We are planning a family vacation to Chicago in March or April and have never been there before.?

Question

I was just wondering if anyone who has been there has any good tourist info. We already know that places we want to go and I would like to get some reviews and thoughts on places that others have gone. My kids are 9, 3 and 18 months, is there anywhere we shouldnt go with them? Any info would be great!

Answer 1

There is so much to experience in Chicago, it’s difficult to know where to begin. You may want to start with an overview of the city. First, see the expanse of the Chicagoland area from 1,000 feet above at the John Hancock Observatory or the Sears Tower Skydeck. Next you can head over to Navy Pier to experience the Amazing Chicago Funhouse Maze, which takes you through a journey of Chicago landmarks and history. Also at Navy Pier, Time Escape is a 3-D motion simulation experience allowing you to travel through Chicago’s history, present and future. There are a variety of boat tours departing from Navy Pier and other city locations, as well as city bus tours, which point out significant landmarks and provide interesting information about Chicago and its history. See our tours section for more tour information and see our Navy Pier section for more exciting things to do while you’re there.the Museum Campus, near Soldier Field, is home to The Field Museum and the Adler Planetarium, two excellent museums. See our museums section for more information. Also located at Museum Campus is the Shedd Aquarium, which is the world's largest indoor aquarium with more than 8,000 aquatic animals representing more than 700 species from all parts of the world. You can take a water taxi between Museum Campus and Navy Pier.Two of the finest zoos in the country are located in the Chicago area and both are highly recommended. First, on the city’s north side is Lincoln Park Zoo. This free zoo is open every day of the year. While it is one of the oldest zoos in the country, it is also one of the most modern. Brookfield Zoo, located in Brookfield, Illinois, just west of Chicago, is situated on 216 acres of beautifully landscaped grounds, featuring over 2,000 animals. No matter what time of year you visit Chicago, there is bound to be special events that you won’t want to miss. Many of the special events are held in the summer, but check our Events Calendar to see all that Chicago is offering during your stay. Just a few annual favorites -- the Taste of Chicago, the Chicago Blues Festival, the Chicago Air & Water Show and Venetian Night. navy pier.Index of Chicago Stuff - Places to Visit
Auditorium Theatre - Built in 1889, and was immediately acclaimed as one of the most beautiful and functional theatres in the world. Located downtown Chicago. Buckingham Memorial Fountain - One of Chicago's most popular attractions. The fountain, one of the largest in the world, is located at Columbus Drive (301 East) and Congress Parkway (500 South) in Grant Park. Located downtown Chicago. Chicago Convention and Tourism Bureau - Chicago is a business center, with a diverse, powerhouse economy. It is also a tourism center, with world-renowned shopping, dining, museums, architecture, theater, music and more. For business. For pleasure. We're your kind of town.Chicago Blackhawks - NHL hockey Chicago style Chicago Bulls - Chicago's NBA team
Chicago Cubs - The National League Baseball team in Chicago
Chicago White Sox - The American League Baseball team in Chicago
Chicago Wolves - AHL hockey in Chicago's northwest suburbs.
Chicago Landmarks - Information on designated Chicago historical landmarks.
Chicago Symphony Orchestra - Rich in tradition. Innovative in vision. The CSO is a musical force in Chicago and around the world. Located downtown Chicago.
Chicago Trolley Co. & Chicago Double Decker Co. - Chicago Trolley and Double Decker customers have unlimited access to any of the designated stops on the route. The tour takes about an hour and forty-five minutes, but for those who would like to explore a bit of the city, there will be another Trolley or Double Decker along shortly to continue your tour and take you back to your starting point. Located downtown Chicago.
DuPage Children's Museum - The mission of the DuPage Children’s Museum is to stimulate curiosity, creativity, thinking and problem solving in young children through: self-directed, open-ended experiences - integration of the arts, science and math - the child-adult learning partnership. Located in the western suburbs of Chicago.
Lyric Opera of Chicago - Lyric Opera of Chicago is recognized internationally as one of the truly great opera companies of our time. Located downtown Chicago.
Navy Pier - Navy Pier offers endless entertainment and attractions to Chicagoans and their guests of all ages. One of the best places on the Chicago's lakefront to visit!
the Goodman Theatre - Chicago's oldest and largest theater. Features drama and musical performances. Located downtown Chicago.
The Morton Arboretum - The Arboretum is open 365 days a year! Excellent Living Collections consisting of more than 41,000 plants, representing 3,300 different types of plants from around the world, that provides research scientists, horticulturists, arborists, teachers, students, and homeowners with a wealth of information. Located in the western suburbs of Chicago.The Sears Tower Skydeck - The best view and best overview of Chicago. At 1,353 feet (412 meters), the Skydeck is the highest observatory in Chicago. Located downtown Chicago.Wendella Boat Tours - Chicago's most comprehensive boat tour. It's signature tour of Lake Michigan and the Chicago River includes a live narration featuring an overview of Chicago architecture and history. Located right on the Chicago River in downtown Chicago.MILLENNIUM PARK
