The Gluten Free Restaurants We Tried in Chicago

Hi Friends!

Planning a gluten-free trip to Chicago? Discover the best gluten-free restaurants, coffee shops, pizza, sushi, and drinks from my 5-day visit.

I completely understand that planning a trip with also having a gluten allergy can be a little overwhelming, especially if you are traveling with others who don’t have an allergy. Most of the time people defer to you to pick the restaurants and that can be a lot of pressure! So before our recent trip to Chicago, I spent like hours researching restaurants on Find Me Gluten Free, scrolling through TikTok, and asking friends/family for recommendations on spots to try in Chicago! I wanted to make sure we had plenty of options before we arrived, especially since I never want food allergies to get in the way of enjoying a trip! Pretty much every restaurant that we found and went to had a great understanding of food allergies and was happy to answer questions or make accommodations which was nice! Some places had more gluten free options than others but I never felt like ordering food that was gluten free was a hassle! If you are planning a trip to Chicago soon, here is everywhere we ate, what I ate and my thoughts on the food as well as a list of places that are already on our list for our next visit!

Where to Eat Gluten Free in Chicago:

Breakfast

Starbucks - I'll be honest we were constantly rushing out the door every morning to get to where we needed to be and because we had so much planned each day, breakfast usually meant stopping at Starbucks before heading to our first activity. Since I already know the egg bites are a safe gluten free option, that's what I ordered almost every morning! Was it the most exciting breakfast? Not really. But sometimes when you're traveling, sticking with something familiar makes life so much easier. Next summer we're planning another trip to Chicago, and one thing I've already decided is that breakfast is going to be much more of a priority because there were so many cafés I wanted to try!

Hero Coffee Roasters - I was so happy that we stopped here on the last morning in Chicago; it was my favorite coffee stop of the trip! The coffee was delicious, and although I only grabbed a drink, they did offer a gluten-free oatmeal option. Everyone else in our group ordered bagels and absolutely loved them. It was the perfect stop to grab a coffee before starting our day!

Breakfast Spots Still on My List

Even though we didn't make it to these restaurants this trip, they're already saved for next summer!

  • Bru Chicago - This spot is known for both sweet and savory crepes.

    • 📍180 W Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602

  • Meli Cafe - This is a sit down breakfast and brunch spot that looks so good!

    • 📍500 S Dearborn St, Chicago, IL 60605

Planning a gluten-free trip to Chicago? Discover the best gluten-free restaurants, coffee shops, pizza, sushi, and drinks from my 5-day visit.
Planning a gluten-free trip to Chicago? Discover the best gluten-free restaurants, coffee shops, pizza, sushi, and drinks from my 5-day visit.

Lunch

Burger Bar Chicago - The Burger Bar was one of my favorite restaurants because it checked every box. The food was delicious, it was conveniently located near where we were staying, and the staff was fantastic about my gluten allergy. I got a build your own burger both times with French fries and it was a 10/10! We loved it so much that we actually ate here twice during our trip. Finding a restaurant that you trust while traveling is always a huge win, and Burger Bar became one of those places for us!

Planning a gluten-free trip to Chicago? Discover the best gluten-free restaurants, coffee shops, pizza, sushi, and drinks from my 5-day visit.
Planning a gluten-free trip to Chicago? Discover the best gluten-free restaurants, coffee shops, pizza, sushi, and drinks from my 5-day visit.

The Patio at Cafe Brauer - We spent one of our days in Chicago near the zoo and decided to stop for lunch here and it was really really good! I ordered the turkey club with french fries, and everything was absolutely delicious. The staff was really knowledgeable about food allergies, which always helps me feel more comfortable ordering. I also ordered the white sangria, and honestly...I still think about it. It was easily one of my favorite drinks from the entire trip! If you're spending the day at Lincoln Park Zoo, I highly recommend stopping here for lunch!

