My girlfriend and I are flying into Chicago and staying at the Holiday Inn Express in Downtown next week until Sunday. We are probably going to use public transportation and maybe one or two taxi trips. For the Chicago's natives and frequent travelers, what places would you recommend others to try or do? I am leaning for the City Pass but am only interested in a 2 of the attractions (Aquarium and Skydeck) on the packet. Any advices on how to go about this city and where to stay away from?
Places that we may be interested (comments are appreciated):
1. Botanical Garden 2. Millenium Park 3. Navy Pier
Chicago Museuma of Industry and Science is really amazing. It is on the Go Card as well. The bus syetem is very easy to manage and will take you everywhere. Don't forget to do a little shopping on Michigan Ave as well. Navy pier is touristy, but the ferris wheel gives you a fun view of the city and the mini-Cirque du Soleil show is fun and cheap. The best way to see the city IMHO is the architectual boat tour. Ask @ any hotel or check it out online. Really worth the money!
swimman1
Nerdy Member
posted: Oct. 24, 2009 @ 8:01p
The ledge at Willis (Sears) Tower is a must. I would also try to get tickets to Second City.
Willis Tower is a great place to view the city. Navy Pier is a bit touristy, but very beautiful at night. Millenium and Grant Parks are amazing to walk through. The Art Institute of Chicago was free on Friday while I was there, if you're art enthusiasts you'll really love it. The shops along Michigan Ave and at the Water Tower are great for shopping. A little more north of the city is Old Town Chicago and Lincoln Park Zoo, it's a nice little escape from being downtown, but not that far at all (just a short bus ride down Michigan Ave). There are so many exciting things to see and do around Chicago, and you don't have to break your bank doing them. Considering you are only interested in two of the attractions, the Go Pass really wouldn't be advantageous to you.
Where do you live and are you an accomplished martial artist?
MsGLAMOROUS
Addicted Member
posted: Oct. 25, 2009 @ 7:54a
I live here ....There is so much to do .
shimmeringtrance
Member
posted: Oct. 25, 2009 @ 1:48p
do you mind if i ask why that hotel? my wife and i are going to chicago next fall and the prices we saw quoted on the Holiday Inn express site for rooms were right up there with actual 4 or 5 star hotels in the area. which we though was really strange.
shimmeringtrance said: do you mind if i ask why that hotel? my wife and i are going to chicago next fall and the prices we saw quoted on the Holiday Inn express site for rooms were right up there with actual 4 or 5 star hotels in the area. which we though was really strange.
We bought the last minute package from Travelocity and it was included. The rating is higher a few available.
Every place I've visited in the world I always try to experience food the area is known for.
That being said I say go for:
Deep dish pizza - You can grab it at the original Pizzeria UNO or Lou Malnati's. I'm from the NYC area where we also have great pizza but deep dish is a not bad and worth trying.
Chicago hot dogs - The touristy areas generally don't have much in hot dog offerings so you'll have to go out of your way a bit. Portillo's has great hot dogs. If you're out late, you might want to check out the Weiner Circle which is an experience unto itself.
Besides hot dogs and deep dish pizza, Chicago is also known for Italian beef.
Since you are downtown: If you like museums you can go to the Chicago Art Museum on Michigan Ave. Good collection of French impressionism. Also Chicago is known for good regional theater. Hot Tix locations in downtown Chicago for 1/2 price tickets.
Invest in the current Time Out Chicago magazine when you arrive and you'll have a ton of information on events and activities for the weekend. If you have any interest in art at all, the Art Institute of Chicago is incredible. Millenium Park (across the street from the Art Institute) is a must see. I find Navy Pier to be quite touristy but the view from the ferris wheel on a clear day is great.
If you visit Millenium Park, you're not too far from Gold Coast dogs on Wabash. Not a fancy place at all, but great Chicago hot dogs. Order a char dog, and don't ask for catsup.
If you walk by a Garrett's popcorn shop and the lines aren't too long, try some of the cheese/caramel corn mix. The best!
You can also check out the Hot Tix center (about a half block from Millenium Park) for tickets to some of the incredible theater productions in Chicago.
John Hancock's Signature Room at the 95 floor has a lunch buffet on weekday for $18 with a great view of the city. You would pay about the same price or more at the Michigan Ave area anyway. If you have young girls in your family, check out the American Girl Store also on Michigan Ave. My daughter like the place when she was younger.
cmateski
Member
posted: Oct. 26, 2009 @ 9:16a
Shopping: Michigan Avenue or Water Tower
Good eats: Uno's or Deux, Potillo's, Ed D'Bevics (Diner and a lot of fun)
Places: Shed Aquarium, Field Museum, Museum of Science and Industry, Navy Pier
Check out Kingston Mines on Halsted for cheap drinks and the best blues music. Wander around downtown with a Red Eye newspaper and you'll stumble upon dozens of free attractions. For example a couple of museums have free symphonic presentations. Either way you can find plenty of things to do for free inside (we've been experiencing lots of rain lately).
rasher
Senior Member
posted: Oct. 26, 2009 @ 9:37a
Mr. Beef!
