I wrote about going to Chicago before but this time I will give more info.?

Question

I'm going to Chicago via greyhound. I already have tickets to a Cubs game and I want to go around and check out some things while I'm there. I do not have a car so I will be taking public tranportation. What's the best way I can get around and what places do you suggest I visit? I know about the Sears Tower. Give me some more places I can visit.

Answer 1

"Findlay" -- You have a LOT of good suggestions for seeing the sites. In a way it's too bad you'll only be here two days. Too add to your confusion (just what do you do), if the weather's nice and If you're here on a Thursday, Friday or Saturday you MUST check out Summer Dance in Grant Park across from Columbia College Chicago on Michigan and Harrison. It's live music, starts at 5:30p.m. and it's FREE (you simply can't beat that!).

So, your evening's taken care of. What do you do during the day? If it's raining, then go to the museum. Some suggest the Art Institute on Michigan at Adams (about four blocks north of the Summer Dance Location). If you get there in the early afternoon you can meet up for a gallery tour that starts at 1p.m. It's pretty interesting. There IS an admission fee now, unfortunately (Tuesdays used to be free but now Thursday EVENINGS are, whoop-dee-doo).

Again, if the weather's nice and you want to walk, then stay outside. For grins, start here:

1. Marshall Field & Company at State and Randolph -- it's worth visiting the long time retail institution; you just might be able to get a hint of its previous glory as THE place to shop for gifts. Field's was known for its courteous, professional service as well as its quality offerings

2. The Chicago Theatre just a half-block north of Field's -- you won't be able to go inside, but seeing the exterior might take you back in time to when theatres were a spectacle; believe it or not it faced demolition 20-something years ago. Fortunately it was refurbished and live performing returned (it had been a movie theatre for some years). When it returned to live performing I recall seeing live performances from Bob Hope and Melissa Manchester. Quite interesting.

3.From there, walk west one block underneath the "L" on Lake street. At Dearborn you'll pass the Goodman Theatre. A LONG time ago it was the Michael Todd Theatre (I think). Continuing west one more block you'll come to the James R. Thompson State of Illinois Building. You can walk through this and admire its spaciousness. There was some controversy when it first opened as to its energy efficiency, but it's still a building to marvel. Shortly after it was opened scenes from RUNNING SCARED were shot there (a movie starring Billy Crystal and Gregory Hines).

4. Coming out on the south side of the buiilding you're back on Randolph and across the street from City Hall. Continue south on Dearborn to the Richard J. Daley Center. Scenes from the BLUES BROTHERS starring Dan Akroyd and John Belushi were shot here. The open plaza may have a market of some kind and, depending onthe time of day, a live performance. Admire the Picasso in the Plaza and rest a bit at the pool of bubbling water.

5. At the south of Daley Plaza is Washington street. Proceed east and pass the south part of Marshall Field and Company. Continue east to Michigan Avenue. You will see Millenium Park. But before you go there, stop in at the Cultural Center, which will be on your left. At the north end is a tourist information center. You can pick up brochures and ask questions about other things to do. But before you leave, plesae go upstairs and visit the Hall of the Grand Army of the Republic. It's quiet and a nice break from the hustle and bustle of the city (incidentally, scenes from THE UNTOUCHABLES were shot there). When you're done, exit back on Washington and cross Michigan to Millenium Park. Hang out there a bit, then walk a little further to Lake Michigan. From here you have a choice: turn left to go north and walk to Navy Pier or turn right to go south to the museum campus, where you can choose between visiing the John G. Shedd Aquarium, the Adler Planetarium or the Field Museum of Natural History (scenes from THE RELIC were shot here).

6. From there walk back north and pause at Buckingham Fountain.

If the Taste of Chicago is still on, buy a few tickets and eat there. Yes, it's overpriced, but you can still find a few deals. If the Taste is over, then cab to Greek Town and have a hearty lunch.

Other things to do:
You simply MUST take a Chicago Architecture tour along the Chicago River. It's absolutely breathtaking, especially on a beautiful summer day.

Walk north up Michigan Avenue (which you'll have to do to get to the water tours anyway. By the way, the bridge you cross is the same bridge used in THE UNTOUCHABLES, where Elliott Ness first met Malone). After the tour, continue your walk up Michigan. To your left is the Wrigley Building. Across the street on your right is the Tribune Tower, the Equitable Life Insurance Building and behind that, the NBC Tower.

There are lots of shops and boutiques along Michigan, so you can enjoy yourself quite a bit. Consider stopping at GARRETT Popcorn on the west side of Michigan Avenue north of Ohio. They're a local institution. Get the cheddar-caramel popcorn mixture. It's pure heaven and oh so bad for you! Just north of Chicago Avenue is the Water Tower and Water Tower Place. On Chicago, turn left and walk a half-block if you want to visit the American Girl Store.

Again, you have a lot of suggestions, and you even have an offer of a place to stay.

Welcome to the Windy City and have a great time there!

