Hey guys. Going to Chicago next week for 6 days on vacation. Any thing I can't miss or should do while I'm there? Always get great tips from the board.
OT: Chicago Vacation
- Thread starter billhilf
- Start date
Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, architecture tour on Chicago River, White Sox game, Cubs game, Sears Tower Sky Deck, lakefront cruise, Museum of Science and Industry.
(Chicago is my favorite city)
I went last summer for a Tigers game at Wrigley. Was awesome.
We were only there for 2 nights but we bought a Citypass (google it). It's like $60 each and gets you admitted into a set amount of attractions that you choose. We did the Shedd Aquarium, a museum right in the same area I can't remember the name of, the Adler planetarium (also right near the aquarium/museum), Science Museum and the Willis Tower Skydeck. You also get to skip all the lines for said attractions very very worth it.
We stayed at Club Quarters in the Central Loop.
5 minute walk from the train station we took there and back
30 minute walk to the area with the the attractions
10 minute walk to Willis Tower
2 minute walk to the trains to take you anywhere else in the city. (Wrigley, Science Museum in our case). The Science Museum is in a pretty sketchy area honestly but we had no trouble. You get off the train and cross the street and wait for a bus that has a stop there.
We were only there for 2 nights but we bought a Citypass (google it). It's like $60 each and gets you admitted into a set amount of attractions that you choose. We did the Shedd Aquarium, a museum right in the same area I can't remember the name of, the Adler planetarium (also right near the aquarium/museum), Science Museum and the Willis Tower Skydeck. You also get to skip all the lines for said attractions very very worth it.
We stayed at Club Quarters in the Central Loop.
5 minute walk from the train station we took there and back
30 minute walk to the area with the the attractions
10 minute walk to Willis Tower
2 minute walk to the trains to take you anywhere else in the city. (Wrigley, Science Museum in our case). The Science Museum is in a pretty sketchy area honestly but we had no trouble. You get off the train and cross the street and wait for a bus that has a stop there.
Staying at the Hyatt on the loop. Looks like a good location near good food/bars
So far doing:
1.wrigley
2. Architectural Boat tour
3. Beach on Lake Michigan
4. Art institute
5. Renting pontoon on Chicago river
6. Second city Comedy show
7. Sky deck on Willis (Sears tower)
8. Dinner in the Willis tower (50 something floor)
9. Navy Pier
Should be a great time! And I will wear my RU gear proudly throughout.
So far doing:
1.wrigley
2. Architectural Boat tour
3. Beach on Lake Michigan
4. Art institute
5. Renting pontoon on Chicago river
6. Second city Comedy show
7. Sky deck on Willis (Sears tower)
8. Dinner in the Willis tower (50 something floor)
9. Navy Pier
Should be a great time! And I will wear my RU gear proudly throughout.
Enjoy it! It's a great city. And Go ChiSox! (I hate the Cubs with a burning passion)
We owned a condo in River North for the weekends when we lived in Madison WI. We always had guests do the architectural tour on the Chicago River. It's a must. I also liked visiting the Frank Loyd Wright designed Robie House on the beautiful University of Chicago campus. Also take a tour of Wright's house and workshop in Oak Park. It's a short walk from the subway through a gorgeous neighborhood.
Btw, unless you have kids, are taking in a play at the Shakespeare Theater, or taking a boat tour, I wouldn't go to the a Navy Pier. Too touristy and full of junk.
We owned in Chicago for five years and loved it. A great city.
Btw, unless you have kids, are taking in a play at the Shakespeare Theater, or taking a boat tour, I wouldn't go to the a Navy Pier. Too touristy and full of junk.
We owned in Chicago for five years and loved it. A great city.
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Skip Navy Pier.
Isn't pontoon and architecture tour redundant?
Many great resturants.
Shedd Aquarium and Field museums are fantastic. Unless you love art, go to the Met when you are home.
Gotta fit in deep dish pizza.
Second Gibsons and Rush St nightlife / jazz clubs.
When on Michigan just north of the river on the southbound side, there is a stairway in front of the Duane Reade (I think). Go down. Follow greese smell around corner to original Billy Goat Tavern.
Isn't pontoon and architecture tour redundant?
Many great resturants.
Shedd Aquarium and Field museums are fantastic. Unless you love art, go to the Met when you are home.
Gotta fit in deep dish pizza.
Second Gibsons and Rush St nightlife / jazz clubs.
When on Michigan just north of the river on the southbound side, there is a stairway in front of the Duane Reade (I think). Go down. Follow greese smell around corner to original Billy Goat Tavern.
Museum of science and industry is great. go there.
field museum sucks. really boring. natural history museum in nyc is much better
Wrigley area is a huge construction site. Also, the seating is extremely cramped and uncomfortable. And bring cash. Unless things have changed since last August, there's like two or three food and beverage vendors in the entire grandstand of the stadium who are credit card machine equipped.
Some really good lists included in the post - I love Chicago. I would make it a point to do the beer garden at the end of the Navy Pier on a nice day. Architectural boat tour is great. Gibsons is great steak house, but so is Chop House and Flemings so you are not bound to 1 place. Greek Isles restaurant in Greektown is great, Rosebud's on Rush is a must (great meatballs and sausage), and the Wiener Circle is a landmark. Obviously, Grant Park and the big bean are cool as well.
Going to Wally World? It's been a long time, but Shaw's Crab House was great 20 years ago.
For a casual lunch, get an Italian Beef sandwich. It's like French Dip on steroids.
