Indiana Dunes (Smelt Fish Fry) is a food day trips in Chicago.
Editorially verified May 18, 2026 by Elliot Marsh, TableJourney editor. Source.
Tip: Combine the dunes morning hike with a fish-shack lunch at Schoop's in Munster on the way back. Whole trip eight hours.
Guided tour · 3 hours
Taste the finest examples of Artisan, Neapolitan, Detroit Style, and Chicago deep-dish pizza on this professionally guided walking tour that takes you to highly-rated ...
Water activity · 2h 30m
An unforgettable celebration of holiday cheer and fine dining awaits on our Christmas Eve Dinner Cruise on Lake Michigan. Enjoy a 3-course plated dinner, an on board D...
2 hours
Make pasta night feel like a full Italian escape in this fun 4-course cooking class in Chicago. Learn to roll ravioli from scratch, prepare a vodka sauce and a veggie ...
Milwaukee in Wisconsin is the 90-minute Hiawatha-train day trip from Chicago for the Friday fish fry, with Lakefront Brewery, the Public Market and Old.
TipPlan the trip for a Friday; Lakefront Brewery's fish fry is the canonical destination. Old Fashioneds at Bryant's are the after-meal walk.
Galena in northwest Illinois is the three-hour weekend trip from Chicago, with riverside dining at Fritz and Frites, the Galena Cellars winery and a row.
TipWeekend trip is the better use; book the General Dodge House for Saturday night and Fritz and Frites for dinner.
New Buffalo in Michigan is the 75-minute Lake Michigan day trip from Chicago, with downtown dining at David's Deli, Round Barn Winery and beachfront kitchens.
TipRound Barn Winery is the daytime stop; downtown New Buffalo for dinner. The dunes at Warren Dunes State Park are the morning hike.
Lake Geneva in southern Wisconsin is the 90-minute summer-kitchen day trip from Chicago, with lakefront dining at Pier 290, grills at Popeye's and ice cream.
TipTake the mailboat ride first (90 minutes), eat at Pier 290 with a lake view second. Avoid Saturday traffic and go on a Tuesday.
Munster in northwest Indiana is the 40-minute South Asian day trip from Chicago, with a cluster of Indian and Pakistani groceries and restaurants along Ridge.
TipLunch at one of the Ridge Road Indian-Pakistani spots, then Schoop's Hamburgers for the trip home; the Patel Brothers market stop is the take-home haul.