Michigan Avenue between Randolph and Monroe Streets, Chicago, IL
While you're down on the lakefront, don't miss the newest addition to Chicago's long-standing tradition of public art--Millennium Park. Chicago has long been known for its public art--the Picasso statue in the late 1960s, the "Cows on Parade" in the summer of 1999, and now "Cloud Gate" and the Crown Fountain, which celebrates its first birthday in July.
The Crown Fountain, designed by Spanish sculptor Jaume Plensa, is two 50-foot tall glass towers with a reflecting pool situated between them. Projected from within each tower is a face of a Chicagoan--up close and 50-feet tall! Water cascades from the top down the sides of each tower into the shallow reflecting pool below. At seemingly random intervals, the "Chicagoans" spit 50-foot streams of water at each other while visitors frolic and splash in the water. It reminds me of those long, hot, muggy Chicago summer days when I was a child and the neighborhood teenagers would open a fire hydrant so everyone could cool off--until the fire department came to turn them off. sears tower. museams. downtown.Buckingham Fountain
Grant Park, Congress Pkwy. and Columbus Drive
312/742-7529
Centennial Fountain
300 E. McClurg Ct., at Chicago River
312/751-6635
Chicago Board of Trade
141 W. Jackson Blvd.
312/435-3500
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 8 am-2 pm. Free admission.
Chicago Board Options Exchange
400 S. LaSalle St.
312/786-5600
Chicago Mercantile Exchange
30 S. Wacker Dr.
312/930-8249
Hours: Mon.-Fri. 7:30 am-3:15 pm. Free admission.
Chicago Stock Exchange
440 S. LaSalle St.
312/663-2980
Cuneo Museum & Gardens
1350 N. Milwaukee Ave., Vernon Hills
847/362-3042
Daley Civic Center
Washington and Dearborn Sts.
312/346-3278
Picasso Sculpture
ESPN Zone
43 E. Ohio St.
The Hancock Observatory
875 N. Michigan Ave.
888/875-VIEW
James R. Thompson Center
100 W. Randolph St.
312/814-6660
New Maxwell Street Market
Sundays Only
Canal and Roosevelt Sts.
312/922-3100
Merrill C. Meigs Field
15th Street at Lakefront near Adler Planetarium
773/465-0388
The National Shrine of St. Frances Xavier Cabrini
(at Columbus Hospital) 2520 N. Lakeview
773/388-7338
Navy Pier
600 E. Grand Ave.
312/595-PIER
outside Chicago call 800/595-PIER
Robie House - Frank Lloyd Wright
Architectural Landmark.
5757 S. Woodlawn St.
708/848-1976
DisneyQuest
55 E. Ohio St.
818/526-4242
Donley's Wild West Town
Rt 20 and South Union Rd., Union
815/923-8000.
Empress Casino Hammond
825 Empress Dr., Hammond, IN
888/4-EMPRESS
Empress Casino Joliet
2300 Empress Dr., Joliet
888/4-EMPRESS
Enchanted Castle Restaurant & Entertainment Complex
1103 S. Main St., Lombard
630/953-7860.
ESPN Zone
43 E. Ohio St.
Fox River Games
1891 N. Farnsworth Ave., Aurora
630/585-5651
Majestic Star Casino
One Buffington Harbor Dr., Gary, IN
888/2B-LUCKY
Six Flags Great America
I-94 at 132 East (Grand Ave.), Gurnee
847/249-1776
USA Rainbo
4836 N. Clark St.
773/271-5668
WhirlyBall
1880 W. Fullerton Ave.
800/894-4759
880 E. Roosevelt Rd., Lombard
630/932-4800
Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum
1300 S. Lake Shore Dr.
312/922-STAR
TDD/TT: 312/322-0995
The Art Institute of Chicago
111 S. Michigan Ave.
312/443-3600
Chicago Architecture Foundation
224 S. Michigan Ave., Recorded Tour Information
312/922-TOUR
Chicago Children's Museum
Navy Pier, 700 E. Grand Ave., 312/527-1000
Chicago Cultural Center
78 E. Washington St., 312/744-6630
Chicago Historical Society
Clark St. at North Ave.
312/642-4600
Chicago Public Library
Harold Washington Library Center
400 S. State St.
312/747-4300
DuSable Museum
740 E. 56th Pl.
773/947-0600
The Field Museum
Roosevelt Rd. at Lake Shore Dr.
312/922-9410
Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio
951 Chicago Ave., Oak Park
708/848-1976
Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum
1852 W. 19th St.
312/738-1503
Museum of Broadcast
Communications
Chicago Cultural Center
Michigan Ave. at Washington St.
312/629-6000
Museum of Contemporary Art
220 E. Chicago Ave.
312/280-2660
Museum of Science and Industry
57th St. at Lake Shore Dr.
773/684-1414
outside of Chicago 1/800-GOTOMSI
Shedd Aquarium/Oceanarium
1200 S. Lake Shore Dr.
General Information
312/939-2438
Ticketmaster: 312/559-0200
Brookfield Zoo
8400 W. 31st St., Brookfield
708/485-2200
Lincoln Park Zoo
Cannon Dr. at Fullerton Pkwy.
312/742-2000
Medival times, rainforest cafe. visit http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/... for great restaurents and night clubs...
chinatown, greektown. in summer we have taste of chicago, it's so cool
chinatown, greektown. learn about our gangs etc, and look at plays.i heard about some haunted building i forget what its called. we have these designer stores alot lol. food in downtown is expensive so be prepared. no snow!lol we have great pizza like i said visit metromix.com for restaurents... get an idea of prices. we have nice hot dogs, its kool. visit our factories like twinkies. get on our trollies american doll place. you can ride horse cariages. taxi is expensive so you should take buses, trains or walk. we are soooooo famous for deep dish pizza, please go see plays there asome. there is hotel next to our airport few minutes from downtown cause in downtown hotels are pricey. you should visit OLD ORCHARD MALL. nice shops like coach, lord and taylor. nice stores.
Recomend Navy Pier, The Sears Tower Maybe Go To A Sox Game Or Cubs Game, The Museums - field museum, here are some more museums Also Try To GO TO BUILD A BEAR WORKSHOP AND U CAN MAKE BEARS AND DRESS THEM UP

