #chicagotravel #tulipfestival #tulipfields #tulipas #chicagotulips โ€ฌ#michiganave #ChicagoLifestyle #ChicagoFun #ChicagoBlogger #chicagofestivals
๐Ÿšจ #CHICAGO HIDDEN GEM ALERT ๐Ÿšจ have you been ๐Ÿšจ #CHICAGO HIDDEN GEM ALERT ๐Ÿšจ have you been to The Coffee & Tea Exchange | @ctxchicago coffee shop in Chicagoโ€™s Lakeview neighborhood?! if not, you need to add it to your Chicago coffee shop bucketlist right now โ˜•๏ธ๐Ÿ“
๐—›๐—ฒ๐—ฟ๐—ฒโ€™๐˜€ ๐˜„๐—ต๐—ฎ๐˜ ๐˜†๐—ผ๐˜‚ ๐—ป๐—ฒ๐—ฒ๐—ฑ ๐˜๐—ผ ๐—ธ๐—ป๐—ผ๐˜„:
๐—Ÿ๐—ผ๐—ฐ๐—ฎ๐˜๐—ถ๐—ผ๐—ป: 3311 N Broadway (free parking on Aldine and Roscoe)
๐—ฉ๐—ถ๐—ฏ๐—ฒ๐˜€: definitely for true coffee lovers with a MASSIVE selection of whole beans (and loose leaf teas!); it gets busy here on weekends but the line moves fast!
๐—–๐—ผ๐—ณ๐—ณ๐—ฒ๐—ฒ: many drinks to choose from including espresso based coffee drinks, drip coffee and pour overs (the tea menu is also enormous if youโ€™d prefer tea!)
This isnโ€™t the kind of coffee shop where you sit around, but itโ€™s perfect for grabbing a latte and going out to explore the neighborhood or heading to the lake (which is very close!)
Whatโ€™s your favorite hidden gem coffee shop in Chicago? Iโ€™m on a mission to discover and share them all so join the adventure! โ˜•๏ธโ™ฅ๏ธ ๐—™๐—ผ๐—น๐—น๐—ผ๐˜„ โ†’ @alanainwanderland ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—บ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ!
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#chicagocoffee #chicagocoffeeshops #thingstodoinchicago #chicagofun #windycity #lakeview #chicagothingstodo #lakeviewchicago #chicagoinfluencer #chicagoshots #bestcoffee #hiddengems #lakevieweast #chicagophotographer #chicagophotography #localcoffeeshop #chicagoexplore #coffeeshopcorners #chicagotravel #visitchicago #chicagolifestyle #coffeeshopsoftheworld #bestcoffeeintown #travelinfluencer #chicagobloggers #chicagofood #alanainchicago #chicagoblogger #chicagofoodie
there may be imitators (iโ€™m looking at you nyc ๐Ÿ‘€) but thereโ€™s only one #Chicago Bean and though itโ€™s a touristy spot it is 1000% worth a visit on any trip to the Windy City ๐Ÿซ˜โœจ [SHARE THIS REEL WITH SOMEONE WHO NEEDS TO SEE IT!)
Why everyone loves The Bean (aka Cloudgate): not only is The Bean located in one of the prettiest parts of Chicago โ€” Millennium Park โ€” it also offers gorgeous, reflective views of our famous skyline from every angle!
Best time to go for less crowds: very early in the morning (ideally close to 6am when it opens) or late in the evening; cold or rainy weather days can also be perfect for enjoying The Bean with less people!
Photo pro tips: you can get great shots of The Bean from the lower level in front of the ice skating rink, another fav location is by the railing next to the bushes to the north and south of The Bean (just walk off 30-50 ft and youโ€™ll get cool angles with less people!)
Bean facts: Cloudgate was designed by Anish Kapoor as part of a design competition; Kapoor was inspired by liquid mercury when creating The Bean
Have you bean here yet?? ๐Ÿซ˜๐Ÿ˜ ๐—™๐—ผ๐—น๐—น๐—ผ๐˜„ โ†’ @alanainwanderland ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—บ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ!