Planning a gluten-free trip to Chicago? Discover the best gluten-free restaurants, coffee shops, pizza, sushi, and drinks from my 5-day visit.
Planning a gluten-free trip to Chicago? Discover the best gluten-free restaurants, coffee shops, pizza, sushi, and drinks from my 5-day visit.
Planning a gluten-free trip to Chicago? Discover the best gluten-free restaurants, coffee shops, pizza, sushi, and drinks from my 5-day visit.

Umi Sushi by Weight - This was a great option when we were needing something quick. This isn't really a sit down restaurant, so keep that in mind if you're planning a nicer meal. They also didn't have a huge gluten free menu, but the gluten free options that they did offer were clearly marked, and they even had gluten free soy sauce available! I grabbed a few different pieces from a couple of different rolls and was happy with it! It's a great grab and go lunch option if you're exploring downtown!

Lunch Spots Still on My List

These are already on my list for our next Chicago trip.

Dinner

Gino’s East - I know we haven’t tried them all, but in my opinion, if you only eat at one restaurant while you're in Chicago... I suggest Gino's East! This was hands down my favorite restaurant of the trip! The gluten free pizza was absolutely incredible, and after eating there once, we loved it so much that we came back a second time before leaving the city! The gluten free pizza isn’t deep dish but it was still so good. Everyone else that was with us in our group also loved the pizza, and it was deep dish! I got the Spinach Artichoke Thin Crust Pizza and it was so so good!

Planning a gluten-free trip to Chicago? Discover the best gluten-free restaurants, coffee shops, pizza, sushi, and drinks from my 5-day visit.
Planning a gluten-free trip to Chicago? Discover the best gluten-free restaurants, coffee shops, pizza, sushi, and drinks from my 5-day visit.
Planning a gluten-free trip to Chicago? Discover the best gluten-free restaurants, coffee shops, pizza, sushi, and drinks from my 5-day visit.

Niu B - The group I was with was on the hunt for ramen and they definatley found it! I would say that the gluten free options that were here were more limited but I was still able to have a really yummy meal! I got a sushi roll and the chicken fried rice. It was pretty good, I was also happy that they had gluten free soy sauce to give me! It was a solid dinner and a good option if you're dining with a group that wants ramen!

Planning a gluten-free trip to Chicago? Discover the best gluten-free restaurants, coffee shops, pizza, sushi, and drinks from my 5-day visit.
Planning a gluten-free trip to Chicago? Discover the best gluten-free restaurants, coffee shops, pizza, sushi, and drinks from my 5-day visit.

Momento Cantina - This restaurant was...okay. It wasn’t horrible, but really nothing to write home about. Just kind of middle of the road mexican food. We did like the drinks here and the appetizers that we got were pretty good too. We got guacamole and ceveche which they brought out special tostadas for me to enjoy the appetizers with. The entrees were just kind of meh. It was also like unbelievably hot inside the restaurant, which in the middle of June was just not fun and somehow it felt even warmer inside than it did outside. Between the heat and the average food, this wasn't one of my favorite meals of the trip!

Dinner Spots Still on My List

These restaurants are already on my list for our next visit!

Drinks

Planning a gluten-free trip to Chicago? Discover the best gluten-free restaurants, coffee shops, pizza, sushi, and drinks from my 5-day visit.

Casa Bonita - Okay...I have one very important piece of advice. Do not order the watermelon margarita. Seriously. It was one of the worst drinks I've ever had! I know that sounds dramatic, but I stand by it. It somehow managed to taste artificial, over the top salty, stronger than any drink I’ve had before while also tasting watered down at the exact same time. Save yourself the disappointment and order something else!

Reunion by Chef Art Smith - This was such a fun stop. We ordered the reusable souvenir drink cups and tried several of the specialty cocktails. I ordered the Watermelon Shine, which I really enjoyed. The rest of our group tried: Sweet Tea Shine, Blue Hooch, and the Cherry Limeade! Everyone seemed to enjoy their drinks, and the reusable cups were nice becuase we could bring them back over the next few days of us being there!

