Are you and your partner seeking a warm and welcoming spot to have a romantic vacation? If you are looking for somewhere to visit, then Chicago is the place! The Windy City invites LGBTQ vacationers with open arms. You will be amazed by the vivacious gay atmosphere, different queer events, and lots of other activities for you and your beloved partner to enjoy.
Whether it’s a walk together through the quaint side streets or dancing until dawn in gay bars, Chicago has the perfect combination of romance, culture, and excitement for LGBTQ couples. In this article, we will discuss some of the best activities, attractions and insider tips that queer couples should experience when exploring Chicago together.
When to Visit Chicago
The best thing about Chicago is that it is a fantastic year-round place to visit. We have something exciting happening anytime you come. However, some months of the year may be more appropriate for your couple’s getaway, considering what you want to do.
You can make the biggest events and festivals related to the LGBTQ community as a part of your Chicago trip and enjoy them during June, when Pride Month is celebrated. The Chicago Pride Parade is one of the most numerous parades in the country. The cheerful celebration is all over the city. You and your darling will be having the best time of the year by partying together with the queer community.
Chicago’s beaches, summer concerts, and street festivals are also great resources to delight the summer season. Just remember to expect crowds and make your reservations early enough.
If you want a more peaceful ride and also cheap traveling, you can travel in spring or fall, besides the fact that you will be in comfortable weather and will have plenty of things to do without the tourist season prices. Chicago in winter is really cold. It’s the right choice in such a case to stay indoors, visit the best of the world museums, and enjoy the theater.
Budget-Friendly Accommodations for Couples
The perfect choice of accommodations provides a romantic atmosphere for the couple’s escape. Chicago has a good number of LGBTQ-friendly lounges to suit different budgets.
For budget accommodation and social dorms, look for hostels such as Wrigley Hostel and the Chicago Getaway Hostel. You’ll find many of the amenities of a hotel, but at a fraction of the price, and the opportunity to engage with other members of the LGBT community in common spaces.
If you (and your companion) are seeking more solitude and privacy, look for cozy boutique hotels in LGBTQ-friendly neighborhoods such as Boystown, Andersonville, or Rogers Park. The Majestic Hotel and City Suites Hotel might be good deals as their prices won’t set you back much.
The Airbnb and Vrbo rentals in the form of vacation rentals are otherwise options for couples who want to save their budget. Sharing a private apartment gives you an additional place to be by yourselves in the silence and brings into play a kitchen that you can use to cook delicious romantic meals.
Romantic Activities for LGBTQ Couples
It is one of the most wonderful things about traveling together with another person so that you can discover new things side by side with your significant one. The city of Chicago is known for its romantic and beautiful things to do as a couple.
- Picnics and Architectural Wonders
Among the most captivating ways of spending quality time together with your beloved is by taking a picnic in the center of Chicago. Millennium Park, famous for its green expanses and the Cloud Gate sculpture, which is often called “The Bean,” creates a perfect scene for an outdoor lunch date. Bring some delicious bites from the nearby Revival Food Hall, lay out a nice blanket, and enjoy the scenery around you while spending time with your loved one.
For couples who value the artistic aspect of architecture, Chicago’s spectacular skyline would be a sight to see. Take a sunset architecture boat tour along the Chicago River to see and admire the renowned buildings of the city from a very close distance with your loved one. As the golden light moves on the water and the skyscrapers get illuminated, steal a couple of kisses under the stars and let the romantic atmosphere capture you.
- Exploring LGBTQ History and Culture
Chicago has a very unique LGBTQ history which contributed to the development of a diverse, queer community. Commence the self-guided walking tour to view the iconic sites, milestones, and first-class citizens who have made the city what it is today. The Center on Halsted has a few downloadable guides that you can get, which will enable you and your partner to explore the streets together while learning about the history that has led to the progress of the LGBTQ community.
To spice up your night out, dress up and go to one of the iconic drag venues in Chicago. The Baton Show Lounge and Lips are sought after for their extraordinary performances with the talented drag queens who will have you crying with laughter, cheering, and awe of their artistry. Attending a drag show as a couple is not only an adrenaline-filled adventure but also a fantastic way to support and celebrate the LGBTQ community.