http://www.chipublib.org/004chicago/chim...

You Can Find A Bunch Of Attractions Here http://www.chicagotraveler.com/chicagos-...


You Can Go To Springfield, Illinois And Go See Abraham Lincoln's Tomb Its Only 5hours buy car But Its So Wonderfull Also If You Do Go To Springfield try to go to the State Capitol Its Big And Great .. Or U Can Go to the Lincoln Library

Lincoln Library

http://www.smallmarketmeetings.com/townm...





Lincolns Tomb

http://showcase.netins.net/web/creative/...


Capitol



http://www.ilstatehouse.com/

http://www.theroadwanderer.net/66illinoi...

http://www.43places.com/places/view/1040...
Original Pancake House
http://www.originalpancakehouse.com/phlo...
-Cheesecake Factory
http://www.thecheesecakefactory.com/loca...
-Uncommon Ground
http://www.uncommonground.com/
-Giordano's Pizza
http://www.giordanos.com/
-Ghirardelli Ice Cream
http://www.ghirardelli.com/shops/shop_lo...

A good website for local Chicago stuff to do is metromix.com. It will have even weekend events listed and restaurant ratings.

That said, I suggest skiping the Sears tower and see the John Hancock building instead. It has a restaurant at the 95th story and a bar on the 96th (the observatory is on the 94th.) Go to the bar and have a drink and see a great view.

