Visiting Chicago. First time. One week, what should I do? Nothing too tourist-ie..?

Answer 1

go to that big project that's like eight miles long.

Answer 2

You said you wanted nothing too touristy and you get answers like "Sears Tower" and Millenium Park...

Forget that. Not sure when you're getting into town but if it's this week, there are a bunch of things to do. This thursday, go to Michigan Ave. and Balboa street. There's a thing called Summerdance, a bunch of free concerts. This week it's a band called Ska Cubano, a Cuban/British ska band. It's going to be hot.

Take a trip to Wicker Park, the "hipster" area of the city. It's got a lot of bars with live music, some nice places to eat (some expensive, some cheap), a "smoker's lounge" bar (if you smoke) that makes special blend hand rolled cigarettes right there, and a lot of people watching.

Pick up a Chicago Reader (a free weekly newspaper) and it's bound to have a listing for whatever street fair is going on that weekend. It's usualy costs about $5 to get in and there's a lot of food, music and single people. Tourists don't usually go to these because they don't bother to find out about them and prefer to march up and down Michigan Ave. 15 thousand times, but it's a great way to see regular city people having fun.

Go to Old town. You can hit Second City, the comedy club that changed comedy in America. They have shows almost every night of the week. The current show is called "War! Now in it's 4th Smash Year!". The cheapest tickets is $18, though so if you have a few bucks to spend it might be worth it. There are also cheaper shows put on by Second City students in the upper level theaters. They usually have cards promoting these shows around the lobby. Some are actually free. After the show, walk across the street to the Old Town Ale house for a drink and check out their great jukebox. It's like heaven if you're a jazz fan.

You can go further north into Andersonville (north Clark street). It's a neighborhood with a Swedish heritage, but there are very few actual Swedes left. They mostly come in on the weekend to go to the Swedish bakery, or the smorgasbord shop. There's a couple of good restaurants and bars there. One, The Hopleaf is both. A restaurant and a bar with about 50 bazillion beers (they even have a beer menu!)

On Saturday, you can go to Lincoln Park near Montrose Ave to watch the guys play soccer. It's mostly Hispanic guys on their day off, not full-time soccer players, but they take the game seriously and it's FREE. And you can buy some mexican food from one of the carts that are usually around there. some of it is pretty good.

You can hang around Wrigley Field if the cubs are in town. Even i you don't have a ticket, it's kinda fun. Go stand outside with the ball hawks on Waveland Ave and try to catch a home run ball if it comes over the wall. Bring your glove and be prepared. It gets kinda rough sometimes. If you'd rather be inside, you can try to get a ticket from a scalper. Go to the Piano Man bar and see if you can find a guy named Ticket Teddy. he's pretty fair about his prices and won't try to gouge you. One time I bought tickets with a friend and he bought us a pitcher of beer to boot! Again, there are about 50 million bars and restaurants to choose from there.

If you HAVE to go to a "touristy" place, go to the Signature Room at the top of the John Hancock. Let the tourists pay to go to the observation deck. Instead, you can go to the south side of the building, take the elevator to the Signature room, have a drink at the bar and get the same exact view.

That's all I can think of right now. Without knowing what you specifically like to do, it's kind of hard to suggest things.

Answer 3

I live 20 minutes from Chicago. When I went for my India Visa last year, it was during the summer. By car, take 90 / 94 south from Wisconsin and get off at Washington St. East. Take a left at Washington to Michigan Ave. Go Right. Find intersection Madison and Michigan. By "L," (subway) take I-94 south from Wisconsin to Chicago, I-90 East. There is one toll. Get off at Cumberland South (rte.171) and follow sign CTA to "L" station Buy a riders card and use it when you go down and return from the city. Take the Blue Line to Washington St. and State St. You can walk east to Michigan Ave. Take a Right one blk is, "Millennium Park." There, you can see "The Bean." You can walk though Millennium Park and visit the faces of people over a water fall tower. This is a movie clip on two towers each end of the park. You can walk through the water and feel free. You can catch lunch at the Cafe in the park.

If you like art, The Art Institute of Chicago Museum is free on Thursdays and Fridays. Their phone # is : 1-888-301-9612. Some special exhibits are for a fee. By car or walk, Carriage rides are found at Water Tower Place across the street. They are approx. $20.00 half hour: a couple of dollars more for an hour ride.

Water Tower Place is north on Michigan Ave. Great stores and great food at "Mighty Nice." Lower level in Water Tower Place." Hey, while you are there, nearby, leave Water Tower and two blocks north is John Hancock Building. Go up to the Observation Deck. When you return, Cheesecake Factory is on lower level and Jamba Juice. If you like juice a lot, get your favorite and if you want, a grass shot! (it is non -alcoholic) Oh, what an experience!

(If you rode by "L", ) Return from Water Tower back down Michigan Ave (South) over the Chicago River to Washington St. Make a right and walk to State Street and Washington St. Take the subway (Blue Line) back out to Cumberland.

Good Luck! ;-)

Answer 4

check out the great SEARS tower, and treat urself for some fun in NAvy Pier. You could go shopping along and visit michigan lake. You could also go to the biggest mall of america, which by the way WASN'T considered the biggest since there's M.O.A. in minnesota, the malls name is Gurnee Mills.

What is Chicago famous for............???, ofcourse It's the WINDY CITY, explore the tall buildings around u, hope that helps =)