Senorita’s Dearborn - We ended up coming here twice during our trip to grab drinks before dinner. It has a very casual atmosphere, but the bartenders were hilarious and made the experience so much fun! The drinks were good and so was the guacamole that we got as an appetizer one night!

Tips for Eating Gluten Free in Chicago

After spending nearly a week eating around the city, here are my biggest recommendations.

  • Research restaurants before your trip using Find Me Gluten Free, TikTok, and recommendations from friends!

  • Don't be afraid to ask questions. Every restaurant that we visited was happy to discuss gluten free options.

  • If you're eating sushi, ask if they have gluten free soy sauce. Several restaurants actually did which can literally change a meal!

  • Don't feel bad about repeating restaurants. We visited both Burger Bar Chicago and Gino’s East twice because we knew they handled allergies well.

  • Make reservations if you're visiting popular restaurants during the summer. We were lucky to get into Momento Cantina without one, but I wouldn't count on that every time, especially on the weekends!

Planning a gluten-free trip to Chicago? Discover the best gluten-free restaurants, coffee shops, pizza, sushi, and drinks from my 5-day visit.
Planning a gluten-free trip to Chicago? Discover the best gluten-free restaurants, coffee shops, pizza, sushi, and drinks from my 5-day visit.

Map of Every Gluten-Free Restaurant We Tried in Chicago

👉 Open my Chicago Gluten-Free Restaurant Map

My Chicago Gluten-Free Restaurant Map

I've shared my Google Map link that includes every restaurant we visited during our trip, the restaurants still on my list for next summer, our hotel, and several of the things we did while we were in the city if you want to check that out!

The map includes:

  • Congress Plaza Hotel

  • Every restaurant featured in this guide

  • Lincoln Park Zoo

  • Millennium Park

  • The Bean

  • Navy Pier

  • Restaurants still on my "next trip" list

Chicago really exceeded my expectations when it came to eating gluten free. I really expected to spend a lot of time worrying about where I could eat, but I really think that doing a little planning before the trip to find safe and delicious meals ended up being one of the easiest parts of the trip! I had some delicious pizza at Gino’s East, burgers, yummy sushi, good coffee, and cocktails, there were so many great options throughout the city! Like I mentioned before, we are already planning another trip for next summer, and I still have a long list of restaurants I can't wait to try! If you've visited Chicago and have a favorite gluten free restaurant that I missed, let me know! I'd love to add it to my list before our next trip. If you have any questions at all, please comment below or you can always send me an email at tarynintotravel@gmail.com and I will get back to you as soon as possible!

Much Love, 

Emma

WHAT TO READ NEXT!

Chicago Field Museum + Pokemon Fossil Museum Pop Up

Hi Friends!

Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.

If you know me, you know that Dustin and I both absolutely love Pokémon and Pokémon Go. So when we were planning our trip to Chicago for Pokémon Go Fest and I heard that the Pokémon Fossil Museum pop up was coming to Chicago, I knew I had to try to get tickets! What I didn't expect was just how much I would end up loving the entire museum as a whole, it was so cool! I really loved the Pokémon Fossil Museum as well and it was definitely what initiated us going to the Chicago Field Museum, the entire museum completely exceeded my expectations. We spent about four hours exploring and still didn't see everything! I think I honestly could have easily spent six or more hours there with all of the exhibits that they have! I think whether you're a Pokémon fan, planning a trip to Chicago, traveling with kids, or really just love museums, I think the Field Museum in Chicago deserves a spot on your itinerary for sure!

Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.

