How to have the ultimate weekend in Chicago

Feeling brave enough to take a long look down at Chicago’s streets from more than 1000 feet above the Magnificent Mile? With the ‘Experience Chicago’ package, you’ll get a complimentary ticket to TILT at 360 CHICAGO, an attraction which places guests on a platform that gradually extends to a 30-degree angle over the side of 875 North Michigan Avenue (formerly known as the John Hancock Center). If you don’t feel like confronting the height head-on, you can redeem a free drink upgrade at 360 CHICAGO’s BAR94 instead.

Before Stephen Colbert, Tina Fey, Bill Hader and Amy Poehler became titans of comedy, they trained and tread the boards at world-famous comedy hotspots iO Theater and The Second City. Both theaters are known for their insanely funny improv performances; you can catch shows that poke fun at the week’s news, witness songs being made up on the spot or see tales of past relationships provided by members of the audience turned into hilarious scenes. With the ‘Experience Chicago’ package you’ll score deals at both theaters that may make you laugh out loud (in joy and disbelief!): two tickets for the price of one to nearly any iO Theater show, and 25% off Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday performances at The Second City.

As the home to one of the organizations that brought about Prohibition, Evanston was a booze-less city for nearly a century, much to the delight of bar owners in nearby Rogers Park. In 2011, FEW Spirits managed to become the Chicago suburb’s first distillery, transforming a former mechanic’s garage into a space where award-winning whiskey and gin is made. You can enjoy a complimentary tour of the facility and taste some FEW Spirits creations by taking advantage of the ‘Experience Chicago’ package.

If you’re visiting Chicago, a slice (maybe two, depending on your appetite) of deep dish pizza is probably on your list of must-try local delicacies. Gino’s East of Chicago has been cooking pies loaded with gooey cheese and topped with savory sauce since 1966, expanding from its original location on the Magnificent Mile to neighborhoods throughout Chicago as well as nearby Wheaton, Rosemont and Barrington. Save some dough on a few hearty slices with a coupon for $10 off your dine-in meal at any Gino’s East Chicagoland location, included in the ‘Experience Chicago’ package.

Housing more than 2,000 animals, ranging from clouded leopards to naked mole rats, you can easily spend an afternoon exploring the hundreds of acres of displays and habitats at the Brookfield Zoo. Hilton’s ‘Experience Chicago’ package includes 10% off the price of online general admission to the zoo—you can spend the money you save on additional experiences like daily giraffe feedings and up-close penguin encounters.

If you’re already planning a trip to Navy Pier to board a lake cruise or enjoy a Rainbow Cone on the waterfront, you need to add a spin on the Centennial Wheel to your itinerary. Soaring nearly 200 feet into the air, the rotating attraction allows riders to snap amazing photos of the skyline from inside a climate-controlled gondola (no need to let rain or cold temperatures stop you from getting the ‘gram). Anyone who books the ‘Experience Chicago’ package can get up to $4 off a Centennial Wheel ticket, with dates stretching through Labor Day.

Even if you’ve flown to one of Chicago’s airports, seeing the city from aboard a helicopter tour presents an entirely different perspective than a tiny airplane window can provide. Vertiport Chicago offers a variety of flights that take off from its heliport on the city’s southwest side, including short 15-minute tours, late-evening fireworks excursions and the opportunity to help pilot a copter (with the assistance of a trained professional, naturally). Book Hilton’s ‘Experience Chicago’ package and you’ll receive 10% off the price of any Vertiport Chicago helicopter tour.

Whether you’re looking for the perfect weekend family vacation spot, a getaway with friends or a romantic holiday, the ‘Experience Chicago’ package has something for you. Book now!