Lovingly known as The Windy City, this cultural epicenter is one of my favorite spots for a weekend getaway full of fun ventures, beautiful vistas and tons of great values. Have a trip planned here soon? Here’s the 3V perspective on both some well known and hidden gems.

VISTAS-National Parks and new skyscrapers. Where else can you hike in a beautiful, waterfront National Park for sunrise then spend sunset enjoying a the Chicago Skyline from over 100 floors up? Start your morning renting a car from one of many downtown vendors and driving less than an hour to Indiana Dunes National Park. Start at the visitor center for an overview, then hit the 1 mile Dune Succession trail for panoramic views of Lake Michigan. To end the day, visit one of America’s best, and my personal all time favorite observation deck at SkyDeck. The VISTAS from over 100 floors up are simply stunning with the “ledge” experience looking down below through the glass.

VENTURES-There are hundreds, seriously hundreds, of fun bars and restaurants to see in Chicago but after much planning and research our favorite Wine Bar was Drunken Bean, which brilliantly transitions from cozy coffee shop to wonderful wine bar in the afternoons. Their ultra chill vibes and great staff make this a refreshing, small town style change of pace from some of the “over the top” experiences nearby.

VALUES-A hidden gem in Chicago amongst hundreds of hotels is the Hyatt Regency downtown. Fresh off a $150million renovation, the best value in the city are the rooms with Regency Club access, with $6 cocktails, a full breakfast and dinner buffet plus unlimited snacks all day long. Serving up even more value is the 2-Michelin starred Moody Tongue. “The Bar” portion enjoys the same drinks and fantastic food in an approachable, yet classy environment. Just trust your GPS and enter the building with no name and address.

Don’t get blown over and do have a fantastic trip to Chicago.