Getting Tickets Might Be Difficult Right Now

I wanted to mention before I get too far into this post that getting tickets to the Pokémon Fossil Museum pop up might not be easy right now. This exhibit at the Field Museum has been really popular, and depending on when you're reading this, tickets might sell out or already be sold out for when you want to visit. That all aside, I wanted to still write this blog post because I wanted to share our experience and my thoughts on the exhibit while it's fresh in my mind and for those who already have tickets can use this as a guide as well! On the other hand, the good news is that the hype about this exhibit might calm down over time. I think that if you're planning a future trip to Chicago, it's still worth checking availability because you may be able to snag tickets later on down the road! And honestly? Even if you can't get tickets to the Pokémon Fossil Museum, the Field Museum itself is absolutely worth visiting! Now that I have been, I would have absolutely gone with or without the Pokémon Fossil exhibit; it was such a cool museum!

Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.

Quick Visitor Information

Location: Chicago Field Museum
Ticket Cost: $48 per person ($30 admission + $18 Pokemon Fossil exhibit)
Time Needed for Pop-Up: 45-90 minutes
Time Needed for Museum: 4-8 hours
Best For: Pokémon fans, families, museum lovers, Chicago visitors
Special Souvenir: Archeops promo card

Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.

Pokemon Fossil Museum Pop-Up

How much did it cost?

How long did it take?

  • We spent about 45 minutes inside the actual Pokémon exhibit. But I feel like if you are someone who enjoys reading all of the displays, taking your time with photos and just taking it all in you could probably be in there for an hour, hour and a half! There was a ton to read about which was so cool!

The Pokémon Promo Card

  • Each person who visited the Pokémon Fossil Exhibit got the same special promo card before you walked into the exhibit. We got a special stamped Archeops card and as a Pokémon card collector, this was the perfect souvenir to get to bring home!

Were there photo opportunities?

  • One thing that really impressed me was how thoughtfully designed the exhibit was and how many photo opportunities there were! The displays of the Pokémon are paired with the real world fossils and prehistoric creatures that inspired their designs. It was really cool to see these side by side comparisons and honestly, it was educational and incredibly fun for longtime Pokémon fans like ourselves. Overall, I think there are plenty of photo ops for guests to take advantage of!

The Gift Shop Details

  • Of course, no special exhibit would be complete without exclusive merch. The gift shop had some raelly cute items like plushies, clothes, notebooks, stickers, and more. I do think they were sold out of many items but there were still things to choose from when we were there!

    I ended up purchasing:

    • Pikachu Plush

    • Pikachu Plush Keychain

    • Field Guide Notebook

    • Two Stickers

    Dustin's haul included:

    • Two T-Shirts

    • One Hoodie

    • Pikachu Plush

    • Pikachu Plush Keychain

    There were also a few important shopping rules:

    • Maximum of 5 items per person

    • No duplicate items allowed

    Just remember that the limit helps to make sure that more people who are visiting can have a chance to get something too!

Is it worth it?

  • Absolutely! I really think that the exhibit was incredibly well done. The concept of placing Pokémon next to the real fossils and prehistoric creatures that inspired them was both adorable and educational. It felt like a perfect blend of science museum and Pokémon nostalgia. The exhibit was detailed, creative, interactive, and surprisingly informative! If you're able to get tickets, I would definitely recommend it!

Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.

Exploring the Chicago Field Museum

While the Pokémon exhibit was amazing, the Field Museum itself deserves just as much attention! Here are some of the exhibits you'll find throughout the museum:

Evolving Planet

This exhibit walks visitors through the history of life on Earth, from single-celled organisms all the way to dinosaurs and modern species. It's also where you'll find many of the fossils that lead up to the famous SUE exhibit.

Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.

SUE the T. rex

The museum's most famous resident! I share more on SUE down below because she really deserves her own section in this blog post!

Nature Walk

This was one of my personal favorites. The exhibit recreates different natural environments and showcases plants, animals, and ecosystems in a way that feels immersive and easy to explore.

Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.

Plants of the World

I wasn't expecting to enjoy the plant exhibits as much as I did, but they were fascinating. The displays highlight plant diversity, adaptation, and the important role plants play in ecosystems around the world.

