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Post by merry27 on Jun 24, 2019 22:57:00 GMT
We will be traveling in a few weeks and driving through Chicago. We will be there for 2 full days and have never been before. What are the must see things and places to eat? Will be with two teenage boys.
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Post by Linda on Jun 24, 2019 23:04:44 GMT
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lizacreates
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,856 
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Post by lizacreates on Jun 24, 2019 23:16:00 GMT
Navy Pier (that could be an all-day affair right there)
Museum Campus (three must-sees in one area – Field Museum, Adler Planetarium, Shedd Aquarium)
Michigan Avenue (aka Magnificent Mile)
Chinatown
Art Institute of Chicago
If you’re here July 10-14, there’s also Taste of Chicago at Grant Park.
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Kerri W
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Post by Kerri W on Jun 24, 2019 23:17:40 GMT
There is SO much to see and do in Chicago! With teens I would make sure to hit Navy Pier, the Nike store on Michigan Ave, the Museum of Science and Industry or the Field Museum. The architectural boat tour is really interesting and my teens also enjoyed it-which I wasn't sure if they would. If they're into music, the Chicago Music Exchange is one of our favorite guitar stores (they have a drum store right next door). A Cubs game is super fun and my boys LOVED it! They also enjoyed the Willis Tower.
Our last trip a couple weeks ago we made our first visit to the Art Institute of Chicago with a group of middle school aged kids. They LOVED it and were able to identify far more works of art than I anticipated.
We always do Giordano's for deep dish pizza. Garrett's Popcorn just off Michigan Ave is very popular.
Check out the City Pass for Chicago. It was a huge time and money saver for us. We also found it cheaper to park at our hotel and Uber to the sites we wanted to see than to pay parking everywhere.
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Post by SockMonkey on Jun 24, 2019 23:18:10 GMT
ARCHITECTURAL BOAT TOUR!
And eat deep dish, because you gotta while you're here (even though I prefer thin crust and NY style)!
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Post by SockMonkey on Jun 24, 2019 23:18:42 GMT
Also, check SpotHero for cheaper parking.
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Jun 24, 2019 23:50:54 GMT
Our favorite touristy things were:
- the observation deck at the John Hancock building
- an architectural boat tour
- the Bean
- eating deep dish at Lou Malnatis
- eating at Eataly
- eating at Michael Jordan's steakhouse (which honestly I though would just be a seriously overpriced meal, but my 21-year old son was dying to eat there... and it was such good food and impeccable service. Definitely get the 23-layer chocolate cake.)
We also loved sunset cocktails in the Signature Lounge, but your guys sound too young for that to be appropriate.
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Post by freecharlie on Jun 24, 2019 23:56:03 GMT
I've never been, but are your boys into baseball? We would definitely catch a game at Wrigley.
In fact, when we plan our trip to Chicago it will revolve around a couple of games.
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Post by christine58 on Jun 25, 2019 0:06:04 GMT
Shedd Aquarium
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Post by pierkiss on Jun 25, 2019 0:32:46 GMT
If you don’t have kids with you, and enjoy drinking, be sure to visit Three Dots and a Dash. It’s a super fun tiki bar! 😁
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Post by 950nancy on Jun 25, 2019 0:41:35 GMT
I have been "to" Chicago half a dozen times or more. Have never made it out of the airport! Some day.
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Post by merry27 on Jun 25, 2019 1:54:04 GMT
I have been "to" Chicago half a dozen times or more. Have never made it out of the airport! Some day. Haha! I hope you make it out of the airport someday! Thank you for all of the wonderful suggestions! I am looking forward to our visit! |
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Deleted
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Jun 2, 2024 8:40:57 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 25, 2019 5:20:54 GMT
Architectural Boat Tour!
The Bean!
Those are my favorites.
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Post by Miss Lerins Momma on Jun 25, 2019 5:42:50 GMT
Go to a Cubs game, eat a street hotdog/Chicago style.
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Post by tommygirl on Jun 25, 2019 11:35:56 GMT
My son was 19 when we went for the weekend,
His favorites were: the Bean/Millenial Park, the baseball game at Wrigley, and watching Hamilton.
We walked a lot (ex: from Millenial Park to Navy Pier) and Ubered around for longer trips and it was so easy.
We tried deep dish pizza but were not that impressed. I can't remember the name of the restaurant, but I do
remember that it took about 30 minutes to get the food because they make it for you once you order.
Chicago was a beautiful city and we enjoyed it!
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schizo319
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Post by schizo319 on Jun 25, 2019 11:55:23 GMT
Go to the Cultural Center - it's almost directly across the street from the "Bean". It's free and the inside absolutely stunning (there were a ton of weddings going on when we went last May). There are also some really cool art/culture exhibits set up in different parts of the building.
The Lincoln Park Zoo is also a free attraction that is well worth a walk-through (and you don't feel like you have to stay all day to get your money's worth). There's a beautiful conservatory on the grounds that is a must-see if you're a plant person and the walk to/from Lincoln park will take you past some super cool places like the Spice House (stop in just to sniff!) and Second City.
Personally, if I only had 48 hours, I wouldn't even attempt to do the Art Institute, we spent about 6 hours there and didn't manage to see it all.
As far as food goes, don't forget to get a Chicago Dog (we got one on Navy Pier)!
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gsquaredmom
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Jun 26, 2014 17:43:22 GMT
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Post by gsquaredmom on Jun 25, 2019 12:27:51 GMT
Lots of options depending on interests.
Pick one museum by interest. Hard to do justice to more than one. I favor Museum of Science and Industry. Lots to see there, and they have the U505 sub and Apollo/space exhibits.
