Chicago

[geenamercile]

Hello,
What can you all tell me about Chicago.  That is where my oldest has decided she wants to visit for her graduation trip.  Thinking we will drive up Monday and come back Friday a week in June.  So far the Bean and the aquarium are the only places she has told me she wants to see.  

[bean29]

Well, there is the Field Museum and the Museum of Science and Industry and Navy Pier.  We never took our family to Navy Pier, so you will have to decide if that seems like a place you want to visit.  Where do you live Geena?  You could drive on up to Summerfest in Milwaukee, but that is at the end of June.

[pulmonarymd]

We did an architectural boat tour on the Chicago River. I would highly recommend that. We also went to a baseball game at Wrigley Field. The area around the stadium is one giant party on game days.

[geenamercile]

We live in VA, the boat tour sounds interesting, neither of us are sport fans.  

[jerseygirl]

Art institute is gorgeous.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

The field museum is phenomenal. 
The art museum was great too. 
You are also required to get deep dish pizza. 

[azucena]

I'm planning to take my teens in Oct. We want to see either a theater show or concert. My ticketmaster search turned up 2000 broad results.

Not sure if we will stay in city or take the train in. I know I want to take them on Magnificent Mile even if it's just to window shop.

Aquarium is really nice.
Skydeck in willis tower gives good view of city so does Hancock skydeck.

[Tennesseer]

May 9, 2024 10:31:37 GMT -5 geenamercile said:

Hello,
What can you all tell me about Chicago.  That is where my oldest has decided she wants to visit for her graduation trip.  Thinking we will drive up Monday and come back Friday a week in June.  So far the Bean and the aquarium are the only places she has told me she wants to see.  

Is your oldest graduating high school or college? Is she maybe wanting to see if she would like to live in Chicago and continue her education in the Chicago area?

[happyhoix]

If you’re into zoos, Chicago has a nice one, especially the primate area. Window shopping on the mile is also very fun. I had the best German and best Italian food ever there - can’t remember the names of the restaurants but they may no longer be there.

Baseball game is a lot of fun for historic reasons - beautiful old ballpark- but probably not worth it for non sports fans.

[TheOtherMe]

I'm a sports fan.  I have also been to plays in Chicago.  Also fan gatherings for Beatles fans.

About the only thing that will get me back there is the Cubbies at Wrigley.  

[geenamercile]

May 9, 2024 21:44:40 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

May 9, 2024 10:31:37 GMT -5 geenamercile said:

Hello,
What can you all tell me about Chicago.  That is where my oldest has decided she wants to visit for her graduation trip.  Thinking we will drive up Monday and come back Friday a week in June.  So far the Bean and the aquarium are the only places she has told me she wants to see.  

Is your oldest graduating high school or college? Is she maybe wanting to see if she would like to live in Chicago and continue her education in the Chicago area?

Highschool, the living there I thought about for half a second.... but she is the one that hates people and crowds.  At this moment she doesn't want to start school until she knows what she wants to do with her life more.  She is also 17 and will be so for another 5 months.  

[geenamercile]

May 10, 2024 9:51:11 GMT -5 happyhoix said:

If you’re into zoos, Chicago has a nice one, especially the primate area. Window shopping on the mile is also very fun. I had the best German and best Italian food ever there - can’t remember the names of the restaurants but they may no longer be there.

Baseball game is a lot of fun for historic reasons - beautiful old ballpark- but probably not worth it for non sports fans.

Food is always good.  She did the culinary arts program and the animal care program in highschool.  

[geenamercile]

May 9, 2024 21:01:00 GMT -5 azucena said:

I'm planning to take my teens in Oct. We want to see either a theater show or concert. My ticketmaster search turned up 2000 broad results.

Not sure if we will stay in city or take the train in. I know I want to take them on Magnificent Mile even if it's just to window shop.

Aquarium is really nice.
Skydeck in willis tower gives good view of city so does Hancock skydeck.

I sent the information on the sky decks, they got a meh......  

[TheOtherMe]

There are beaches and water stuff along the lakefront.

[tallguy]

GF and I did a visit to Chicago a few years ago and loved it.  We called it "Museum Week."  Went to Lincoln Park Zoo and Conservatory, Millennium Park (where The Bean is), the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Science and Industry, the Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum, and there may have been another one.  We also walked around the city and along the river.  We missed Adler Planetarium because it had not yet reopened.  For meals we did pizza at both Lou Malnati's and Giordano's, and had dinners at two of Rick Bayless' restaurants (Frontera Grill and Topolobampo.)   Everything was good, and we enjoyed it tremendously.  If it matters, I think the Zoo and Conservatory were free.

