With internationally lauded temples of molecular gastronomy, a constellation of breweries and cocktail bars and a roster of iconic local specialities like belt-busting deep dish pizza, Chicago boasts a dining and drinking culture to satisfy the lustiest of appetites. But if you have dietary restrictions (or merely fear you’re one Chicago-style hot dog away from gout), take heart: in recent years, the city’s food scene has begun to develop a lighter side, too, with juice bars, cafes and even super-stylish spots that prize good health and good taste in equal measure.

Here, seven of Chicago’s best healthy eateries.

Dig in to delicious gluten-free waffles at Wheat’s End © Cate Huguelet / Lonely Planet

A hearty brunch, hold the gluten

For followers of a gluten-free diet, there’s perhaps no crueler taunt than brunch, that midday orgy of pancakes, cinnamon rolls and croissants that dominates restaurant menus citywide come weekends. Enter Wheat’s End, a daytime-only spot whose 100% gluten-free status seems almost incidental, thanks to an airy, modern space, a menu that doesn’t shy away from the breadiest brunch classics and a kitchen with the chops to execute them. A honey-butter-smeared cheddar chive biscuit yields up pleasing juxtapositions of savory and sweet, crusty and tender, while the house take on biscuits and gravy (diners choose from sausage, beef or vegetarian-friendly mushroom varieties) stars a flaky, meltingly light popover that arrives still steaming.

Hi-Vibe turns out a whole menu of riffs on buttery Bulletproof Coffee, an alleged brain booster © Cate Huguelet / Lonely Planet

Start your day with a bang

A packed itinerary of strolling, shopping and museum-hopping in Chicago’s city center demands serious stamina. Here to answer the call is tiny takeout spot Hi-Vibe, purveyor of cold-pressed juices, smoothies and bowls packed with so-called superfoods to River North’s shiny-haired set. Among the shop’s most interesting offerings are its nearly 20 riffs on Bulletproof Coffee, a brew of allegedly toxin-free beans, grass-fed butter and coconut oil extract which devotees swear boosts brain function and kicks the body into fat-burning mode, without the caffeine crash that can follow a traditional cup of joe. Hi-Vibe’s rendition of the original concoction is mouth-coatingly creamy, with sufficient richness to serve as a standalone breakfast. For vegans and tea lovers, there are options like the Matcha Vatte, a subtly sweet take on a conventional matcha latte that swaps dairy for luscious coconut cream.

Sweet and savory bowls packed with seasonal fruits and veggies are the order of the day at Left Coast © Cate Huguelet / Lonely Planet

Hale, wholesome and chef-approved

There’s perhaps no better symbol of Chicago’s newfound embrace of good-for-you-grub than Lake View’s Left Coast, an erstwhile hotdog stand converted into a clean-eating haven, with a sun-dappled SoCal vibe (see the vertical garden and retractable windows) and a menu developed by local super-chef Paul Kahan. When the weather gets sticky, order up a frosty, berry-loaded acai bowl and cool down with the locals – and their dogs – on the chilled-out patio. If fiery flavors are more your thing, go for the K-Town, a brown rice bowl with bibimbap-inspired toppings like kimchi, mushroom and a jammy seven-minute egg. Even kids’ fare gets a nutritious upgrade here – think dishes like turkey meatballs with Israeli couscous and broccoli.

Upton’s will make sure you don’t leave Chicago without trying an Italian beef sandwich – even if you’re vegan © Cate Huguelet / Lonely Planet

A Chicago classic goes vegan

From its onsite Breakroom, a spare but light-filled cafe tucked along an industrial stretch of West Town, homegrown natural foods manufacturer Upton’s Naturals dishes up fast-food delights like diner-style burgers and barbeque plates. Just one twist: everything’s vegan. Among the greatest hits are the smoky bacon seitan mac and cheese and al pastor tacos filled with adobo-marinated jackfruit. For a meal with a distinct local flavor, though, go for the ‘Chicago-Style’ Italian, a vegan interpretation of Chicago’s classic giardiniera-topped Italian beef sandwich that ditches the traditional main ingredient for herbed seitan. While it won’t fool unrepentant meat lovers, it may be the closest you can come to this iconic dish without crossing to the carnivorous side – and at a glance, it’s a darned convincing lookalike.