Ancient Egypt

One of the museum's most popular permanent exhibits. Visitors can explore artifacts, mummies, and displays that provide insight into life and death in ancient Egypt.

Native Truths: Our Voices, Our Stories

This exhibit focuses on Native American histories, cultures, and perspectives through stories, artifacts, and modern voices.

Grainger Hall of Gems

If you love gemstones, minerals, and sparkling displays, this section is worth a visit. The collection includes beautiful specimens from around the world.

Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.

Underground Adventure

A family-friendly exhibit that lets visitors experience what the world looks like from the perspective of insects and other tiny creatures.

DNA Discovery Center

Learn how genetics influences life on Earth and how scientists use DNA to study organisms, both living and extinct.

Rare Books Collection

One exhibit I completely missed and honestly regret not seeing was the museum's collection of rare books. Since we left, I have heard great things about it, and it's definitely on my list for a future visit

Why SUE the T. rex Is So Unique

Even if you've never heard of the Pokémon Fossil Museum, you've probably heard of SUE. She was absolutely fascinating to learn about so I wanted to share a little but more about why she is so special! SUE is the largest, most complete, and most well preserved Tyrannosaurus rex specimen that has been discovered. She is named after fossil hunter Sue Hendrickson, who discovered this skeleton in South Dakota in 1990, SUE has become one of the most famous dinosaur fossils in the world! What makes SUE so special is the incredible level of preservation and how much scientists have been able to learn about Tyrannosaurus rex biology, injuries, growth patterns, and behavior thanks to this specimen. Standing underneath SUE is honestly hard to describe and I don’t feel like the pictures were even able to show how big she is in person! The exhibit surrounding SUE is also extremely well done, guiding us visitors through the science, discovery, and history behind one of the world's most famous fossils! I can’t express enough how cool it was to see SUE in person!

Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.

Tips for Visiting the Field Museum

  • Plan for at least four hours, and if you're a museum lover, consider dedicating an entire day!

  • Wear comfortable shoes, there is a lot of walking!

  • Purchase special exhibit tickets in advance!

  • Arrive a little early for timed entry exhibits, definitely read the emails you will get leading up to your visit because they share a ton of information!

  • Don't rush through the fossil halls leading up to SUE.

  • Leave room in your luggage if you plan on shopping for souvenirs!

Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.

FAQ

How much are tickets to the Pokémon Fossil Museum in Chicago?

How long does the Pokémon Fossil Museum take?

  • We spent about 45 minutes in the exhibit, but visitors who read every display could easily spend 1 to 1.5 hours.

What Pokémon card do you get at the Pokémon Fossil Museum?

  • Visitors receive a special Archeops promo card featuring the fossil Pikachu on it!

Is the Pokémon Fossil Museum worth it?

  • Yes! The exhibit does an excellent job pairing Pokémon with real-world fossils and prehistoric animals, making it both educational and fun.

How long should you spend at the Field Museum?

  • We spent about four hours there and still missed exhibits. I would say that museum lovers could easily spend an entire day exploring.

Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.
Visit the Chicago Field Museum and Pokemon Fossil Museum pop-up! See ticket prices, merch, promo cards, exhibits, and our honest review.

I really feel like the Pokémon Fossil Museum pop up was everything I hoped it would be and more! We loved the exhibit and I feel like it was packed with fun details for Pokémon fans of all ages. The exclusive Archeops promo card was such a special souvenir, I loved the fossil comparisons and all of the adorable merchandise! On top of that what surprised me most was how much I enjoyed the Field Museum itself! We spent so much time exploring and still missed exhibits I wanted to see. Between SUE the T. rex, the Nature Walk, the fossil collections, and countless other displays, it's easy to understand why this museum is considered one of Chicago's top attractions. Whether you're visiting specifically for the Pokémon Fossil Museum or looking for a great museum experience in Chicago, I highly recommend adding the Field Museum to your travel plans! If you end up visiting I would love to hear about it. If you have any questions you can comment below or send me an email at tarynintotravel@gmail.com and I will get back to you asap!

