10 Things to Rock Your Layover in Chicago Ord Airport

If Chicago was on your bucket list, then eating Chicago pizza in Chicago is a must to rock your layover in Chicago Ord Airport. And why not? Pizza is one of those foodstuffs for which Chicago is justifiably famous. It has long been the Chicago Department of Aviation's goal to show off the local culinary world to the millions who pass through O'Hare every year. Chicago’s deep-dish pizza was first made in 1943 at Pizzeria Uno in Chicago, by chef and owner called Ike Sewell. The deep-dish pizza consists of a thick layer of pizza dough that forms a base in a high-walled pan, and the cheese and toppings are spread in layers inside it. Instead of baking it with its top open in the oven, the deep-dish pizza is baked in a round, 2-3-inch-deep pan and is baked upside-down. A thick layer of cheese, mozzarella to be specific, is used with toppings of vegetables or meat, added with special tomato pizza sauce, and finally topped with a crust. The key difference between Chicago’s deep-dish pizzas from any other pizza is its crust. This pizza has a deep crust, which seems more like a pie than a pizza. Unlike in most of the united States, where pepperoni is the most popular pizza topping, in Chicago, the most popular topping used in pizza is a sausage.

The Chicago Style Hot Dog is a classic and is very popular with sports fans! The meat is all-beef, the bun with poppy seeds. All these ingredients are piled onto the bun in a specific order. Don't worry about not finding the sport peppers if you are in a different area, and most people pick them off anyways because they are spicy. Well, a steamed poppy seed bun and an all-beef frankfurter start the show. Then it is topped with yellow mustard, freshly chopped onion, green relish, red tomato wedges, a pickle spear, a couple of sport peppers to make it spicy, and lastly, a dash of celery salt. This complete pack of a Chicago hot dog looks like "dragged through the garden" because of its many fresh toppings. Note the absence of ketchup, and keep that in mind even if you’re coming into Chicago new and unaware. Ketchup or sauce isn’t a condiment that Chicago takes lightly, and most authentic hot dog vends don’t keep it in stock. In Chicago city, ketchup doesn’t belong on a hot dog, that is as plain and simple as it gets. So go ahead and bite into some great Chicago Hot Dogs for your layover in Chicago Ord Airport.

Chicago, like all big cities, has an issue with road traffic, and traveling by car sometimes can be very frustrating. If you are in the downtown Chicago area, then the public transportation system is your best choice for swift and fast travel around the city for some amazing sightseeing. The CTA Blue Line train system has a 24-hour rapid transit service between Chicago Ord Airport and the Forest Park Station via downtown Chicago. There are two types of trains: elevated and subway. Both accept cash and transit cards. Since no cash is given back from these vending machines to buy tickets, ensure that you have the exact change in your pocket if you decide to take public transportation in the Chicago city. Look out for the colored lines on the schedule or maps, which indicate either a train or a subway route. The bus routes are shown in oval alongside. It is highly recommended that you download the bus and train schedule, which is available online before you venture out to use the public transport modes. Even if you don’t have one handy, remember the thumb rule that during normal hours, there is a train every 10 minutes to any destination. So relax and enjoy making the most out of your layover in Chicago Ord Airport.

Chicago’s magnificent mile is the place where you can spend your entire layover time easily. If you want to do some serious shopping or looking for entertainment or want to dive into some amazing chicago cuisines, magnificent mile is the place you need to be in. You can also make it as your base as it covers most of what you want along the 13-block spread starting from the north michigan avenue to south oak street, all along the banks of the majestic chicago river and lovely waters flowing through it. The magnificent mile offers your more than 275 restaurants and food joints with 460 plus shops to ensure you get what you need. chicago is an ethnically diverse place; is famous for the diverse dining options it offers. Here you will find asian, indian, italian, latin, and all-American cuisine along with some famous hot spots for drinks. You can have a good time in any one of the pubs and bars to make your layover in Chicago Ord Airport worthwhile. Look out for more information on this so that you can participate in one of these during your layover in chicago ord airport. Besides the food and the shopping indulgence, the magnificent mile has many historical places and landmarks.

The navy pier in downtown chicago is another place where you can spend quality time during your layover in chicago ord airport. Built-in 1914, the navy pier is the world’s largest and is 292 feet wide and 3000 feet in length. The Navy Pier or the erstwhile Municipal Pier #2 was built for shipping and tourist cruises. You can spend a full day here as there are many things to indulge in during your long layover in chicago ord airport.

The Navy Pier offers an awesome view of the Chicago town and its skyline from its endpoint or from the jane adams memorial park, which is on its north side. You can also see the public art display on the pier as well as statutes of bob newhart, captain on the helm, and crack the whip. It also hosts a firework show during the festival season. Take a boat cruise along the michigan lake. Even the city bus tours that you may take have a stop at the Navy Pier. There are various self or guided tours also available at the Pier. The navy pier houses chicago’s famous attractions, including the shakespeare theater, and chicago children’s museum. Check out the events calendar online before you go there for tickets.

