What is a must do in Chicago?

Question

Im traveling to Chicago at the end of this month and want to know so awesome things to do or see... I have a travel book, but I want to know from people who have been there

Answer 1

There are so many things to do- it really depends on your interests.

If you are into culture/museums we have some great ones.
1. The Museum of Science and Industry
2. The Field Museum of Natural History
3. The Art Institute
(I wouldn't bother with the planetarium or aquarium)

Archetecture- there are some great river boat tours. There is a long and short version. You can also do a dinner or lunch cruise. (You catch all tours- cruises at Navy Pier)
The best dinner cruises are the Oddesy or the Spirit of Chicago. There are cheaper ones- but you get what you pay for. You can't go wrong- day or night- checking out our beautiful skyline.

If you like to party- head to Rush street. That's were all the award winning clubs/celebrity sightings are.

For another great view of the skyline- head to the Signature Room- 95th Floor of the John Hancock. You can go just for drinks or have a nice dinner. (This restuarant is home to the most proposals in the area) :-)

Shopping- anywhere down town is abundant.

Sightseeing-people watching - head to Navy Pier. It's best there in the summer, with lots to do, music, entertainment. But it's got lots of indoor places to hand out in the winter too.

Steak- we got the BEST.... Head to Gibsons, Smith and Wolensky or the Chop House.

Sports- get in line with the rest of us for Bears and Bulls tickets. Or take in a game at the ESPN Zone or Harry Carreys.

Whatever your interests- I know you will find much to see and do in our great city. I hope you enjoy your visit and that these tips are helpful to you.

Answer 2

Well, since everybody here is saying the same exact thing (museums, navy pier, millenium park, blah blah blah), I'll try to pick something different. Those places are nice, but you'll be surrounded by a bunch of other tourists just like you. That's not the way to see CHICAGO

Green Mill Jazz club: It's like stepping back into the era of Al Capone. Dark, bartenders in aprons and ties, watresses in evening gowns, great jazz ranging from big bands to modern. And a kick-azz juke box that plays when the bands take a break. It can get tight in there (the place is not that big) but it's worth it. You're right up on top of the music. And you might run into a few celebrities. One night I was there at the bar and to the left of me was Nora Dunn (former SNL player) and singer Ani Di Franco, and on the right of me was Jeremy Piven and John Cusak. Weird. If you go on Sunday night at 7 p.m., you can take part in the poetry slam. It's funny, sometimes bad, sometimes great. Write about two or three poems and sign up for the slam. You can win $10 or lotter tickets, your pick! Or if you want, be a judge.

The Old Town School of Folk Music: The lineup changes but the music is always interesting and different. One night it might be Peruvian music, the next bluegrass, the next old New Orleans soul music, the next Mexican. Big name national acts and smaller local favorites. Do a web site search for the school to see who's playing there when you're in town.

Andersonville: A small community on Clark Street between Foster and Bryn Mawr with a Swedish ancentry. Most of the shops and things there try to keep the Swedish flavor. There are Swedish themed restaurants, a Swedish bakery, a Swedish museum, a bar called Simon's that keeps mementos of the original Swedish owners with statues of Vikings (and Viking-ettes), photos of the old clientele, etc. Even the bar's logo is Swedish - a herring with a Viking helmet. There's another bar nearby called Hopleaf that serves great upscale bar food (steamed mussels, etc.) and has one of the biggest beer selections in the city. Both bars also sell glogg, a warm Swedish drink, in the wintertime. There are a couple of art galleries in the neighborhood, as well a local theater company around the corner. It's a great neighborhood to walk around. In fact Chicago has a bunch of great ethnic neighborhoods to stroll through. Try Devon Ave which has a large Indian population and the best Indian restaurants in the city, one right next to another. Or visit Pilsen, a Mexican neighborhood and home of the Mexican Museum of Fine Arts (check out the Day of the Dead exhibit while you're here). There may be information on these and other neighborhoods in your guide books.

The museums and stuff are great, but all you're going to see there are other tourists. Get away from those and see the REAL Chicago.

Answer 3

I am from Chicago, so listen up.....
1. Go to the Sears Tower and Water Tower Place.
2. Art Institute and the Museum of Science and Industry
3. Go to Navy Pier
4. Take you a Metra Train Ride....or CTA Train Ride...cool
5. Go to Wrigley Field or Harey Careys.
6. Go to McCormick Place
7. Eat a Chicago Style Hot dog, A Deep Dish Pizza, and Italian Beef Sandwich and some popcorn from Garrett's downtown.
8. You must go shopping on Michigan Avenue or State Street.

Answer 4

Walk along Michigan Avenue from about Roosevelt Avenue to Chicago Avenue. You'll see Grant Park, the lakefront, the Art Institute (a definite not-miss), Millenium Park, the Tribune Tower, the Wrigley Building, and great shopping along Michigan Avenue all the way up to the Water Tower and the John Hancock Tower - all on one street!