- Indulgence and Artistic Inspiration
Stretch yourselves to a day of indulgence and relaxation at Allyu Spa, which is gay-owned and offers couples’ massages and a myriad of spa treatments for pampering. Hang out together with a knowledgeable therapist who, using her skills, will help you to relax and eliminate any stress or tension. Recognize a transformation within yourself, a strong bond with your partner, and the motivation to continue on the journey together.
- Dancing the Night Away
As the Sun sets and Boystown Climaxes with another Energy, Take your Partner and Head to One of the Legendary Clubs. Sidetrack, Roscoe’s, and Berlin are just some of the super cool places where you can really let go, dance to the beat, hang out with friends, and have unforgettable moments on the dance floor. Follow your heartbeat, enjoy the music, and be one with others as you experience the thrill of being part of Chicago’s gay and lesbian community.
Where to Dine
While on a romantic trip, regardless of whether it is a honeymoon trip or not, food can never be ignored at all. Fortunately, Chicago is a fantastic city for foodies with myriads of LGBTQ-owned restaurants and queer date spots.
If you fancy a classy date night, you can book a table at the Kingfisher, a lesbian-owned restaurant. The oysters and their seafood will be heaven. How about a cozy and soul-infused comfort food with southern flair at Big Jones?
When date day is in the cards, the gay-owned Nookies Tree is the ideal lunch place. The quirkiness of the decor and the amazing Benedicts make it a favorite spot for local people. A good place to go is Lost Larson, a queer-owned bakery where you can enjoy a coffee and a pastry. A tasty daytime plan.
If you are looking for more relaxed bites and a youthful neighborhood vibe, then the Wood or Lark in Boystown is a place you don’t want to miss. The people’s views are of very high quality! Remedy, which is a lesbian-owned bar, is the best place to spend a relaxed evening over a pizza and a craft cocktail.
Another thing you can’t miss out on while you’re there is Chicago’s world-famous deep-dish pizza and Chicago-style hot dogs. The sharing of the pie at Giordano’s or Lou Malnati’s is an indisputable quintessential boyfriend and girlfriend thing to do.
Tips for an Amazing LGBTQ Couple’s Trip
To make the most of your romantic Chicago adventure, keep these tips in mind:
- Be prepared to have new experiences. Break the shell of you and accept anything out of your zone, like doing the things you wouldn’t normally do. Adventures together increase the level of unity between you as a couple!
- Make a loose itinerary. Although one should ensure to have some activities and dinner reservations for the day, leave some room for improvisation in case something new comes up. You cannot predict which uncovered treasures you will run into.
- While spending time with your friends is very entertaining, balance your group fun with some alone time. Encountering fellow LGBTQ travelers may be cool, but it is advisable to dedicate enough time for only the two of you to enjoy the moments together.
- Capture memories. Go click a lot of selfies with your friends to look at them later when you miss them all being together. If you are more creative, you may wish to make a scrapbook or memory box consisting of tickets, stubs, brochures, and other souvenirs.
- Plan a romantic date night (at least two). Attend some special event or treat yourselves to a romantic dinner or other occasion that you use to celebrate your love. It is a trip of two loving hearts, after all.
- Disconnect to reconnect. Try putting your phones away as much as possible so you can really tune in to quality time with your partner. The outside world can wait!
Most importantly, go with the flow and have fun experiencing the wonders of Chicago together. From the queer community to the culture to the cuisine, the Windy City is a one-of-a-kind destination that turns couples into lifelong fans.
Here it is – the ultimate guide to exploring the LGBTQ scene in Chicago as a couple! Whether you’re looking for romantic walks, exciting nightlife, rich queer history, tantalizing dining experiences, or uniquely Chicago adventures, you’ll get it all in the Windy City.
You will have the best time of your lives as an LGBTQ couple since you are going to meet the gay community, who are incredibly friendly. Chicago’s Boystown neighborhood is an iconic rainbow pylons city, home to numerous LGBTQ-owned businesses, which spills into the other diverse neighborhoods of the city, where LGBTQ folks are not only accepted but also celebrated.
Therefore, when are you making a start? Your partner, your baggage, and the Second City are now your uniqueness and the memories you will never forget. I promise you, when you get to the end of your trip, you’ll realize that Chicago’s charms have melted your heart and you’ll leave the place being more bonded than before.