[happyhoix]

May 11, 2024 20:03:18 GMT -5 tallguy said:

GF and I did a visit to Chicago a few years ago and loved it.  We called it "Museum Week."  Went to Lincoln Park Zoo and Conservatory, Millennium Park (where The Bean is), the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Science and Industry, the Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum, and there may have been another one.  We also walked around the city and along the river.  We missed Adler Planetarium because it had not yet reopened.  For meals we did pizza at both Lou Malnati's and Giordano's, and had dinners at two of Rick Bayless' restaurants (Frontera Grill and Topolobampo.)   Everything was good, and we enjoyed it tremendously.  If it matters, I think the Zoo and Conservatory were free.

Did you see this one when you were at the Art Institute? 

www.artic.edu/artworks/93798/picture-of-dorian-gray

The only two paintings I remember from that Museum was Sunday on the Grand Jatte by George Seurat and that scary ass Dorian Gray - which is much worse in person, since it’s six feet tall and his eyes kind of bore holes in your head. 

[tallguy]

Yes, I do remember that one.

[Tiny]

May 9, 2024 10:31:37 GMT -5 geenamercile said:

Hello,
What can you all tell me about Chicago.  That is where my oldest has decided she wants to visit for her graduation trip.  Thinking we will drive up Monday and come back Friday a week in June.  So far the Bean and the aquarium are the only places she has told me she wants to see.  

I'd say the Willis Tower skydeck (the glass floor thing looks terrifying and yet "cool"....)   I think I saw it was a "meh" in previous posts.   Maybe it depends on the weather (clear or not).  Maybe it depends on one's age - as to if it's cool to be "swaying in wind" and to be able to see the lay of the land from so high up. 

If you are at the Bean and if you can walk a distance - you could walk up Michigan avenue towards Buckingham Fountain.  You;ll pass the Lions out in front of the Art Institute.  (If you all are well traveled - you can find the BEGIN Route 66 sign on Adams just west of Michigan right by the Art Institute. Do a little California Dreaming if the weather's bad.    
Once you are at Buckingham fountain -- If you can then find a safe to cross crosswalk cross DuSable Lake Shore Drive (you'd be amazed at how many people dash across DuSable Lake Shore Drive - some don't get the opportunity to tell about it.)  and then walk north (back towards the "bean" area) or walk south (towards the aquariam/planetarium) along the lake front.     It's easily a 3 mile walk from the Bean to the Planetarium. 

Alternatively you could take a boat ride along the same stretch of shore.  I'm not sure where you catch it - look for lake front tours and then see which one goes from say Navy pier to the Planetarium.    

The Art Institute can be fun - depending on what art you all are familiar with.  You can look online to see if there is anything you'd like to see in person  (monet water lilies?  American Gothic?  Nighthawks? something else? ) 

From the Bean you could walk west into the loop -   you can go to Daly plaza and see the Picasso  (watch the Blues Brothers movie before you go.... and then marvel that a "Swat Team" repelled down the front of the City Hall building.  You should be able to walk thru the City Hall building too. )     

You can stop in the old Marshal Field's department store and check out the Tiffany ceiling (you have to look for it).   You can also see some beautiful tiffany mosaics and ceilings in the Chicago Cultural Center (across Michigan from the Bean (sort of)).  There's a big bronze Cow statue outside it -- if you pass it be sure to rub it's nose for luck. 

There's also the Riverwalk  if you are in the loop. 


To be honest -   Since you will be in town for 5 days - why not see if you can catch a show - Google Broadway in Chicago. 
Also check out Shakespeare theater on Navy Pier - they often do shows aimed at HS students in May and June.
There's also the Goodman Theater (it might be part of Broadway in Chicago.... not sure.) 

You could also check out the Chicago Symphony (sometimes they do a famous Movie and the orchestra plays the sound track from the movie - Raiders of the Lost Ark was amazing  as was City Lights (Charlie Chaplin) you can't go wrong with whatever movie they are doing).   

I don't get the appeal of Navy pier as a tourist destination-  I guess the Ferris Wheel is cool.  And if you can't afford a boat ride along the lake front you get a really good view for free from the end of Navy pier.   It's also kind of cool at the end of the day to be on the pier (or at the end of it)  - the hour before the sun sets and then twilight and then night is pretty neat looking back at the city buildings.   Shakespeare Theater is on the pier. 
   