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#chicagospring #thebean #thingstodoinchicago #chicagofun #windycity #chicagoloop #chicagothingstodo #chicagoevents #chicagoinfluencer #chicagobean #cloudgate #millenniumpark #chicagoviews #chicagophotographer #chicagophotography #chicagoarchitecture #chicagoexplore #anishkapoor #chicagotravel #visitchicago #chicagolifestyle #springtravel #bucketlistadventures #travelinfluencer #chicagobloggers #bestdestinations #alanainchicago #chicagoblogger #bucketlisttravel
consider this your sign to grab a coffee and take consider this your sign to grab a coffee and take yourself on a date to #Chicagoโ€™s ocean (aka Lake Michigan) ๐ŸŒŠ [PLUS MY PICKS FOR THE BEST THINGS TO DO THIS WEEKEND โฌ‡๏ธ]
โ€ข Grab a coffee at The Coffee & Tea Exchange | @ctxchicago and head to Belmont Harbor (youโ€™ll see a path going around the harbor thatโ€™ll take you to this spot!)
โ€ข Laugh yourself silly at Lincoln Lodge stand-up comedy and variety showcase in Logan Square (Fri and Sat night)
โ€ข Take a yoga class in a butterfly garden at Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum | @naturemuseum 3/25 8:30am
โ€ข Check out the 3rd annual Uncorked: Chicago wine festival at Museum of Science and Industry | @msichicago 3/25
โ€ข Enjoy a quartet of traditional Irish acoustic musicians in a gorgeous venue at Architectural Artifacts | @architecturalartifacts 3/26 at 2:30pm
โ€ข Participate or spectate during Chicagoโ€™s annual Shamrock Shuffle๐Ÿ€ starting in Grant Park 3/26
โ€ข Adopt a fur-child at POP Cats 2023 cat adoption and art event 3/25-26 in Lakeview
โ€ข Cast your vote for the best pozole at Lo Rez Brewing's annual Pozole Cook Off in Pilsen 3/25-26
What are your plans this weekend?? Iโ€™ll be trying a new restaurant tonight and I have sights set on that pozole cook off as well ๐Ÿคค// #AlanaInChicago 
โ€ช__________โ€ฌ
โ€ช๐Ÿ“Belmont Harbor, Chicago, USA ๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ธโ€ฌ
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#chicagophotographer #chicagophotography #lakeviewchicago #windycity #lakemichigan #ThingsToDoInChicago #pilsen #chicagoexplore #pilsenchicago #travelinfluencer #chicagohome #chicagoevents #chicagolife #chicagofun #chicagoillinois #chicagothingstodo #chicagoinfluencer #visitchicago #chicagotravel #lakevieweast #chicagogirl #shamrockshuffle #chicagoparks โ€ฌ#chicagogram #ChicagoLifestyle #ChicagoFun #ChicagoBlogger #chicagofestivals
#Chicago spring always keeping us guessing but i w #Chicago spring always keeping us guessing but i wouldnโ€™t have it any other way ๐Ÿ˜Œโ˜€๏ธ๐ŸŒจ๏ธโ˜”๏ธ [SHARE THIS REEL WITH SOMEONE WHO NEEDS TO BE PREPARED]
Hereโ€™s a list of locations featured in this Reel (great spots to explore when youโ€™re visiting the Windy City!):
โ˜๏ธ The Bean (aka Cloudgate) at Millennium Park
๐ŸŽก Centennial Ferris Wheel at Navy Pier | @navypierchicago
๐Ÿš‰ Chicago Loop along Randolph Street between Clark and Michigan Ave (check out @intelligentsiacoffee when youโ€™re over here!)
๐Ÿ™๏ธ Upstairs at the Gwen Rooftop | @thegwenchicago 
๐ŸŒ‰ Franklin Street Bridge
๐ŸŽญ Chicago Theater along State Street
๐ŸŒŠ east end of the Chicago Riverwalk
๐Ÿจ Scoops Dessert Bar | @scoopsdessertbar in the Gold Coast
Whatโ€™s youโ€™re favorite spring mood in Chicago?? I love it when itโ€™s consistently mild enough for our beautiful tulips to bloom filling the city with color! โ™ฅ๏ธ ๐—™๐—ผ๐—น๐—น๐—ผ๐˜„ โ†’ @alanainwanderland ๐—ณ๐—ผ๐—ฟ ๐—บ๐—ผ๐—ฟ๐—ฒ!
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#chicagospring #chicagotheatre #thingstodoinchicago #chicagofun #windycity #chicagoloop #chicagothingstodo #chicagoevents #chicagoinfluencer #goldcoastchicago #chicagoriver #chicagogoldcoast #chicagoviews #chicagophotographer #chicagophotography #springblooms #chicagoexplore #chicagorooftop #chicagotravel #visitchicago #chicagolifestyle #springtravel #bucketlistadventures #travelinfluencer #chicagobloggers #bestdestinations #alanainchicago #chicagoblogger #bucketlisttravel
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