Then, from Chicago Avenue on Michigan Avenue, walk three blocks west and get on the "L" (Red Line). Take it north to Addison and you're at Wrigley Field. Walk back southwest on Clark Street and you'll walk through the very pretty and fun neighborhoods of Lakeview, Lincoln Park, and Old Town - and in fact you can walk all the way back to the John Hancock Building again that way.

Answer 5

Chicago has so many great points of interest that I'm quite positive that whatever your interest - Chicago delivers. From Buckingham Fountain at Grant Park to the Museum of Science and Industry to the historic Watertower you'll be quite pleased, and at the same time, amazed by Chicago's many wonderful offerings.

Along Chicago's world-renowned lakefront great parks, museums, harbors and piers provide anchor to mesmerizing views and urban melody.

Chicago's suburbs, though vibrating to a slower tempo, are also rich in history and provide a broad scope of idyllic offerings -one being Morton's Arboretum and another - Chicago Botanic Gardens.

Ricky J. Fico

Answer 6

I think there are a TON of things to do. I'm surprised no one has mentioned the bean in Millenium Park. I think if you start out on that end you should look at Millenium Park and the museums as they are all located in that same area with a trolley taking you to all the museums like Adler Planetarium, Art Institute, Museum of Science and Industry, Field Museum and Shedd Acquarium. Most of these museums have special exhibits going on right now. Next I would head up north a little and check out the Michigan Ave. Shopping. There you will find tons of stores on Mich ave and you'll also get to John Hancock where you can find a 7 floor mall in there as well. From there you can reach the Rush Street area where there is more poshier shopping stores as well as stores like Urban outfitters. There are also a ton of restaurants/bars in that area as well, including pizza joints where you can get some deep dish pizza. If you want a big variety of food you can also go to the Randolph Street area but you'll deifnitely need to take a cab. They have some higher end places but there are a lot of cheaper places like a mexican place called de cero mixed in. It's a cool little street to eat and drink because a lot of these places are bars as well. If not, then you can head into Lincoln Park or Wrigleyville for some food/drinks if you want. Lincoln Park is where the yuppies are and that's near the Fullerton/Diversey/North/Belmont ish stops off the L. Or there is Wrigleyville which is definitely more sports bar type places with great restaurants which is off the Addison L and if you go a little up North there is Boystown (mainly gay neighborhood). Also, it's kinda cool to see Wrigley Field in the middle of this neighborhood as well if you do head on up. If you like to go clubbing, you should go to the Warehouse area which is near the Randolph Street dining I mentioned. Lake Ave. has plenty of clubs on the street, some right next door to the next while others are further apart. If you prefer to be in the really touristy neighborhood at night then head on over to the River North area which is where the Rock n Roll McD's/Rainforest Cafe are. There's a few clubs/bars in the area like Excalibur and Vision or RiNo and Rockit Bar and Grill (which is where Nate Berkus of Oprah's show did the interior) are all located. There are many others as well-too many to name but these are more popular. If you like the artists/students/hipster crowd then get into Wicker Park which is off the Blue line Damen Stop. When you get off there you'll see an intersection of three streets where you'll find clubs/bars/food/shops. It's a very cool neighborhood that is being slowly taken over by the yuppies which explains why there are some more poshier places now. Also not sure if you watched but this is the area that was focused on for the Real World Chicago season. The kids worked in a huge pizza joint called Piece which does have great pizza and is on North Ave. As for things that are away from Chicago but within 30 minutes of a drive, you can go to Evanston where Northwestern is located. They have a very cute neighborhood with a lot of nice places to eat/drink. Or you can go to Oak Park where you can find some amazing Frank Lloyd Wright homes. Evanston is accesible by public transport and Oak Park you might need to take the metra. Not sure as I had a car. If there is other info you'd like, just let me know!

Answer 7

a sturdy place to work out in Chicago is military Pier. military Pier has eating places, shops, putt--putt, a ferris wheel, and is suitable off Lake Michigan close to Soldier field. I went there in 2001 and it replaced right into a great place with plenty to grant.

Answer 8

The Magnificent Mile, Grant Park, Navy Pier and the top of the Hancock Tower (skip the Sears Tower, the Hancock is a better deal).

But most of all, eat as much as you can! Greektown, Chinatown, ribs, deep dish pizza, get it all.

Answer 9

other than the normal touristy stuff. the places you must go eat and check out, i think, is :due pizza, margie's candy and icecream, chocolate factory, rock bottom bar and grill. then go do all the normal touristy things as in go shopping on michigan and don't forget state st. too. navy pier and if you like museums go there as well. check out metromix.com and chicago-scene.com. hop on a carriage ride and the trolley as well. it'll be a bit cold so bundly up!!

Answer 10

You have to check out the Mag Mile

Rush Street (for great night life)

Navy Pier (open all year 'round)

The museums

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