Chicago-bound!

[NancysSummerSip]

We'll be heading there in the next two weeks, spending five days there. We are booked into a downtown hotel, near the Chicago River.

As per usual, I have an itinerary. We have a car at our disposal, but will try our best not to use it, and either walk or use public transit. We do have some touristy stops, like the Navy Pier, on the agenda.

But I'd like to hear from folks who live in and around the Windy City. Where to go and what to do that the locals would know about?

[ՏՇԾԵԵʅՏɧ_LԹՏՏʅҼ]

Check out the lake front - you might spot Muscle Up out sailing on the SS Twist-Tie.

Are you on Facebook? You could always send him a message there - he'd be able to tell you some good "touristy" things to see/do.

[Value Buy]

If the Cubs are in town, I would try to catch them.

They stink as a team, but the stadium takes you back to the feelings of the 1940's on how to observe a baseball game.

Actually if you have a car, and a free day with good weather I suggest a trip over to the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, or Indiana Dunes State park. Side by side, and it is like a day on the ocean at Jersey City without any carnival activities, just sand and water and a view of the Chicago skyline.

[NancysSummerSip]

I'm on Facebook, but I don't think I could handle the MU. Geez, I hope he retired the SS Twist-Tie by now.

Thanks, Value Buy. I downloaded the info. We were hoping to find a good picnic spot, and this looks perfect!

[sarcasticgirl]

If you guys like to walk... Spend some time at the bean and walk on down the park. It is beautiful and interesting and I still do it a few times a year. Also, take in a river/lake tour. I love when people visit because I love love love the boat tours. You can do a fireworks lake cruise in the evening too. Some companies do BYOB! Always a good time.
If we talk food... Then ya gotta get into the neighborhoods and outta downtown.


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[sarcasticgirl]

What dates will you be in CHI? There will be some great street fests if you are in town on a weekend.

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[NancysSummerSip]

Jun 5, 2014 9:21:50 GMT -5 sarcasticgirl said:

What dates will you be in CHI? There will be some great street fests if you are in town on a weekend.

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We will be staying about 8 blocks from the Navy Pier, and although we will have a car, we did not plan to use it, preferring walking or the Metro.

We'll be there mid-June, but no weekends are included in our stay. The Chicago Blues Festival in Grant Park will still be ongoing, though. It's not far south of the pier, so it looks to be in walking distance.

I do have some of the ethnic neighborhoods on my radar; the food is one of the main reasons we're coming.

[sarcasticgirl]

You shouldn't need to drive... It is more trouble than it is worth. If you are good with walking, you can walk to the el or buses and can get everywhere! Message me if you want more info. I live in the city and work downtown and know the trains and busses well... And the food, I know the food!

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[NancysSummerSip]

Jun 5, 2014 17:04:59 GMT -5 sarcasticgirl said:

You shouldn't need to drive... It is more trouble than it is worth. If you are good with walking, you can walk to the el or buses and can get everywhere! Message me if you want more info. I live in the city and work downtown and know the trains and busses well... And the food, I know the food!

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I like non-tourist things to do and especially, non-tourist restaurants. And we love public transit...I grew up with it, DH did not, but he's quite good at it once he sees a system map (which we will pick up right away upon arrival).

The only driving we plan to do is to the Wednesday Farmer's Market. Reason for that: we do plan to buy nonperishable food items to take home, and also plan to go to the zoo and the history museum. All those places are close together, so we figured we'd bundle them.

[Shooby]

Go check out the Chicago Sky, WNBA. They are a great team starring Elena Delle Donne who is an awesome bball player!

[NancysSummerSip]

Jun 8, 2014 8:49:06 GMT -5 Ratchets said:

The Shedd Aquarium and Museum of Science and Industry are both great if you're into that sort of thing. Also the Field Museum - you can see Sue the T-Rex! I have never done it, but a cruise on the Chicago river sounds like an absolute blast.