Papi006
New Member
posted: Oct. 26, 2009 @ 10:14a
John hancock tower go to bar on floor before observatory for free, has excellent views. Go to any currency exchance or Walgreens/cvs to get a one day cta pass for $5.75; valid for 24hrs/unlimited rides; a great deal, i think it is 2.25 one way on the L.
If you are staying at the Holiday Inn on Wabash then you are two block west of the Michigan Ave. shopping district which is pretty cool. You are about 2 blocks west and 5 blocks south of the Jon Handcock Building which, as people mentioned previously, is a great place to grab a nice dinner and a great nightime view of the city. The lincoln park zoo is always fun and free. Hop on the Redline and go a little south to Chinatown. Uummm...Millennium park is pretty neat to see. If you want some nightlife just tell your cabbie to take you to Rush and Division. Oh, and you are about two block from a place called the Billie Goat Tavern. If you are a fan of SNL from the 80's you may know of this place by the skit about the "cheezborger".
Sort of sarcastic...but sort of not. I wanted to visit Chicago...but they don't allow legally licensed citizens to carry guns there so it becomes a very dangerous city in many areas. Although I do hear there are several areas that are fantastic to visit. And even a couple that are safe.
Sort of sarcastic...but sort of not. I wanted to visit Chicago...but they don't allow legally licensed citizens to carry guns there so it becomes a very dangerous city in many areas. Although I do hear there are several areas that are fantastic to visit. And even a couple that are safe.Not following your logic, how is it that almost no one can carry a weapon in Tokyo, but it has one of the lowest muder rates? By your logic, it should most be the dangerous place on the planet.
You have is completely backward -- like many cities, there are a few dangerous areas and most of the city is perfectly safe.
A couple of years back down here in Orlando, we had one of the highest murder rates in the country, yet that didn't seem to slow the tourist even slightly.
BTW, how do you even make it out of bed in the morning?
Just want to say Thanks for all the suggestions so far, keep them coming. Any good local restaurants around Michigan Ave? We are definitely having lunch or dinner on the John Hancock, visiting the Millennium Park, Navy Pier have to face my fear of ferris wheel, maybe the cirque du soleil, botanical garden, Skydeck, and the architecture River cruise. Now it is all about planning the schedules.
Viewer
Member
posted: Oct. 26, 2009 @ 5:44p
Although its getting cold, go on an architectural boat tour. Be sure to select the one organized by the Chicago Architecture Foundation. More expensive than some of the others, but worth it. Chicago Architecture Foundation Boat Tour
Portillo's is ok, but there are so many more options, many better. Uno's or Due's Pizza are good places to go, because they are the originators of Chicago Deep Dish Pizza. And the quality is much better than the Uno's franchises. On the other hand, there are many great pizza places around. Another local great is Gino's East. But you'll never get two Chicagoans to agree on the best pizza or hot dogs.
Museum of Science and Industry Art Institute of Chicago
and don't forget to visit some great neighborhoods. Devon Ave, a mix of Indians, Pakistanis, Russians, orthodox Jews, and many immigrant groups is one good option. Chinatown (if you're not from New York or the west coast). Pick up a guide book, or go to the Chicago Cultural Center near the art institute. Lots of good tourist information there.
Viewer said: Devon Ave, a mix of Indians, Pakistanis, Russians, orthodox Jews, and many immigrant groups is one good option.
Why? OP hasn't said what he's looking for.
Viewer
Member
posted: Oct. 27, 2009 @ 8:38a
DSJ said: Why? OP hasn't said what he's looking for. Just making a suggestion. Chicago's range of ethnic neighborhoods and restaurants are pretty interesting. Devon Ave is one of the most diverse.
You've done no research except begging for anonymous posters' ideas.
I travel much differently.
I'm just looking for suggestions and ideas for now and planning the schedule/locations of what we'll do tomorrow evening. It's just that when looking online we see the same attractions and thought it would be great to get locals suggestions since they live there.
I'm a fan of Top Chef and loved their "Master Chef" competition. Rick Bayless, the winner, cooks "fancy" Mexican food. He has two restaurants, Frontera Grill and Topolobampo, in Chicago.
It's on my "must eat" list if/when I visit Chicago.
Take a walk through FAO Schwartz (If it's still there). It's a very cool toy store.
For an awesome food experience, hit up the Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder Co on Clark St. Don't skip the Mediterranean bread or the salad, the dressings are fantastic. The Pizza pot pies are out of this world good! And it's reasonable (about $30 if you split a pizza pot pie) for all of the above.
Viewer
Member
posted: Oct. 27, 2009 @ 2:44p
Unraveled said: I'm a fan of Top Chef and loved their "Master Chef" competition. Rick Bayless, the winner, cooks "fancy" Mexican food. He has two restaurants, Frontera Grill and Topolobampo, in Chicago.
It's on my "must eat" list if/when I visit Chicago.He's added s third. Xoco Plus there's Frontera Fresco at Macy's on State St. and at Old Orchard in Skokie
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