If you still have holiday shopping to do, don’t panic; we’re here to help. We’ve hand-picked some gift suggestions that will help you finish all of your shopping with time to spare.
Show your love for your loved ones with these gift ideas!
An Elevated Experience
Where are the best views of the city? From the air!
Give the gift of a Chicago Helicopter Experience tour and you’ll give a memory to be cherished for a lifetime.
Operating out of their own dedicated space between Pilsen and Bridgeport, the tours give you a literal birds-eye view of Chicago’s majestic skyline and lakefront.
The public tours seat up to six people. For a more intimate experience (say, an engagement or anniversary) private charters are available.
Nibbles & Sips
Shopping for the foodie in your life may just be the easiest gifts to find. While there’s a plethora of options in Chicago, we’ve got a few suggestions that would make a welcome appearance under any foodie’s tree (hint hint…).
A Lettuce Entertain You gift gives back. For every $100 in gift certificates you purchase you’ll get $25 for yourself.
You can get classic cards, or select the e-gift card option to get a certificate in any amount you choose. That could be a clever way to celebrate a significant number in the recipient’s life, like an anniversary, birthday, or age.
The group has 120 restaurants in nine states, so you’re not limited to just Chicago gifts.
For the hands-on foodie, a cooking class will fit the bill. The Chopping Block offers classes on pasta, bagels, knife skills, sushi, and more at their two locations (Merchandise Mart Plaza and 4747 N Lincoln). Serious chefs can take their boot camps for in-depth instruction.
TLTip: Time your gift-getting with one of The Chopping Block’s happy hours and you can sip on wine specials while shopping.
The Play’s the Thing
Chicago is home to literally hundreds of theaters. Big and small, storefront to off-broadway, black box to majestic playhouses, the stage fan can find a genre and production to fit any desire.
Broadway in Chicago offers subscriptions as low as $155.
Steppenwolf’s Black Card gives you six ticket credits to use for any programming. You can choose Preview, Weeknight, or Anytime credits. Credits can be used one at a time or all six if they want to bring friends (including a certain gift-giver). If you’ve got a 20-something theater lover, Steppenwolf RED is only $100 and gives them six tickets.
Bring the whole family with the Chicago Children’s Theater Holiday Family 4 Pass for $100.
Get deeply discounted tickets to shows all over Chicago with Goldstar.
You can get tickets for everything from The Goodman Theatre’s performance of the Dickens holiday classic A Christmas Carol, to Ballet Chicago’s The Nutcracker, to Lookingglass Theater’s The Steadfast Tin Soldier, and many, many more.
It’s a free sign-up and you’re sure to find the perfect theater gift.
Give the Gift of Chicago
Give the gift of your favorite city this year with a Go Chicago Card.
With one card your loved one can take architecture tours and visit all of Chicago’s major museums, including the whole Museum Campus and the Art Institute of Chicago.
Both observation decks, 360 Chicago and Skydeck, are included. You can get them an all-inclusive pass or you can create your own. While you’re at it, you might as well get one for yourself, right?
The “cards” are delivered via email and include a digital guidebook, so there’s no waiting or wrapping (unless you want to, of course.). In addition to Chicago you can also get passes for San Diego, LA, Boston, New York City, Oahu, and more.
Give the gift of Chicago with a GoChicagoCard
Inspire Their Next Adventure
If you’re looking for the perfect gift for the travel lover, the Two Lane Gems books are just what the doctor ordered.
Written by The Local Tourist’s founder Theresa L. Goodrich, these tales are part travelogue, part travel memoir, and all love letter to America.
“More than a guidebook, Two Lane Gems is a vivid portrait of the American landscape. Slide behind the wheel to meet the characters who inhabit some of our country’s most interesting destinations. Along the way, you’ll also experience the quirkiness of these quintessential destinations and also meet a few fellow travelers along the way. It’s an adventure that I highly recommend.”
Paula Brandon
Go Big Screen or Stay Home
There’s just nothing like seeing a movie on the big screen, but tickets can be a little pricey.
With a Fandango gift card, you’ll give the gift of a night (or afternoon) out, and that’s priceless! You’ll even get $20 for concessions for yourself if you spend $100+. There are several designs to choose from, or you can create your own.
Click here to get the gift of movies.
Happy Holidays!