Park to table

Green City Market began with just nine area farmers back in 1998, long before terms like ‘sustainable’ or ‘locally grown’ peppered every menu, from the rarified fine-dining spot to the fast-food drive thru. Today the market is a bonafide local institution, counting some of Chicago’s top chefs among its faithful customers and commanding an impressive swath of Lincoln Park each Wednesday and Saturday. (November through April it moves indoors, to the nearby Peggy Notebaert Museum.) Come to source high-quality picnic fixings direct from the hands of the independent farmers, cheese makers and bread bakers who produced them. Families flock here en masse for the cheerful – if busy – atmosphere, and the so-close-you-can-almost-touch-it proximity to Lincoln Park Zoo (across the street).

Stylish Bad Hunter brings vegetable-forward small plates to the West Loop © Cate Huguelet / Lonely Planet

Cheers to veggies

Pushing against stereotyped notions that a healthy ethos precludes a sense of humor or style is veggie-focused Bad Hunter, whose very name sets a tone: it’s a waggish reference to the mocking quip that ‘vegetarian’ is derived from a Native American term meaning ‘bad hunter’. Situated amidst the meat-packing houses and decidedly-not-herbivorous eateries of the West Loop, the restaurant strikes a welcome note of lightness, beginning with the verdant foliage and vintage pressed leaf artwork that punctuate the neutral interior. Made-to-be-shared dishes like tempura-battered lemons and broccoli and wood-grilled mushrooms and pickled blueberries over koji porridge manage the trick of feeling virtuous and at once indulgent and special. Even the cocktails make a nod to good health. Try the LA Brunch, a cool, velvety sipper that balances its boozy components with avocado, snap pea and aquafaba, a chickpea-derived emulsifier.

Real Good Juice Co’s almond milk-based NoYo FroYo is a seriously tasty dessert option for those who can’t eat traditional ice cream © Cate Huguelet / Lonely Planet

I can’t believe it’s not ice cream

If you’re lactose intolerant, vegan or simply trying to limit sugar and calories, finding frozen treats that actually taste good and don’t contain a laundry list of tough-to-pronounce additives can be a tall order. Local chain Real Good Juice Co has your back. In addition to serving up fare like avocado toast and comically named cold-pressed juices (see, for instance, the green vegetable-packed Juice-Pac Shakur), its Old Town and Lake View locations also churn out NoYo FroYo, a coconut nectar-sweetened almond milk soft-serve in fashionable flavors like activated charcoal and matcha. It clocks in around just 80 calories per serving and it’s downright tasty, with a delicate sweetness and a creamy texture sufficient to scratch the ice cream itch without sabotaging your diet. Toppings like vegan cookie crumbles and almond butter only sweeten the deal.

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Summer temperatures in Rio regularly top 40°C (104°F), leading locals and tourists to crowd the nearby beaches and forest waterfalls to escape the heat. On weekends it can seem like the entire city is jostling for a spot next to the refreshing waters – to miss the crowds, drive up into the hills north of the city where the temperatures are cool and the scenery is even cooler.

The impressive mountain range of Parque Nacional Serra dos Órgãos © Rafael Fernando / 500px

This region, known as the Serrana, still shows the influence of the German settlers who came in droves during the 19th century, and it has plenty to interest visitors including the historic cities of Petrópolis and Teresópolis, along with a stunning national park.

Located 70km north of Rio de Janeiro, Petrópolis is nestled among cool forested hills at an elevation of 838m (2,749 ft). Brazil was ruled as an empire between 1822 and 1889 and it was Emperor Dom Pedro II who both commissioned Petrópolis and gave it its name (Petrópolis is a conjunction of Petrus and Polis, Latin and Greek respectively for Pedro and city). Construction was started in 1845 and completed two years later. The city was designed by Júlio Frederico Koeler, a German engineer, and it was largely populated with German immigrants who were encouraged to settle there after its construction. The German influence can be seen to this day, from the architecture and street names to the restaurant menus.

