PaperAngel
Prolific Pea
Posts: 7,799
Jun 27, 2014 23:04:06 GMT
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Post by PaperAngel on Aug 3, 2014 20:49:59 GMT
With only a 2-3 day stay, what activities - tourist sites/restaurants/etc. - do you recommend to experience the spirit/uniqueness of Chicago? TIA
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stellalou
Junior Member
Refupea #389
Posts: 75 
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Post by stellalou on Aug 3, 2014 21:22:26 GMT
Architecture River Tour- My all time favorite Chicago thing to do
Millennium Park- The Bean
Art Institute
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 7, 2024 14:20:10 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Aug 3, 2014 21:25:59 GMT
Shedd Aquarium
Museum of Science and Industry
Lincoln Park Zoo (I prefer Brookfield, but that is a full day in itself)
Chicago Pizza and/or Italian Beef (My faves are Connies and Portillos)
Sears Tower (aka Willis Tower)
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Cheesy
Full Member
Posts: 135
Location: The cornfields of Illinois
Jun 26, 2014 16:49:38 GMT
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Post by Cheesy on Aug 3, 2014 21:49:00 GMT
Walking along Michigan Avenue, window shopping
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Post by mari on Aug 3, 2014 21:53:06 GMT
I agree with Architecture River tour and shopping on Michigan Avenue and some of the other suggestions above!
I'd add hitting a street festival or two if you're coming in the summer. Navy Pier is a love-it or hate-it stop but tourists/visitors usually enjoy spending some time there.
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nickle831
Junior Member
Posts: 93
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Post by nickle831 on Aug 3, 2014 22:21:15 GMT
Following I'll be visiting in sept.
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Post by sisterbdsq on Aug 3, 2014 22:50:39 GMT
Do not put ketchup on your hot dog.
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AmeliaBloomer
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,842
Location: USA
Jun 26, 2014 5:01:45 GMT
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Post by AmeliaBloomer on Aug 4, 2014 0:59:11 GMT
When are you visiting?
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julieb
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,845
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Post by julieb on Aug 4, 2014 1:07:49 GMT
I drive down Lake Shore Drive in the evening. Perfect.
Don't miss Millennium Park & Buckingham Fountain. Any museum on the Museum Campus and the Museum of Science and Industry, which is (I believe) the only building remaining from the 1893 World's Exposition. Beautiful.
Of course, the theatres are great. Check the Broadway in Chicago website.
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Post by molove on Aug 4, 2014 1:09:00 GMT
Nice thread! I'll be there next May.
I've been to Chicago before, done the towers. Saw the most intense lightning storms I've ever seen in my life. It was incredible.
Did Navy Pier, don't need to do that again. Walked up and down Michigan Ave, LOVED that!
I'll be following this to get more ideas. The river tour is definitely on the list.
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Post by travelscrapper on Aug 4, 2014 1:15:00 GMT
Do not put ketchup on your hot dog. HA HA---I live in Chicago and I HATE mustard and I eat my hot dog w/Ketchup-onion-pickle!
I think everyone has provided some great "Chicago" things to see and do.
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PaperAngel
Prolific Pea
Posts: 7,799
Jun 27, 2014 23:04:06 GMT
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Post by PaperAngel on Aug 4, 2014 3:17:18 GMT
Thanks for your suggestions. Please feel free to add to the list. We look forward to our trip to the Windy City in a couple of weeks!
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Post by hjs on Aug 4, 2014 3:54:31 GMT
I went to a Chicago for the first time last fall. Some of the most fun things we did were a walking food tour of Old Town, and a Segway tour around theMillenium park area. We also took a train out to Oak Park and toured the Frank Lloyd Wright home., which was very interesting. The architectural boat tour was also good and worth doing. There was so much to see and do and Chicago quickly became my almost favorite city! ( have to save NYC as the very favorite, but Chicago is a close second )
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Post by wezee on Aug 4, 2014 4:34:04 GMT
Be sure to get some Garrets popcorn! Absolutely addictive!!
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Weaselwise
Shy Member
Posts: 34
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Post by Weaselwise on Aug 4, 2014 12:40:54 GMT
I spent a day in Chicago during my trip to the USA back in 1999 (with now ex-dh)... I really wanted to go up the Sears/Wills Tower, cos I knew of it, but our guide suggested instead to go up the John Hancock Tower instead because a) it was a bit cheaper at the time and b) you could then see the Sears Tower from it lol... the viewing gallery was only a couple of floors lower than the Sears Tower and he also said that the view over Lake Shore Drive and Lake Michigan was better too from the John Hancock! We did eat at a famous restaurant on the 1st floor of the Sears Tower tho, so at least I could say I had visited it lol...