Answer 2

When will you get here and how long will you be here? You can get from one end of the city to the other on public transportation, so don't worry about not having a car. When you get here, get your hands on a Chicago Reader. It's a free newspaper that lists all of the activities for the week: concerts, street fairs, art shows, bars, what's free and what's not. Skip the touristy stuff. I mean the Sears Tower is cool, but you go up there, look around a bit, talk about how everthing looks like ants, try to see you house from there and then leave. Big whoop. If you have to go to a tall building in Chicago, go to the John Hancock instead. You can go to the top (sort of) for free. Go to the south side of the building and take the elevator up the the signature room. Buy a drink, sip it slowly and take in the sights. It's free to get up there (except for the price of the drink, which is not TOO expensive). And I personally think the view is a little better cause you're closer to the lake.

Go over to Wicker Park (Damen and North Avenue). Yeah, it's all yuppied to the max now, but it's still cool for people watching. It has a ton of bars, lots of places to eat. Go to the Pontiac Cafe, buy a burger and fries or something, or get a beer, sit outside and watch the people and cars go by. There are a few indie record shops that's aren't too bad, a few places that have live music.

If you're going to be near Wrigley Field, take the Clark Street bus a little further north to Andersonville. It's an old Swedish community that has very few Swedes left living in it (go figure). Mostly it's young families. It used to be the city's "lesbian headquarters" but it's kind of been taken over. Check out Simon's bar. You'll know it by the giant neon herring hanging over the door. (I THINK that's a herring). It's probably the only "Swedish" bar left on the street. In the winter they sell glogg, but now they have frozen glogg for the summertime. It sounds gross but it's actually not bad. Still has the glogg-y taste. or check out Hopleaf. It is a beer-drinkers heaven with about 200 different beers available, so many they have a "beer menu". The owner Michael specializes in Belgian beers and has more of those than anything else. Even though they recently expanded and added a restaurant and dining room, it still gets crowded in the main bar area.

There's also a little theater company around the corner from there that puts on some interesting, weird, sometimes funny plays and musicals. I believe it's called the Neo-Futureists company (I probably spelled it wrong). they have late night shows that people line up around the corner to get into.

anyway, the tourist spots are great, but to me it's a little cooler to blend in with the people of a city in their "regular" places. You get a better feel for the city that way.

Answer 3

Lincoln Park Zoo is great -- very small with lovely gardens and you can really get up close to see the animals. Best of all, it's open every day of the year and it's completely free! It's easy to get to via mass transit. It's also not far from Wrigley Field.
http://www.lpzoo.org

Millennium Park is the latest "must-do" attraction, and also free.
http://www.millenniumpark.org/

The Mayor's Office of Special Events also posts a calendar of all the neighborhood festivals that occur throughout the summer, and they're a great way to get a feel for the everyday Chicago that most natives enjoy.

The Chicago Architecture Foundation also has walking tours almost daily. They're fun, informative and cheap! Visit http://www.architecture.org/tours.aspx for the schedule.

Answer 4

The Greyhound Station is at 630 West Harrison.

Chicago has a good transit system, both subway and bus -- getting around is no problem.
http://www.transitchicago.com/

The closest subway station is on Clinton Street, just on the north side of the Expressway. Walk about one block east and one north. That station is one the blue line. Wrigley is on the red line, at Addison. You can transfer to the red line at Washington or Clark Streets.

If you want to walk, Greyhound is less than a mile from the Loop. Head straight east on Harrison, go over the river and from there it's just north of you.

Dearborn has lots of cool buildings between Harrison and Jackson. Some of the world's first skyscrapers.
http://egov.cityofchicago.org/Landmarks/Maps/LoopSouth.html

The Art Instuitute is always worth a visit. Michigan Avenue at Adams Street
http://www.artic.edu/aic/

Millennium Park is very nice, and they often have concerts and other events going on there.
http://www.millenniumpark.org/
http://www.millenniumpark.org/parkevents/

Answer 5

I only live about one hour from Chicago and I think its a awesome place to go visit for everyone because there is always something for everyone per individual taste/moods/likings/lifestyle.
http://VirtualTourist.com/Chicago Travel Guide is one of the best sites I think there is for a wide spectrum and overview of Chicago and lifestyle's just click on things to do and local residents will put there input on there for you as well.

Cabs are great for transportation unless you like to ride a bike to local day spots or outdoor activs? Hey u never know may fall in love with one of the locals and win her heart and drive all around the world lol .

I put another spot below for the no so fun to some regulars per say to Chicago or just a mere subjective point of views on places that are considered outdated as they call them just in case you have time to check those out if there are a few that catch your eye?

after all I don't know what you like except comforts of a Cubs game and greyhound to transport you to Chicago so for all I know you may like the little things in life most of us tend to overlook .......Hope you have a great time , ciao,

MindGamez

Answer 6

The museums are nice and you can purchase a city pass for $50 to see them all. Millenium park is downtown right by Michigan Avenue which has all the shops. If you like baseball you can go see the white soxs too. Navy Pier on Lakeshore is nice has alot of activities and tours.

Answer 7

You can also take the free shuttle tours. They go all over downtown. Near Michigan Ave. Take a cab to get to the starting point.

Answer 8

its hard getting around in Chicago taxis are expensive go to the john Hancock its nice you should walk around down town and try some of the restaurants they are good.

Answer 9

Museums, Navy Pier...Depending on how long you're going to be here the CTA (www.cta.com) has special fare bus passes. Check it out.

Answer 10

Although it is about 20 min. south of the loop I wouldn't miss the University of Chicago - http://www.seebeforeyoudie.net/north-america/united-states,illinois/Chicago/The-University-of-Chicago.html