A little more than 20km to the northeast of Petrópolis, across the spectacular Serra dos Órgãos National Park, lies its sister city, Teresópolis (named after Dom Pedro’s wife, Teresa Cristina). Teresópolis is far smaller than Petrópolis but enjoys a similar comfortable climate and an even more laid back vibe.

Although there are many attractions and activities in the region, many Brazilians who visit regularly will tell you that the best way to enjoy the Serrana is to simply relax with some good food in good company and enjoy the scenery. With countless guesthouses and short-term private rentals available, many in bucolic locations boasting stunning views, this is easily achievable. Buses run regularly between Rio’s main bus terminal and the towns and cities of the Serrana, though the best way to explore the area is to hire a car.

The national park contains many hiking and climbing options of varying degrees of difficulty © orleijunior.com / Getty Images

Serra dos Órgãos National Park

The Serra dos Órgãos National Park (also referred to by its Portuguese acronym, PARNASO) covers 105 sq km (40 sq miles) and lies between Petrópolis and Teresópolis. The park is swathed in verdant forests and dominated by dramatic pointed mountains, including the iconic Dedo de Deus (God’s Finger) and Agulha do Diabo (Devil’s Needle).

The park has over 200km of trails, ranging from the easy walks past waterfalls and pools, such as the 1.3km Trilha Suspenso (Suspended Trail), to the 3-day Travessia Petrópolis-Teresópolis (Petrópolis-Teresópolis Crossing), crossing the entire park from Petrópolis to Teresópolis. Experienced rock climbers can find major challenges such as the full day ascent of Dedo de Deus. Those not up to scaling the heights of this enormous finger-like peak should not miss the breath-taking view from Mirante do Soberbo on the outskirts of Teresópolis.

The park is exceptionally well-organized, with excellent visitor centers; clearly marked, well-maintained trails; and entrance tickets that include official park accommodation for multi-day hikes. Entrance to the park is R$52 (US$14) and accommodation ranges from R$10 (US$2.50) for camping to R$39 (US$10) for a bunkbed in a dorm.

Learn about the history of the Brazilian Empire at the Imperial Museum © dabldy / Getty Images

Catch some history at the Imperial Museum (Petrópolis)

The Imperial Museum is the largest and most complete collection of relics and artifacts relating to Brazil’s imperial history. The museum is housed in the summer palace of Emperor Dom Pedro II, located in the very center of Petrópolis. Completed in 1862, the impressive neoclassical building is surrounded by tranquil gardens, lined with exotic plants and trees.

The museum itself, founded in 1940, houses more than 300,000 items including original furniture and paintings that belonged to the imperial family. Highlights include the imperial crown jewels and the golden quill that was used to sign the order abolishing slavery in 1888. All visitors are required to don protective slippers to avoid damaging the original floors – to the obvious delight of younger visitors, this leads many to skate and slide their way around the museum’s grand halls and corridors. Not all of the display information is translated into English, but there is a museum app which is available in English and Portuguese.

Bohemia Brewery is Petrópolis’ most historic watering hole ©
Leonardo Shinigawa /
CC by 2.0

Taste the local suds

With such a strong German influence in the region, it’s hardly surprising that Petrópolis and Teresópolis are beer-making powerhouses – both cities have large breweries that offer tours.

In Petrópolis, a German settler started making beer on the site of today’s Bohemia Brewery in 1853. The brewery has an excellent beer museum complete with interactive exhibits and a wealth of information regarding the history of the Bohemia Brewery. The guided tours, with English-speaking guides, include ample opportunities to sample the different beers and finish up with the option to continue drinking in a bar and restaurant.