Being Brits and Blues Brothers fans we had a couple of places we wanted to see, namely Soldier Field (ex-DH was a mad NFL fan) and the Richard J Daley Memorial Plaza - where The Blues Brothers ended up lol... (mind you, when we took a trip from chicago down to Insianapolis, we detoured thru Joliet just so we could see the prison too!)
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Post by ScrapsontheRocks on Aug 4, 2014 12:49:24 GMT
Bookmarking (I hope) as I will be there in may next year, Visa office permitting.
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julieb
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,845
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Post by julieb on Aug 4, 2014 14:46:22 GMT
The Hancock does have a new "tilt" viewing area. My dd did it and said it was the scariest think she has ever done! The Willis Tower a/k/a Sears Tower has the glass floor bottom, which I have heard is also cool.
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Post by sisterbdsq on Aug 4, 2014 17:10:11 GMT
Do not put ketchup on your hot dog. HA HA---I live in Chicago and I HATE mustard and I eat my hot dog w/Ketchup-onion-pickle!
That's because you are wrong. And you now have to move. LOL
One of my friends also loves ketchup on his and posts pictures on facebook taunting people with ketchup covered dogs all the time. It's pretty funny. I recently went to a Sox game and while they have a veggie dog stand, but you can't get it Chicago style. I had to take my veggie dog to the regular (lips and anus) dog stand and have them dress it.
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Post by scrappincolleen on Aug 4, 2014 21:37:06 GMT
Besides the things mentioned above:
If you can catch a cubs game at Wrigley field do it! A great experience!
If it's a nice day, spend a few hours at Oak street Beach.
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Post by SockMonkey on Aug 4, 2014 21:50:55 GMT
Renegade will be in Chicago on the 6th & 7th. It's not necessarily "quintessentially Chicago," though Renegade used to have a storefront in the neighborhood where they have the street fair. You can take the blue line to Division, get off, and the fair is right there. You'll get to experience the El and get into Wicker Park, which is a funky, fun neighborhood. Alliance Bakery is there (yummy treats) and some great restaurants. If you're into beer, Bangers & Lace is right on Division there and they have a great beer selection and bar apps, and then Angels & Mariachis is on Division, too, for tacos! Renegade Craft Fair Chicago |
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Post by SockMonkey on Aug 4, 2014 21:53:01 GMT
And, DEFINITELY try to catch a show at Second City. You won't be sorry. Get tickets now online, because they sell out. Second City Chicago |
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PaperAngel
Prolific Pea
Posts: 7,799
Jun 27, 2014 23:04:06 GMT
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Post by PaperAngel on Aug 4, 2014 22:51:02 GMT
Thanks again for the recommendations. Do not put ketchup on your hot dog. As a child, everyone reassured me that blood in movies was just ketchup; I still refuse to consume ketchup. Our 12 y.o., however, eats hotdogs/burgers with ketchup only & will undoubtedly reveal our tourist status! |
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Sarah*H
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,015
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Post by Sarah*H on Aug 4, 2014 22:55:04 GMT
I don't live there anymore but I would put taking the train to and from a Ravinia show close to the top of my must do list. Also the Botanical Gardens.
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AmeliaBloomer
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,842
Location: USA
Jun 26, 2014 5:01:45 GMT
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Post by AmeliaBloomer on Aug 4, 2014 23:44:32 GMT
Chicago is the "Second City of Theatre." -Here're reviews of what's playing, including the current Second City show. -Steppenwold is doing a Bruce Norris play, "The Qualms," before it goes to New York. (This time it's all about sex, not race.) -Motown, The Musical" is closing soon, so no touring musicals while you're here, but Broadway in Chicago is having their annual Free concert in Millenium Park if you're here on August 18. -Million Dollar Quartet has been extended yet again and is huge with the tourists (billed as a play, but more of a musical review. Very energetic). -For discount tickets, try HotTix and Goldstar MORE If you do the architecture river cruise, make sure it's through the Chicago Architecture Foundation. The Museum of Science and Industry, while great, is 57 blocks south of the Loop, and you can easily spend the whole day there. If you're just as fond of art, the Art Institute is right next to Millennium Park, and can be approached more piecemeal. You can easily walk on the Lakefront Path from Oak Street Beach to North Avenue Beach. Good people watching, and then you can stroll through Lincoln Park (free zoo and conservatory; lagoon, nature museum). SockMonkey's Wicker Park recommendation is a good idea. Like NYC, it's great to explore real neighborhoods instead of the typical tourist areas. |
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