If the wheather is good, shoping on the magnificant mile is fun. Water Tower or Navy Pier is good for inside shopping.

Museums, the Art Institue and the Field Museum are excellent. I'm not a big fan of the Museum of Science and Industry. But the Planetarium and Shedd aquirium are o.k.
In Oak Park, ther are many Frank Llody Wright House and his home and studio. If you like architecure, one of the tours downtown is also good.
Green Dolphin is good for Jazz. But name a style of music or a type of food and you can find it in Chicago. House of Blues has a gospel brunch, which I hear is good. (But House of Blues like the Hard Rock cafe is a chain, I perfer indigenous places like Buddy Guy's Legends for blues.)

Greektown has a number of good Greek resturants, I like Greek Islands. Little Italy has a number of great Italian restaurants. I like Tuscany's or Rosebud for fancy eating, Leona's for casual fair. (The are a couple Tuscany's or Leona's in the city.) Some people like Maggiano's, but I find it kind of bland. Pizza is a matter of debate, some perfer Pizzaria Uno, others Gino's, some Giodanno's, and still others like Edwardo's. All are good.

For very expensive food, (expecially on someone else's dime) Charlie Trotter's (French) is considered the best restuarant in town by many. Though some like Tru, which is more contemporary American. I, for a very special occasions, like Everest, which is French. It is near the opera house if you wanted to se an opera. All are expensive, though Everest does have a pre-opera three course dinner which is less expensive. (You don't have to go o the opera to get the rate.)
For a slightly cheeper fair (but still somewhat pricy) the cook of Everest also has a restuarant called Brassiere Joe.
I don't like steak, but ther are many good steak places also.
If you like Thai, some people would suggest Arun's, a 12 couse pricy Thai restuarant. But a chef from there started his own restuarant north of Oak Park called Amarind's. The food is excellent and very affordable, the same as any sit down restuarant.

We have a number of muscials and theaters. There is a shakespeare group that plays at Navy Pier. Second City usualy has a spoof playing also. (I don't know if it is running.) Second City comedy is also good to see.
The Chicago Symphonic Orchestra is also wonderful, as is the Lyric opera.

Well,anyway, I hope you have a fun trip in Chicago.
p.s. visit Devon also for ethnic indian cuisine

Answer 2

Here are some fun places for kids to get to while you are visiting:

1) Chicago Children's Museum (on Navy Pier)
Attractions for kids of all ages, it's big enough that you could spend the better part of the day here or you could just spend a few hours.

http://www.chichildrensmuseum.org/

2) Lincoln Park Zoo
Depending on the weather it's a fun place to spend the afternoon, admission is free and there is street parking around but its usually a struggle to find a spot (especially on the weekend) but it is possible to find one. There is also a pay lot right next to the zoo.

http://www.lpzoo.org/index.php

3) Peggy Notebaert Museum
One of the most incredible places in the city, there is a large room that is filled with butterflies that you are able to enter and experience the hundreds of different species that there are. There are also many other exhibits there.

http://www.chias.org/

4)John G. Shedd Aquarium
Amazing aquarium, there is a dolphin show that is pretty neat to see and there are different exhibits there as well. My youngest is 23 months old and we went about 2 months ago and she loved all the fish and the different colors.

http://www.sheddaquarium.org/

5) The Museum of Science and Industry
My favorite museum growing up, we try and get out there a few times a year if not more. Your 9 and 3 year old would probably have a blast.

http://www.msichicago.org/

6) American Girl Place (if you have daughters this is a great place!)
http://www.americangirlplace.com/agp_chi_splash.php

There is this thing called a Chicago City Pass that gets you into a variety of different museums for up to half the cost and its good for 9 days I believe. We've had friends come to town and they've invested in one and say its great. This is the website for more info:
http://www.chicagokids.com/calendar/citypass.html

This is also a great website to get ideas of what is going on when you are coming to visit and can give you some more insight into things to do:
http://www.chicagokids.com/index.html

As far as restaurants go most places are child friendly, we take our girls all over (with the exception of super fancy places of course) and don't really encounter any problems. Here are some of our favorite places to go:

-Original Pancake House
http://www.originalpancakehouse.com/phloc_il.html
-Cheesecake Factory
http://www.thecheesecakefactory.com/locations.htm
-Uncommon Ground
http://www.uncommonground.com/
-Giordano's Pizza
http://www.giordanos.com/
-Ghirardelli Ice Cream
http://www.ghirardelli.com/shops/shop_locator.aspx

Hope this is helpful...enjoy the city it's a great place to visit!