Vila St Gallen in Teresópolis is the home of the highly regarded Therezópolis range of beers. Although parts of this attraction look more like a German-style theme park, the actual brewery tour section is interesting and culminates with a tasting experience in which each style of beer is paired with a cheese. While not as slick as the Bohemia tour, there is still plenty here to keep beer-lovers interested. The tours are in Portuguese only, so bring someone who can translate or be prepared smile and nod.

The photogenic countryside outside of Teresópolis © Phillippe Cohat / Getty Images

Get your festival on

The Bauernfest is held every year in Petrópolis to celebrate the German settlers who came to the region in the 19th century. Hundreds of thousands of visitors flock to the festival which runs for ten days at the end of June. Held in the impressive Crystal Palace, the festival features everything you might expect from a German festival – lederhosen-clad oompah bands, enormous mugs of beer, glühwein and vast numbers of sausages. At other times of year, visitors can get their fix of German staples (sausage, potato salad and strudel) at Casa do Alemão.

Started in 1973 by a group of local artisans, the Feirinha de Teresópolis (Feirarte) is a massive arts and crafts market in the center of Teresópolis that has more than 600 stalls selling a wide variety of locally produced items and attracts around 5,000 people each weekend. The fair runs all day Saturday and Sunday from 10am-6pm.

Where to stay

Pousada Tankamana is set in the stunning, forested hills of Itaipava, 12km northwest of Teresópolis. The sixteen private chalets, fitted with hot tubs perfect for chilly evenings, are spread across the spacious gardens. Locanda Della Mimosa offers grand hotel luxury and fine dining on the northern outskirts of Petrópolis, while the mid-priced Pousada Terê Parque is located right on the edge of the Serra dos Órgãos Park and is a perfect jumping-off point for those wanting to explore the park.

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Part of the reason Los Angeles is such a tourist draw is that there’s so much to do so close by. Within a couple hours’ drive are stunning coastal scenery, two (count ’em) wine-making regions, skiing, hiking, history, seasonal wildflowers, culture and kitsch. Here are just some of the best day trips, so fill up and get going.

Palos Verdes coast and Point Vicente Lighthouse © Peieq / Getty

Coastal scenery – beyond the beaches

From Malibu to Manhattan Beach, LA County’s west coast is a big-time beacon for beach-lovers. But did you know there’s an entirely different experience on LA County’s south-facing coast? It’s so little visited that you’ll forget you’re in America’s second-largest metropolis.

Take the 110 Freeway all the way to the port of San Pedro, where a few miles west, the cliffs of Point Fermin Park offer inspirational coastal views all the way to Orange County to the left and Catalina Island to the right. Nearby are its lighthouse, the Korean Friendship Bell and the vintage 1940s bar, Walker’s Cafe, worth a visit to hobnob with bikers and other assorted characters. The Fort MacArthur Military Museum, a decommissioned WWII defensive post, has some history galleries and plenty of secret tunnels and bunkers for rambling and scrambling. Or if you prefer nature without the military history, try White Point Nature Preserve and White Point-Royal Palms State Beach.

Then continue west on a rewarding drive through Palos Verdes, past multi-million-dollar homes and bajillion-dollar ocean panoramas. Your destination: the lavish Terranea Resort and a sunset cocktail overlooking the Pacific.

Santa Barbara – California’s riviera

About 90 minutes northwest of LA, Santa Barbara exemplifies the SoCal lifestyle of everyone’s dreams. Spanish Colonial streetscapes are peppered with boutiques, restaurants and bars, and there’s a heady mix of attractions from the original Spanish mission to the family-friendly MOXI science museum and the west coast’s oldest pier, Stearns Wharf. Lest it all sound a little, well, grown up, the downtown Funk Zone bursts with hipster-friendly bars and restaurants.

If all those weren’t reason enough to go, fires and mudslides devastated several communities southeast of Santa Barbara in the winter of 2017-2018, so you’ll be doing the locals a solid by spending your tourism dough here.