I'm sure there are loads of Chicago-style pizza restaurants too, and places like the House of Blues, stuff like that.

Here's a website that I can't recommend highly enough - always use this when we plan trips to see what's in the area.

TripAdvisor link

Enjoy your trip!  (making me a bit homesick)

Oh, the Shedd Aquarium! Had not considered that! OK, I just got the map and info. Dang, those are some expensive tickets!

We might need something indoor to do, since there is a possibility of rain every day we will be there.

[Wisconsin Beth]

If you've got Zoo or Museum memberships, they may have reciprocal agreements. 

[NancysSummerSip]

Jun 9, 2014 15:03:56 GMT -5 Wisconsin Beth said:

If you've got Zoo or Museum memberships, they may have reciprocal agreements. 

They do indeed have reciprocals, but we're not residents, and therefore not members. If I was at least a regular visitor, I'd consider it, just to save some money.

Mind you, I realize it costs a fortune and a half to maintain a quality institution, like Shedd. Hey, somebody has to pay for all that fish food and all the folks cleaning the glass in the tanks!

[sarcasticgirl]

Not sure which zoo you were planning on, but the Lincoln park zoo ( in the city) is under a bit of construction... Not exactly as nice as usual.



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[sarcasticgirl]

I'd recommend an evening at Second City. I've only been a few times but they were all a riot. Easy walk from the brownline and plenty of restaurants in the area for dinner.

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[NancysSummerSip]

Jun 9, 2014 17:26:39 GMT -5 sarcasticgirl said:

Not sure which zoo you were planning on, but the Lincoln park zoo ( in the city) is under a bit of construction... Not exactly as nice as usual.



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That's the one we planned to visit. We're doing it on a day when we would be up that way anyway, for the farmer's market and the history museum. We figured if it was nice weather, we'd add the zoo to the itinerary.
Hmmmm...Second City is up that way, too.

[Tiny]

Sounds like you might do a bit of walking and maybe might walk south up Michigan Ave to Millenium Plaza (maybe see the Bean or not). You'll be walking past the old Chicago Library now the Chicago Cultural Center (google it) - it's on the corner of Michigan and Randolph. Go ahead and walk thru it... there are some beautiful tiffany mosaics thru out and a wonderfully cool staircase if you are into such things. I think there's also a Tiffany glass 'dome' that's open to the public. Be sure to rub the nose of the bronze Cow for luck it's outside the Center.

You can also stop in to Marshall Field's, I mean Macy's, on State and Washington and see the Tiffany mosaic ceiling there too. It's a couple blocks from Millenium Plaza. The first floor of Field's, I mean Macy's, is kinda cool too - lots of marble and greek columns and high ceilings -it's another walk thru kinda thing. If you decide to walk up State St. a few blocks you can enjoy the Louis Sullivan "Frames" around the display windows at the Target on Madison and State. <-- Madison and State is the 'center' for the street numbering system in Chicago. If you head back up to Michigan on Adams (heading straight into the Art Institute You'll come upon a street sign that marks the Beginning of Route 66. You can do some California Dreaming while you're in Chicago. It's more fun to do that in the dead of winter than it is to do it in the heat/humidity of June/July/August - but it's still kinda neat.

Oh, from Millinium plaza (or from a storefront on Michigan in that area) you can take an 'architectural tour' walking or on seque-ways or get info on a boat ride "river tour" - both fun to do. You should be able to google the info.

[Tiny]

Oh, speaking of Second City - I think Billy Goats is still open on Michagan Ave...well, lower Michigan. It's right under the Wrigley Building across from Tribune Tower (North side of the River on Michigan Ave.)


Cheeze Boiger! Cheeze Boiger! Cheeps! No Coke! Pepsi! It's a dive little bar but fun.      Hopefully, you aren't vegan (you can get egg salad sandwich I think...) and not gluten intolerant - every thing served on a kiaser roll.      Get a burger and a beer.