-from a friend in the Chicago area

I’m sure you are aware of all the well-known cultural destinations in the Windy City – the museums, Wrigley Field, Millennium Park, Sears Tower, but there is one little-known gem that I want to put on your radar. In the heart of Chicago’s River North area, Open Books is a cultural experience that has been described as a Wonka Wonderland of Books.

The award-winning bookstore provides a vibrant, fun, creative place for guests of all ages to read and play. Adult visitors can browse through a selection of 50,000 books and relax on the oversized couches, while kids can enjoy flipping through the 10,000 children’s books and playing in the children’s corner.

Travelers can even feel good about spending their money (books average between $3 to $5), which we know can get tight during vacations, because book sales support the Open Books literacy program. The store funds 50% of Open Book’s literacy programs which pairs volunteers with Chicago Public School students to help them with reading and writing – thousands of volunteers- 4,000 students. There is so much more to say about the store, but I don’t want to bombard you with information. Feel free to check out the website whenever you have a free moment: http://www.open-books.org/.