The Santa Ynez Valley vineyards © Nik Wheeler / Getty

Southern California wine countries

How blessed in LA? Doubly blessed, if you count the not one but two wine countries within day tripping distance. Designate a driver and head northwest to the Santa Ynez Valley or southeast to Temecula, both about two hours from central LA and offering quaint towns as the backdrop for your SoCal wine adventure.

The Santa Ynez Valley is about a half-hour beyond Santa Barbara, through mountains dramatically nestling Lake Cachuma. The valley’s small towns have charm to spare, especially Early Californian-style Los Olivos and Solvang, founded by Danish immigrants and still feeling like a Danish village. Nearby Buellton has more of an industrial-hip streak with contemporary eateries and – can we call them? – drinkeries.

Meanwhile, Temecula, near where Orange, Riverside and San Diego Counties meet, has an Old West Americana vibe on its main street; it was a stop on the old Butterfield stagecoach line in the mid-1800s. A few miles away, some 40 wineries line its rolling hills and offer tastings and events.

A poppy field in Antelope Valley © Ben Neumann / Getty

Wildflowers in the Antelope Valley

Most of the year the Antelope Valley, about 1.5 hours north of LA, isn’t on many tourist maps. But in early spring, typically mid-March through April, the hills are alive with wildflowers nourished by winter rains. Look for bright orange poppies – California’s state flower – especially among the 8 miles of walking trails at the Antelope Valley California Poppy Reserve, and other fields glowing with yellow and purple from lupine and phacelia.

Go big in Big Bear

Big Bear Lake proves that Angeleno adage: that in LA you can ski in the morning and surf in the afternoon. This mountain resort town about 110 miles northeast of Downtown LA has an elevation of 6750ft, two ski resorts (Snow Summit and Bear Mountain) and a fun village to serve them; for the surfing part, make sure you get back to the coast before dark. During summertime, hiking, mountain biking and watersports take over.

For road-trippers, though, getting there and away is more than half the fun, via the Rim of the World Scenic Byway (Hwy 18), revealing a jaw-dropping vista around practically every twist and turn back to the real world.

Palm Springs eternal

“Snowbirds” from northern climes spend entire winters in Palm Springs, but this desert oasis two hours east of Downtown LA can be done as a day trip, albeit a pretty full one. Hit the road early to survey the scene from above via the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway; at nearly 6,000 vertical feet up, summer temperatures at the summit can be a welcome 40 degrees Fahrenheit (22 Celsius) cooler than the triple-digits common on the desert floor; a network of hiking trails lets you explore. Back at ground level, tour the city’s signature Mid-Century Modern architecture, browse retro-cool togs and design on Palm Canyon Drive, or quaff a mai tai in a Tiki bar.

Pioneertown © Geri Lavrov / Getty

Other desert oddities

Northwest of Palm Springs, a few diversions can be strung together for a fun day exploring SoCal’s quirkier side. If Pioneertown looks like a old west movie set, that’s because it was; no less than Gene Autry and Roy Rogers helped finance it to shoot western films and TV shows there, and there are still occasional weekend shoot-em-up performances on dusty ‘Mane St’. Don’t miss Pappy & Harriet’s Pioneertown Palace, serving down-home vittles and an evening roster of musicians; often including some of the biggest names in the business.

Get in touch with your inner outer space persona at the Integratron, conceived in the 1950s by aerospace engineer George Van Tassel as a place to receive telepathic instructions from extraterrestrials. There’s no indication that ever happened, but these days visitors can be transported via ‘sound baths’ performed on bowl-shaped bells under the Integratron’s wooden dome.

And en route back to LA are the World’s Biggest Dinosaurs, a selfie spot before its time: giant concrete creatures plopped down off I-10 by a theme park designer in the 1970s. The brontosaurus and T-Rex have been featured time and again in movies and music videos, most notably 1985’s Pee Wee’s Big Adventure. You can pay a (steep) fee to view exhibits, do a dino-dig and climb inside Mr. Rex’s mouth. If shopping’s more your style, the dinosaurs’ neighbors are two giant outlet malls, Desert Hills Premium Outlets and Cabazon Outlets.