Two other tours I really enjoyed. (1) Chicago walking taste tour - http://tastebudtours.com/tours/chicago-tours/taste-chicago-tour/ and (2) The Gangster Tour (history of 1920 & 30s) - https://gangstertour.com/
foodie here. Rosebud atmosphere sucks. Go to Lou Mitchells' for breakfast one day. Nico Osteria at the Viagra Triangle is awesome. Bars around there are all good with excellent steaks(Gibsons, Hugo Frogs).
Go Cubs Go!
Go Cubs Go!
Hey Chicago what do ya say!
Cubs are gonna win today!
Wrigley is a must if the Cubs are in town. Murphy's is a bar across from the stadium, though I think you need to make your way to Sluggers and drink a few before hitting the batting cages.
Dedicate some time to the Navy Pier. It's an awesome attraction.
See The Bean just so you can say you did.
Lou Malnati's has great deep dish pizza.
Go Cubs Go!
Hey Chicago what do ya say!
Cubs are gonna win today!
Wrigley is a must if the Cubs are in town. Murphy's is a bar across from the stadium, though I think you need to make your way to Sluggers and drink a few before hitting the batting cages.
Dedicate some time to the Navy Pier. It's an awesome attraction.
See The Bean just so you can say you did.
Lou Malnati's has great deep dish pizza.
Yeah Portillo's has good sandwiches. They also make their own beer and malts.
I'm a big White Sox fan. We always play second fiddle, even when the team won it all in '05. Oh, and we have the better ballpark. :stuck_out_tongue_winking_eye:
Checking in from Chicago. Been here 4 years now, glad to give you my two cents.
1. Cubs games are fun, tickets probably pretty pricey since they are good. Sox play on the South Side so you can take Red Line down and walk over, it's safe and the food at the stadium is good.
2. Portillos for Italian beef, get it with giardiniera dipped. Al's sucks. Lou's for deep dish.
3. Bean, Millenium Park, Shedd, Field Museum, Navy Pier all cool. Maybe rent a bike and you can bike all along the water front along Lake Shore Drive
5. Avoid the South Side, it's bad really bad.
6. Slightly contradictory to my previous statement go to Riccobenes, it's the best thing out here. Seriously, look it up.
7. Beer out here (Indiana really) Three floyds. awesome.
8. Best burger I have ever had is a little joint called Au Cheval.
9. Second city is really good, but there is a bunch of coemdy shows out here that are funny. Improvised Shakespeare Company and Tj and Dave come to mind.
10. Architecute tour is really good. Been twice. Company was Wendella I believe.
I like food haha
Cheers
1. Cubs games are fun, tickets probably pretty pricey since they are good. Sox play on the South Side so you can take Red Line down and walk over, it's safe and the food at the stadium is good.
2. Portillos for Italian beef, get it with giardiniera dipped. Al's sucks. Lou's for deep dish.
3. Bean, Millenium Park, Shedd, Field Museum, Navy Pier all cool. Maybe rent a bike and you can bike all along the water front along Lake Shore Drive
5. Avoid the South Side, it's bad really bad.
6. Slightly contradictory to my previous statement go to Riccobenes, it's the best thing out here. Seriously, look it up.
7. Beer out here (Indiana really) Three floyds. awesome.
8. Best burger I have ever had is a little joint called Au Cheval.
9. Second city is really good, but there is a bunch of coemdy shows out here that are funny. Improvised Shakespeare Company and Tj and Dave come to mind.
10. Architecute tour is really good. Been twice. Company was Wendella I believe.
I like food haha
Cheers
Hi,
Grew up in NJ but live in Chicago now. Some good replies here on what to do. 6 Days will let you see a lot of the City.
Not sure if you have kids but Maggie Daley Park is downtown and right near the Bean/Millennium Park.
I always recommend any of the Bayless restaurants (Xoco mentioned above - very good and more casual/tortas).
Girl and the Goat another good restaurant with Little goat diner nearby (sister joint).
Piece in Wicker Park is a pizza brewpub. Good beer. Lots of TVs so some folkds dont like that vibe,
Also, nearby is Big Star. Good eats and people watching. Just off of Blue Line.
Have fun.
Grew up in NJ but live in Chicago now. Some good replies here on what to do. 6 Days will let you see a lot of the City.
Not sure if you have kids but Maggie Daley Park is downtown and right near the Bean/Millennium Park.
I always recommend any of the Bayless restaurants (Xoco mentioned above - very good and more casual/tortas).
Girl and the Goat another good restaurant with Little goat diner nearby (sister joint).
Piece in Wicker Park is a pizza brewpub. Good beer. Lots of TVs so some folkds dont like that vibe,
Also, nearby is Big Star. Good eats and people watching. Just off of Blue Line.
Have fun.
Lou Malnati's sausage pizza. One of the best Italian Sausages I've ever tried.
Portillo's and Al's Beef
You'll notice that Chicago hot dogs, particularly Vienna Sausages, are so much better than NYC hot dogs, less salty and uses beef + pork for a better flavor, well at least for me.
Go to Weiner's Circle if you can handle it, its a hilarious experience. And if you dare, ask for the $20 chocolate milkshake.
Portillo's and Al's Beef
You'll notice that Chicago hot dogs, particularly Vienna Sausages, are so much better than NYC hot dogs, less salty and uses beef + pork for a better flavor, well at least for me.
Go to Weiner's Circle if you can handle it, its a hilarious experience. And if you dare, ask for the $20 chocolate milkshake.
They moved the brewery out of Wrigley. And the beer is pretty wide spread since it's owned by Bud. 312 is ok.
We had to lock ourselves in our hotel room or be out till 4am with a day game coming up.
In Chicago there was no in between, best big town in USA
In Chicago there was no in between, best big town in USA