If you have car here are some suburban-y places to go (some of these places have evening events check their websites): 
Morton Arboretum 
Chicago Botanical gardens

The Bahá'í House of Worship  in Wilmette (it's got gardens too) 

There are Frank Lloyd Wright homes/building tours in Oak Park IL  (you can probably get there by El) 

Brookfield Zoo (it's old and "low tech"  but it can be a pleasant stroll  and I think there's a baby giraffe and I think the Black Forest Cat(s) are on display (the deadliest cats on earth) -  it was sleeping like a housecat in a cardboard box the last time I was there with family...it's soo small and cute and murderous.)   (this is a Metra Burlington Northern line train ride)


Places I haven't been in decades but hear are interesting: 
The Chicago Historical Museum 
Museum of Contemporary Art 






 

[Tiny]

Ravinia might have some live music you are interested in.  It's a Metra train ride from Downtown.   

[Tennesseer]

If you go to the Art Institute of Chicago, you can view the 1881 masterpiece "Two Sisters (On The Terrace)" by Pierre-Auguste Renoir. It is the original though donald trump tells everyone he has the original in his home.

[TheOtherMe]

The first business trip I ever took was to Chicago from Des Moines.  It was me, age 18, and another 18 year old co-worker.  We were overwhelmed by the big city so we shared a room in the Palmer House.  

We did take in Macy's.  It was so huge to two girls from Des Moines.  We didn't have anything like that.  We didn't do much else.

My 2nd business trip was also to Chicago.  A good friend (we are still friends today) and I went.  It was during Watergate and the maid thought we were crazy because we had the Watergate hearings on.  The instructors thought we were crazy because we went to Buckingham Fountain after dark.  We were not staying at the Palmer House that time.  We were not in nearly as nice of an area.  We were on Wacker Drive

[tallguy]

May 12, 2024 19:36:51 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

If you go to the Art Institute of Chicago, you can view the 1881 masterpiece "Two Sisters (On The Terrace)" by Pierre-Auguste Renoir. It is the original though donald trump tells everyone he has the original in his home.

I was willing to ignore that little lie, until he started saying that it was painted on the terrace of his estate the morning after he had sex with both sisters at the same time.

[jerseygirl]

First hotel I stayed in was the Palmer House. Family moved from NJ to Chicago
It’s a fabulous city, enjoy!

[Tiny]

I just read you are driving - so will have a vehicle.    I know there are a bunch of "Outlet" kinds of Malls in the ChicagoLand Area.   Haven't been since Pre Covid.    There may be other types of entertainment near them and restaurants.   It might be worth a google "Fashion Outlets of Chicago"  the one in Rosemont is the one I'm thinking of with other stuff to do near by.     


Meant to add this:   Garden of the Phoenix  or Osaka Garden -- oh heck just  google Japanese Garden of Chicago.     It been a long time since I've been to the one in Hyde park - but they use to have  presentations/tea ceremonies stuff in the past.  If not it was still a nice walk around  (lots of photo ops and just nice to be out and enjoy a nice Chicago day)


(the museum of science and industry has the 505 submarine.  I always thought it was eerie to walk through - it's NOT like in the old war movies (big and open)  - it's small, tight, and kind of scary when you think about being under water in it.   There are other exhibits that are good for "reality checks" on everyday stuff you've never encountered in real life but are familiar with from movies/books  ) 

[geenamercile]

I am looking at the city pass.... Shopping is a no from her.  The Garden is a yes.

So beside the Bean and Aquarium that were the start of the list.  The conservatory and the planetarium have been added on.  I think I am going to do one of the city pass things and she can choose from other options on that.  www.citypass.com/chicago     

[azucena]

You might also google chicago events and the dates you're going to be there to see what pops up.

[geenamercile]

How hard is the public transportation/ metro there to navigate? 

[geenamercile]

We made in last night.  Hotel is like a 5 min walk to the metro.   Today we saw parks, could only see the bean through the construction fence. Walked around the parks and the shoreline.  We went to the Planetarium and Aquarium.   The city pass has been easy to use.  Not sure what we are doing tomorrow, she pretty much hit her to do list today.  Now we are just chilling at the hotel. 

[steph08]

Jun 11, 2024 16:35:23 GMT -5 geenamercile said:

We made in last night.  Hotel is like a 5 min walk to the metro.   Today we saw parks, could only see the bean through the construction fence. Walked around the parks and the shoreline.  We went to the Planetarium and Aquarium.   The city pass has been easy to use.  Not sure what we are doing tomorrow, she pretty much hit her to do list today.  Now we are just chilling at the hotel. 

I'm literally in O'Hara right now! I was in Chicago for work since Sunday!

[geenamercile]

Tomorrow we are going to the science museum.  We were at the parks by 7:30 and  got back to the hotel room around 4.  The Aquarium was most certainly her favorite.  The sting rays were like water puppies.  But she was done with people when we left.  Pretty much came back and crashed asleep, now she is up and we have food being door dashed.