Planning a trip to Chicago this summer and am looking for suggestions of things to do/see.

Already planning a Cubs game.

Thanks.

2/22/2009 9:53:10 PM

Get a US Senate appointment through corruption and graft.

2/22/2009 9:58:20 PM

http://www.chicagotraveler.com/attractions.htm

Check out this website, Chicago is awesome!

2/22/2009 9:58:49 PM

Haha. Take it from Kingpin.

2/22/2009 10:05:16 PM

The Art Museum is awesome. So are the Field Museum and Aquarium.

Walk around the park. Get some real Chicago-style pizza. Go to a bunch of bars. I like the Galway Bay.

2/22/2009 10:14:26 PM

I went to Taste of Chicago last year and had a good time. It's June 26 through July 5.

2/22/2009 10:18:17 PM

Its a good list (you'll want some good walking shoes, a camera, and a hungry belly):

- Cubs game (if you want to have a good time)
- Sox game (if you want to watch a major league baseball team)
- Drive down lakeshore drive, or walk alongside the lake
- Go to the museum campus (Adler Planetarium, Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium)
- Visit Millenium Park/Grant Park/Buckingham Fountain
- Go to Navy Pier
- Ride the el (the loop if only downtown)
- Walk the Magnificent Mile
- Go up the John Hancock Building (or Sears tower, the view is better from the Hancock)
- Have authentic deep dish pizza (My Pie), a Chicago hotdog (several stands in the city), italian beef
- Go to the Museum of Science and Industry
- See the Frank Lloyd Wright house in Oak Park (accessible via el)

If you can make it to the Taste of Chicago, go. It is kind of expensive, but there is food, beer, food, people watching, food, and its downtown. And there's food.

2/22/2009 10:28:32 PM

get mugged.

2/22/2009 10:39:47 PM

Get that shit out of here, this isn't chit chat.

Thanks to everyone else. Zorthage, you may have just planned most of my trip.

2/22/2009 10:41:41 PM

Quote :

"Get that shit out of here, this isn't chit chat."

lulz; regardless, its probably going to happen

2/22/2009 10:58:01 PM

the lounge = serious bidniz

2/22/2009 11:01:43 PM

Glad to hear it

I'm originally from Chicago, and go up at least 1 time a year to see family. Its a great city, hope you have a good time. Even going beyond downtown, there's plenty to see near the Wisconsin border, out to the farms west of Aurora, the nature trails and nature reserves/parks, etc.

Quote :

"lulz; regardless, its probably going to happen"

This isn't NYC

2/22/2009 11:03:19 PM

Pretty much what Zorthage said. If you like steak, and dont mind paying for it proper, Harry Carries is always good to stop at as well, but its a proper steak place so expect to pay like ~60 per person.

2/22/2009 11:10:51 PM

I wonder where Aficionado lives. I have lived in Chicago for 2 years, visited more than 20 times before that and haven't come close to being mugged once.

2/22/2009 11:20:27 PM

hang out w/ kanye.

2/22/2009 11:21:06 PM

^^ atlanta, crime in large cities is just a fact of life

you wander around looking like a tourist, you are going to get targeted

[Edited on February 22, 2009 at 11:46 PM. Reason : 

2/22/2009 11:45:41 PM

Oh you said summer so you might catch the end of the playoffs.

[Edited on February 23, 2009 at 5:44 AM. Reason : .]

2/23/2009 5:43:12 AM

When I went I did the boat cruise at night when they do fireworks, i think wed. nights. it was really amazing.

also did the museums and when to the pier with carousel.
also went to the miracle mile to do some shopping.

oh and you got to go see the bean. its free and fun to see. and the face fountains were cool too.

2/23/2009 6:20:19 AM

When you go to the Cubs game, make sure to hit the bars up in Wrigleyville. When I went during football season, all the bars had huge buffets and great drink specials. Depending on your taste in night life, other areas with bars are Lincoln Park and Rush/Division.

I highly suggest taking the train everywhere. I was opposed to it at first, but it saved my friends and I a ton of money and got us everywhere we needed to go very quickly.

Consider a Go Chicago Card or a City Pass if you are going to hit up all the museums and several tours. However, you will most likely be better off buying tickets individually at the various attractions. Many of the museums are free on certain weekdays.

