This post is in collaboration with Downtown Evanston. As always all thoughts and opinions are my own.
Staycations are the best! You get to relax and enjoy a new city even if it’s close to your hometown, and you don’t have to break the bank to do it. My motto is you don’t have to travel far to explore someplace new and exciting! My mom and I were hosted by Downtown Evanston for a mother’s day staycation this year and we had a blast! You will be surprised at how much fun you can have only a short drive away from home. It was so amazing to get away and enjoy some alone time and time with my mom for mother’s day. I am going to give you all the details on where we stayed, what we ate, and things to do in Downtown Evanston!
Where To Stay
There is definitely no shortage of places to stay when you are visiting Downtown Evanston. We were hosted at the Hyatt House Chicago Evanston. It was in the perfect location for us to walk to everything. I also loved the suite style rooms. It felt like a home away from home. This location is also perfect for a family staycation getaway! I will definitely be back with my daughter and husband. We had a great stay! Check out more Downtown Evanston Hotels Here.
What To Eat
Cupitol
Oh my the food. You all know I LIVE for some good food! There is also no shortage of places to eat in Downtown Evanston. From pizza, burgers, mexican, steak, and sushi they have it all. During our stay we checked out Bar Louie as well as Cupitol. Cupitol is a Coffee & Eatery. It’s the perfect place for a quick bite or also a sit down dinner. My mom and I ate here for dinner and it was amazing. Check out more about Cupitol here.
Things To Do
There is so much to do in Downtown Evanston. Honestly, I had no idea that Evanston had so many amazing local shops! I loved visiting all of the small businesses! There are also a ton of women owned business as well! You all know I love supporting other business women! My mom and I had the pleasure of visiting a few of the shops, here are a few that we stopped by.
Ayla’s Originals
My mom and I attended a bracelet making class at Ayla’s! It was so fun. Alya is amazing and has been in business for over 23 years. Her space is so welcoming. She offers so much from beautiful beads, pearls, gemstones, and gifts. Ayla offers a variety of classes from basic stringin, knotting, wire wrapping, and stitch bracelet making. She also offers beading parties great for a girls night out, kids birthday parties, and so much more!
Dragonfly
Dragonfly is one of Downtown Evanston unique shops. They offer unique clothing, candles, jewelry, purses, and so much more. My mom purchased a beautiful hand woven scarf! We loved this shop it was so cute!
Becky & Me Toys
When I saw Becky & Me Toys I knew I had to stop in! They have some really great toys. You dont see toy stores too often. The toy store was founded by Peggy Sebert and her daughter Becky. I bought Riley a really cool book. It was a really nice store, perfect if you are looking for gifts for the kiddos.
Bookends And Beginnings
I’ve been to a lot of bookstores but this one takes the cake. This was the most quaint bookstore I have ever been to! It was so nice and quiet in there and they had some great books from adulting to motivation you can find something you love there. It was also featured in some really cool movies too! This is a must visit if you are ever in Evanston.
Mothers Day Walk Evanston History Center
On the last day of our staycation we went on the 44th Annual Mother’s Day Evanston walk. We got to see some amazing historic homes and walk through them. My mom really enjoyed the tour. The tour is yearly but the Evanston History Center has so much more to check out. Make sure you stop by and see what events they are hosting.
There are so many more places to eat in Downtown Evanston. Make sure you take a look they definitely have something for everyone!
We truly enjoyed our Mother’s day Staycation in Downtown Evanston. It was my first time in Evanston and also my mom’s! Thank you so much to Downtown Evanston for hosting us. We will definitely be back to visit. If you live near make sure you check out the amazing shops, food, and amazing things to do in Evanston.
Have you visited Downtown Evanston?