Much Love, 

Emma

WHAT TO READ NEXT!

Traveling with Different Airlines During Covid

www.tarynintotravel.com | Traveling | Traveling During Covid | Airline comparison | Weekender bags | weekend luggage

First things first I never in my life thought I would be writing a post about this but here we are. 2020 man, its so weird! Anyways, both Dustin and I have had to fly during quarantine and we both had completely different experiences with two different airlines so I just wanted to share those with you.

Back at the beginning of May Dustin had to fly to Florida and then at the beginning of June needed to fly to Iowa and both times he took Southwest. He said that it was great! There was nobody sitting in the middle seats unless there was a family. And he felt far enough away from the people around him and that the plane felt really clean. There wasn’t any snack or beverage service on his flight but that was to be expected! One other thing that Dustin really liked about Southwest was that they boarded 10 people at a time. It helped to spread people out and have a bit more distance between people.

On the other hand, when I needed to go to Iowa over this past weekend I flew American Airlines and every single seat was full on both of my flights. We were literally packed in like sardines. I don’t know if I was so aware Of how close people were from being in quarantine so long or if that is how it always is but I wasn’t a fan. Other than that my flight felt clean and like it had just been cleaned. There wasn’t any snack or beverage service on my flight either just like Southwest. Which I appreciate because otherwise nobody would have had a mask on. They would have been eating or drinking and totally defeat the purpose. With American Airlines they did only let a few rows off at a time which was nice!

Basically if I were to fly again in the next few months I would fly southwest! I feel more comfortable with having the middle seat open in between me and someone else. It also blew my mind how different things were in different states. In Boston, every single person had a mask on and then in Iowa nobody had one on. It’s just interesting to see how things are in different places.

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www.tarynintotravel.com | Traveling | Traveling During Covid | Airline comparison | Weekender bags | weekend luggage

A Day at the Omaha Zoo

When we were in Iowa a couple of weeks back we were so happy to go back to the Omaha Zoo, it’s actually where Dustin asked me to be his girlfriend haha that feels like SO long ago! The zoo has changed so much since we were there last and they had so many new attractions and animals! We visited on what felt like the HOTTEST day in July, seriously! We went on a Sunday and I’m not sure if it’s because we were there on such a hot day or what but the crowds weren’t bad at all.

Where to eat

We had lunch at TuskerGrill near the elephant exhibit. They served things like burgers and french fries. For gluten free options, there were pretty much none. I luckily brought my own bread in anticipation of not having many options and I was glad I did. I ordered a cheeseburger with no bun and no side. After wandering a bit more throughout the park we wish we would have eaten at Glacier Bay Landing Grill, this had more options like crab cake sandwiches and fish tacos. Glacier Bay Landing Grill is located near the splash pad.

What attractions not to miss

If you only have one day to visit these are the attractions and exhibits that I think you should add to the must do list!

  • Lied Jungle

  • Scott Aquarium (it was being remodeled when we visited but still open with many exhibits inside.

  • Butterfly & Insect Pavilion

  • Hawkins Giraffe Encounter - you get to feed the giraffes!

  • Elephant Family Quarters

  • Hubbard Gorilla Valley’Asian Highlands

  • Splash Pad if you have small kiddos

  • Stingray Beach

  • Desert Dome

After you complete that I would get on the Skyfari Landing and taking it over the park to see the lions, cheetah and antelope and then get back on and it will bring you back to the front of the park. The Skyfari Landing is a chair lift ride that lets you see the zoo from the treetops!

We did do train but honestly, we didn’t see too many things and it was a bit of a let down. I will say though that our nephew really enjoyed it and that was fun for him! So maybe add it to the must do list if you have small kids.

Overall we loved the zoo and really felt like we could spend the day there as adults without kids no problem! But we also love all zoos, aquariums, theme parks… we are pretty much just big kids haha