Answer 3

well it despends where in chicago you are going i have just recentlycome back from a 3 month trip there and a friend who i was staying with had a 5 year old daughter and she really enjoyed the shedd aquarium which is in chicago itself and also navy pier which can be a bit expensive but it is a really good day out the kids will love it the only other place i know that they should enjoy and is a great family day out is brookfield zoo it is open 365 days a year so no matter when you go they will be open,if i remember anything else i will write again!!! hope you and your family havea great time!

Answer 4

Well Ill Recomend Navy Pier, The Sears Tower Maybe Go To A Sox Game Or Cubs Game, The Museums - field museum, here are some more museums Also Try To GO TO BUILD A BEAR WORKSHOP AND U CAN MAKE BEARS AND DRESS THEM UP

http://www.chipublib.org/004chicago/chimuseums.html

You Can Find A Bunch Of Attractions Here http://www.chicagotraveler.com/chicagos-largest-attractions.htm


You Can Go To Springfield, Illinois And Go See Abraham Lincoln's Tomb Its Only 5hours buy car But Its So Wonderfull Also If You Do Go To Springfield try to go to the State Capitol Its Big And Great .. Or U Can Go to the Lincoln Library

Lincoln Library

http://www.smallmarketmeetings.com/townmtgs/springfieldill.html





Lincolns Tomb

http://showcase.netins.net/web/creative/lincoln/sites/tomb.htm


Capitol



http://www.ilstatehouse.com/

http://www.theroadwanderer.net/66Illinois/spgfld.htm

http://www.43places.com/places/view/104046

Answer 5

Downtown is great in the spring. You can take them to Wrigley Field. You can take them to the Lake, out on a boat or just the beach (try 31st). You can take them to the United Center to see the Michael Jordan statue. You can take them to the Shedd Aquarium, the Field Museum, or the Planetarium. You can take them to Drury Lane for a live kids show. You can take them to Naperville there is a nice Childrens Museum and Frontier town there. Take them to the Rainforest Cafe and Rock and Roll McDonalds, where you get the joy of buying a Big Mac for double price. Take them to the Original Pancake House and try the 49ers flapjacks. Then take your wife to Gibsons or Basta Pasta. You MUST get hotdogs and Pizza. Get the Pizza at Gino's East (downtown only) or Home Run Inn. Also Navy Pier, Dekalb corn fest, Brookfield Zoo, Jazzfest and on and on. Then take them to Pugi VW in Downers Grove and buy a Jetta from me.

Dont take them to the South side. Never, ever. Nothing south of Roosevelt Road is worth anything but staying alive.

Answer 6

I'm from Chicago there are lots of tourist attractions navy pier is one that's just a few miles past down town there is lots of things to do there they have a Ferris wheel that's over 100 ft tall there is a game room that's out of this world you have the skyline to check out Dave & bustres to checkout the best pizza in the world!they have boat rides on lake michigan and bow will your kids enjoy themselves

Answer 7

I am only fourteen but I am a Chicago expert! I live about 45 minutes away and visit frequently. If your children are girls, you might want to look into visiting The American Girl Place, which is the shop where American Girl dolls are made. (I'm sure you've heard of AG dolls) They usually have a show (like with skits and things like that) and I think that you can meet each of the AG's. There is much more to do there so you might want to check out it's website. There are MANY eccelent, reputable reastruants (just google "restruants in Downtown Chicago") I have to go but I'll finnish answering later.

Answer 8

Ed Debevic's

This is a 50's style restaurant downtown that is not your average eatery. The food is good but it is more of a theatrical performance. The servers dance on the tables and may give you a little lip, but it is all in good fun. Kids love this place. They can act up a little and fit right in. Check it out!

Answer 9

Try the Shedd Aquariam or Brookfield Zoo

Answer 10

You should defintely steer clear of anything having to do with the White Sox.

Go Cubs!