Beach
Zoo
Ball game
Millennium Park and Cloudgate/Bean
John Hancock observation.
River walk and/or cruise on river and/or lake.
Navy Pier.
Chinatown
Deep dish pizza
Chicago hot dog
Garrett’s popcorn
I think they still do fireworks each weekend in Chicago, but check.
Take a walking tour by interest. I think they have architectural, tunnels, crime history, scavenger hunts
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Post by merry27 on Jun 25, 2019 13:08:10 GMT
Thanks again! We will most like skip museums and the aquarium. We have been to Washington DC and NYC over the past year and did tons of museums and aquariums. The architectural cruise sounds like a good idea!
Unfortunately the Cubs aren’t going to be there when we are. It would have been fun to catch a game!
Any good/casual places to get deep dish pizza or hot dogs?
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Post by Miss Lerins Momma on Jun 25, 2019 13:10:58 GMT
Go to a Cubs game, eat a street hotdog/Chicago style.
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Post by giatocj on Jun 25, 2019 13:13:49 GMT
We were there for just about one day last year (split over two days). and We did Navy Pier on the first day when we arrived in the city and a Mob/Crime bus tour the next morning before we left on the second part of our vacation. Both were awesome.
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Post by just PEAchy on Jun 25, 2019 13:23:20 GMT
I visit Chicago pretty often, I love visiting there. We love Pizzeria Uno, they claim to be the original. We went to a pizza making class there- it was so fun & we got all their secrets, lol. I’ve made their recipe at home & it's pretty close. As far as boat tours, I recommend the Sea Dog. It’s a high speed boat ride & so much fun! Since you don’t want to do museums, definitely go to Navy Pier & Millennium Park ( we’ve walked from one to the other). For a fun snack, go to the Nutella Cafe near the Park. Since you’re only there 48 hours, I would stay in that general area-there is so much to there.
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Post by SockMonkey on Jun 25, 2019 15:27:09 GMT
Thanks again! We will most like skip museums and the aquarium. We have been to Washington DC and NYC over the past year and did tons of museums and aquariums. The architectural cruise sounds like a good idea! Unfortunately the Cubs aren’t going to be there when we are. It would have been fun to catch a game! Any good/casual places to get deep dish pizza or hot dogs? Devil Dawgs or Wiener Circle if you're brave. Pizza: Giordano's or Pizzeria Due or Uno's or Lou Malnati's are all fine. People will argue with you about which one is better. Lou Malnati's has a cornmeal crust situation that people either love or hate. I think they're all pretty similar. Pieces are huge and you will probably only eat one! It's more cheese pie than pizza. I have opinions. Haha |
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Post by SockMonkey on Jun 25, 2019 15:36:55 GMT
I'm going to weigh in and say no to Navy Pier. I am there all the time seeing shows at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre (which, if you're into theatre, is an amazing place and they put on outstanding shows). But I don't think there's much on Navy Pier that's super interesting. There's a big ferris wheel. It's fine. It's very touristy, which is okay because you're tourists, but I'd do Millenium Park, the Bean instead.
If you can get tickets to Second City (either the mainstage or ETC show), DO IT. The shows are outstanding, hilarious, and you will get to see folks on stage who eventually may end up pretty famous. I saw Steven Colbert, Tina Fey, Rachel Dratch there back in the day.
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Deleted
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Jun 2, 2024 8:40:57 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Jun 25, 2019 15:37:45 GMT
Honestly? I would go to the American girl store!
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iluvpink
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Post by iluvpink on Jun 25, 2019 16:11:10 GMT
I loved the architectural boat tour. Best thing IMO. Also the Shedd Aquarium and Sears Tower (or whatever it is now). Millenium Park was neat. I didn't get much out of Navy Pier. DD enjoyed the museum of science and industry on a field trip and Shedd Aquarium. We also saw the Field Museum. I didn't see enough to say if I liked it or not, the kids on the field trip weren't into it.
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janeliz
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Post by janeliz on Jun 25, 2019 16:18:33 GMT
I just flew home from Chicago last night. The highlight of my trip (other than my niece’s wedding) was The Art Institute of Chicago. I think it’s the best art museum I’ve ever visited.
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julieb
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Post by julieb on Jun 25, 2019 16:19:49 GMT
I'm going to weigh in and say no to Navy Pier. I am there all the time seeing shows at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre (which, if you're into theatre, is an amazing place and they put on outstanding shows). But I don't think there's much on Navy Pier that's super interesting. There's a big ferris wheel. It's fine. It's very touristy, which is okay because you're tourists, but I'd do Millenium Park, the Bean instead. If you can get tickets to Second City (either the mainstage or ETC show), DO IT. The shows are outstanding, hilarious, and you will get to see folks on stage who eventually may end up pretty famous. I saw Steven Colbert, Tina Fey, Rachel Dratch there back in the day. I agree. Skip Navy Pier unless you do a boat tour out of there. The architectural boat tours are great! They are on the river and you go "behind" the city and it's cool. I just took my niece and nephew on it and they loved it. I've done a night cruise on the lake out of Navy Pier, it was okay, but I heard the daytime is really good. You can do the Bean, Buckingham Fountain, Millenium Park and Maggie Daley Park in a couple of hours. Even a walk along the lake is beautiful. |
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Post by SockMonkey on Jun 25, 2019 16:32:22 GMT
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Post by SockMonkey on Jun 25, 2019 16:50:06 GMT
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Post by wezee on Jun 25, 2019 18:05:35 GMT
THE BOAT TOUR!
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