I recommend stuffing your face with as many pizzas and hotdogs as possible, going to Millenium/Grant Park, walking the Magnificent Mile and going up into the Hancock Observatory. I'd also go to Navy Pier, but it's kind of lame during the day unless you take the architecture cruise. It might be better to go at night and watch the fireworks.

Beware of museum burnout. Your head will explode if you try to go to Adler, Field, Shedd, the Art Institute and the Museum of Science and Industry in a short period of time. Pick one or two. I would personally skip Adler and Shedd. The Field museum is alot of fun and the Art Institute is what it is.

If I could go back, I'd try to schedule my trip around Lollapalooza or Taste of Chicago. I'd also try to take in a Second City comedy show and tour the Museum of Science and Industry.

[Edited on February 23, 2009 at 9:14 AM. Reason : ]

2/23/2009 9:11:52 AM

Giordano's Pizza. If that's the only thing you do, it will be worth the trip. But plan at least 2 hours for lunch. When we went, it was standing room only, unless you were lucky enough to be standing next to a table when that family left.

http://www.giordanos.com/

[Edited on February 23, 2009 at 9:19 AM. Reason : ]

2/23/2009 9:19:09 AM

Giordano's is great. You might have to wait for an hour or 2 at a buys time, but there is a sports bar across the street to hang out while you wait.

I would highly recommend trying to see a 2nd city show. They are a pretty good improv group, with many alums going on to SNL and other comedy shows.

http://www.secondcity.com/

2/23/2009 9:40:39 AM

Quote :

"you wander around looking like a tourist, you are going to get targeted "

Of course, not wandering around cluelessly and paying attention to one's surroundings > not looking like a tourist

Quote :

"Consider a Go Chicago Card or a City Pass if you are going to hit up all the museums and several tours. However, you will most likely be better off buying tickets individually at the various attractions."

Something to consider when making this decision: one, or both?, of those cards gets you in a separate admission line, and one that moves much faster. Zorthage and I have done the general admission before. These cards are worth it just for getting in faster, if you're going to do more than one or two places.

Quote :

"Beware of museum burnout. Your head will explode if you try to go to Adler, Field, Shedd, the Art Institute and the Museum of Science and Industry in a short period of time. Pick one or two. I would personally skip Adler and Shedd. The Field museum is alot of fun and the Art Institute is what it is."

This is a personal thing, FYI. You may be like me, and be content to do MSI in one day (btw, you need to allow a full day for it. There's that much to see there, and it's that awesome), adler and shedd the next, field another (another full day one, IMO. I felt rushed when I went, and I wanna say we had a little over a half day). Of course, I read everything in an exhibit, skip very few, and take lots of pictures.

I'd agree with the part about skipping adler and shedd, but that doesn't mean they suck. It just means everything else is more awesome.

If you can't make giordano's, it's okay. They're not the only great pizza place in chicago. Don't feel obligated to hit up a place just because it's famous.

2/23/2009 12:06:10 PM

go to the beach and check out all the chicks.

2/23/2009 5:02:35 PM

Quote :

"When you go to the Cubs game, make sure to hit the bars up in Wrigleyville."

Do not do this. College football season does offer a good time, but..
If you go to Wrigleyville during a Cubs game expect to pay $5 for a can of Bud Light in a crowded as fuck bar. Just hang out a little farther south near the bars around Lincoln/Wrightwood. It's right next to the red line.

2/23/2009 6:35:19 PM

^^true that. so many better bars than the tourist traps in wrigleyville.

2/23/2009 8:10:33 PM

i agree. do no set foot in a Wigglyville bar on a game day. it's a madhouse freakshow.

2/23/2009 9:09:02 PM

where are you staying?

2/23/2009 10:51:16 PM

Don't know yet. Any suggestions?

2/24/2009 10:37:37 AM

I'd try to stay somewhere near the Hancock building. It's a good location, close to the loop, close to the north side, right by the lake, and the red line is near by. Kinda depends on how much you are willing to spend as well.

2/24/2009 1:10:34 PM

stay in the south loop. it's cheaper than michigan ave (near hancock)

2/25/2009 10:59:18 AM

Quote :

"- Go up the John Hancock Building (or Sears tower, the view is better from the Hancock)"

The man tells the truth. If I had fifteen minutes to spend in Chicago, I would go to the 95th floor at night. Grab a drink and just check out the view. Jaw Dropping to say the least.

2/25/2009 11:45:44 AM