Written by Jessica Comegys
Your Next Long Weekend Starts at SHV
We spend a lot of time thinking about where we can connect through Atlanta, Charlotte or Dallas. But what if, instead of rushing to the next gate, you simply walked out of the airport?
Beginning October 25, United Airlines is adding daily nonstop service from Shreveport to Chicago O’Hare, putting one of America’s greatest cities less than two hours from home. No connection. No three-hour drive to a larger airport before the trip even begins. Just pack a bag, head to SHV and go. And the timing could not be better. Arrive in late October or early November and you’ll catch Chicago in that wonderful in-between season when the air has turned crisp but winter hasn’t quite taken hold. Pack a coat, comfortable shoes and something fabulous for dinner, because this is a city made for walking all day and going out all night.
Start on the Chicago River.
Sightseeing Cruise on the Chicago River
The Chicago Architecture Center’s river cruise is much more than a sightseeing boat ride. As you glide beneath bridges and through the heart of downtown, some of the city’s most recognizable buildings rise dramatically on either side of you while expert guides tell the stories of the architects and events that shaped the skyline. Even if you think architecture isn’t your thing, the perspective from the water might change your mind.
From there, let the day unfold. Walk through Millennium Park. Spend a few hours with Monet, Renoir and Seurat at the Art Institute of Chicago. Shop Michigan Avenue. Stop somewhere for a long lunch because you’re on vacation and lunch absolutely should involve a glass of wine. Then go back to your hotel, change clothes and head out again for dinner, theater and cocktails.
Choosing where to stay may be the hardest decision of the weekend. Chicago has an embarrassment of riches when it comes to fabulous hotels, from grand dames dressed to the nines for Christmas to historic landmarks and sleek modern stays overlooking the river.
But if you can wait until mid-November, Chicago becomes something else entirely.
Christmas arrives.
Chicago Christkindl Holiday Market
On November 20, Christkindlmarket opens in Daley Plaza, bringing one of Europe’s most beloved holiday traditions to the middle of downtown Chicago. Inspired by the centuries-old Christmas market in Nuremberg, Germany, the market fills the plaza with little red-and-white wooden stalls selling handmade ornaments, gifts and traditional German treats.
Imagine stepping out into the cold with Christmas lights glowing overhead. The smell of roasted nuts and warm pretzels drifts through the air. Someone hands you a mug of chocolate, there’s bratwurst sizzling nearby, Christmas music playing and people bundled in scarves wandering between stalls looking for ornaments to take home. For a few hours, downtown Chicago feels a little like Christmas in Europe. And you got there on a nonstop flight from Shreveport.
The timing gets even better the very next evening. On November 21, the Magnificent Mile officially welcomes the holidays with its annual Lights Festival. More than a million lights illuminate over 200 trees along Michigan Avenue as floats, marching bands and performers make their way down the street. Santa Claus makes an appearance, fireworks light up the river, and this year’s grand marshals are none other than Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse. Apparently, I can find Mickey anywhere.
Spend another afternoon shopping along Michigan Avenue, then trade your shopping bags for afternoon tea beneath a towering Christmas tree. As evening falls, head to Millennium Park to see the city’s Christmas tree glowing against the skyline or lace up a pair of skates and take a few laps surrounded by skyscrapers.
And then there are the evenings. Chicago’s theater scene is reason enough to plan a weekend, but during the holidays, *The Nutcracker* adds another layer of magic. The Joffrey Ballet’s version is uniquely Chicago, reimagining the story against the backdrop of the 1893 World’s Fair. Follow it with a late dinner or tuck into a dimly lit cocktail bar while the temperature drops outside.
You don’t have to accomplish all of it. In fact, I hope you don’t. Leave room for wandering. Stop when something smells good. Duck into a beautiful hotel lobby just to see the Christmas decorations. Walk along the river after dark. Order dessert. Stay out later than you planned. That’s the beauty of a long weekend in a city like Chicago. You aren’t there to check off a list. You’re there to step into a completely different rhythm for a few days.
And just when the Christmas lights come down, Chicago gives us another reason to return. When spring arrives, so does baseball. Picture walking into Wrigley Field on a sunny afternoon with the smell of popcorn and hot dogs in the air. You hear vendors calling from the aisles, see the ivy beginning to cover the outfield walls and then hear that unmistakable crack when the bat connects with the ball. It’s America’s pastime in one of America’s most storied ballparks.
Maybe that’s the best part of this new nonstop: Chicago isn’t a city you need to see all at once.
Go for Christmas and come back for baseball. Go for the architecture and return for the restaurants. Spend one weekend wandering museums and Michigan Avenue and another doing little more than eating well and exploring a neighborhood you missed the first time.
A great long weekend doesn’t have to start with a three-hour drive, a connection or an elaborate itinerary. Now it starts at the airport right down the road, with a direct flight to somewhere that feels worlds away.
Chicago, we’ll see you soon.
WHERE TO STAY IN CHICAGO
- Holiday Glamour: The Peninsula Chicago
- Riverfront Elegance: The Langham, Chicago
- Historic + Fun: Chicago Athletic Association
- Modern + Stylish: Pendry Chicago
- Gold Coast Luxury: Four Seasons Hotel Chicago or Waldorf Astoria Chicago
- Parisian Flair: Sofitel Chicago Magnificent Mile
SAVE THE DATES
- October 25: New SHV–Chicago nonstop begins
- November 20: Christkindlmarket opens
- November 21: Magnificent Mile Lights Festival
- December 4–27: The Joffrey Ballet’s *The Nutcracker*