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Weekend plan

Chicago on a Budget — Free & Cheap Weekend Plan

Free walks, cheap eats and the good stuff that doesn't cost anything.

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Friday

  1. Evening

    Bang Bang Pie & Biscuits

    Brunch · $$ · Logan Square

    Land soft: Cheddar-chive biscuit sandwich — Bakery brunch, biscuits & pie.

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    Why this pick
    • ·Light on the wallet without feeling cheap
    • ·Dinner-grade kitchen worth lingering at
    • ·Keeps you in Logan Square — short walk from your other stops

Saturday

  1. Morning
    Montrose Beach & Dunes
    Outdoors · Uptown

    Quiet lakefront beach with protected dunes and birding paths — a local escape from the tourist lakefront.

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    Why this pick
    • ·Light on the wallet without feeling cheap
    • ·Best early — lighter crowds before noon
    • ·Keeps you in Uptown — short walk from your other stops
  2. Afternoon
    North Avenue Beach
    Family · Lincoln Park

    Boathouse-shaped beach pavilion and skyline-backed swims.

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    Why this pick
    • ·Light on the wallet without feeling cheap
    • ·Holds up in the afternoon energy lull
    • ·Keeps you in Lincoln Park — short walk from your other stops
  3. Evening

    Free night plan

    Grab a bottle, walk to a viewpoint or waterfront, and watch the city light up. Costs nothing.

Sunday

  1. Morning
    Chicago Riverwalk
    Outdoors · Loop

    Walk or kayak past the city's famous architecture on river level.

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    Why this pick
    • ·Light on the wallet without feeling cheap
    • ·Best early — lighter crowds before noon
    • ·Keeps you in Loop — short walk from your other stops
  2. Afternoon
    Millennium Park Ice Rink
    Family · Loop

    Free outdoor rink beneath the Bean with free skating admission — a winter staple for families.

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    Why this pick
    • ·Light on the wallet without feeling cheap
    • ·Holds up in the afternoon energy lull
    • ·Keeps you in Loop — short walk from your other stops

Remix

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Every plan below is freshly built from Chicago's top curated picks.