There are many ways it can be made and many different versions of it available. The type of pizza slice that you love can define where you are from and other such traits. The chicago version of the pizza is world-famous and is unique. During your layover in Chicago, ord airport makes it a point to go to the east of chicago restaurant. This is a restaurant chain originating from Lima, Ohio, and specializes in offering pizzas of different styles. Buffalo wings, subs, breadsticks, etc. It also offers the authentic chicago style deep-dish pizza. This pizza is the famous world over and is a local delicacy. The unique high wall dish in which it is baked in an upside-down manner in the oven gives it its unique high wall crust and character. The resulting product is a thick pizza filled with lots of mozzarellas, with fresh vegetarian or meat toppings and a tangy tomato sauce making this a treat, which is also very filling. These are severed piping hot, right from the oven on your table. Each Chicago has its unique blend of filling, but where ever you have one, you will be delighted and want more and more of it.

Chicago is home to many great broadway shows and has many standup comedies shows. If you are having an overnight layover in chicago ord airport, make sure you spend the evening or night discovering chicago’s cultural side. Head out to broadway in chicago, which is the most famous of its theaters. You will get amazing seats and most exciting programs in this most famous theater among many in the busy downtown theater district in Chicago. If you have never been to the theater, this is your opportunity, and we highly recommend to have this special experience. If you want an indulgence dipped in luxury, take the broadway in chicago’s suite service. Look out for the play scheduled and book online for excellent offers in advance.

Chicago also is home to a great line up of standup comedy shows. You can look out for these and book yourself for a show which is the best chicago has on offer. You can try the laugh factory chicago, which features great artists and shows that will leave you enthralled. The ticket prices start from $24, and you can book these online for an amazing night with laughter and fun during a layover in Chicago Ord Airport.

During your next overnight layover in Chicago Ord Airport, head out to the city that had the first skyscraper in the world built-in 1885. Towering 10 stories and measuring 138 feet it may not have lasted the test of time. It has the second tallest skyline in the US and has an impressive list of 1366 high-rises, out of which 48 are over 600 feet high. All this makes the Chicago skyline a worthwhile watch during the day or during the night time. The tallest building – the willis Tower, is the tallest of them with 110 stories and measuring astonishing 1,451 feet overtaking the Sears Tower.

To have an awesome view from a high-rise, try any of the many rooftop bars that chicago offers. You will have plush lounging options to spend your evening here, along with a bird’s eye view of the city. You will be able to see the spectacular sights of lake michigan, the lincoln park zoo, and many others. The lights and the skyline of chicago are worth the price you will pay for having a drink or dining at these expensive joints. A few of the places that are recommended are the chi-town, which offers the most amazing view of the city’s skyline.

When you are too lazy or tired of traveling or do not want to leave the airport during your layover at Chicago Ord Airport, you still have options to keep yourself happy. Head out to the Chicago airport lounge for a relaxing time. There are multiple airport lounges at the chicago ord airport, and each terminal has a few of them. Some of them are exclusive to the premium passengers of certain airlines, and some are open to all on a chargeable basis. If you have 3-4 hours to spend at the airport, the best option is to choose one among these which offer a well-appointed space with food, refreshments, and even a shower room. These are generally charged at $27 upwards for three hours. If you are a Priority Pass member or a premium credit card holder, please check at the reception as you may have complimentary free access. The two lounges which offer these facilities are located in the international terminal no. 5. The other facilities are cell phone chargers, Wi-Fi, newspapers, and magazines along with washrooms and shower rooms.

Tip – You can lounge in for up to 3 hours in the airport lounge. You also need to be in “smart casual” attire. Shorts, vests are not considered appropriate here.

If you happen to have a few hours layover at the Chicago Ord Airport and the time does not permit you to venture out, don’t worry. The airport has plenty of things that will engage you. You will like it here, especially if you love shopping, as the airport has a wide range of shops and eateries. Starting from books and magazines you can browse the many shops which offer excellent options for gifting. You can also look at the designer shops which offer exclusive items, though at a price. Head out to the Illinois lottery counter and try your luck or try out the dining options like Tortas Frontera, The Publican, or Billy Brown Tavern. The chicago O’hare airport offers you many diverse food options that chicago is famous for. You will have an array of stores, malls, and restaurants to shop and eat till you die. If your visit happens to be during the holiday season, you are in luck to see the magnificent mile – lights festival. Anyway, there are always some or the other events happening in this vibrant place including the famous food festivals. There are also some art galleries where you can go for spending the rest of your leisure time.

Now that you have discovered these amazing options in Chicago make the most of your next layover in chicago ord airport. There is plenty of stuff that you will discover and enjoy during your quick stop with a layover ranging from 6 hours to overnight. Chicago offers plenty to keep you satisfied. So head out for fun times as you travel to the Windy City.