Chicago recommendations

[ToddKent]

Looks like I'll be flying out to Chicago next week for work. Unlike most of my business trips I may actually have an hour or two of down time on this trip. I've been to the Chicago airport probably 100 times but never really got to see the city and now I'm looking for recommendations for something to see or do while I'm there.

A few things to keep in mind: It looks like the hotel where I'm staying is near the Lakeshore Park/Northwestern University area. I probably won't have a rental car so something in walking distance of that area would be preferable.

Also, it will probably be late afternoon/evening when I have some free time. I'd appreciate any suggestions.

 

[JustAFriend]

Two places I went while there on business several years ago:

Chicago Chop House (OMG steaks... hopefully you'll have someone else paying the bill like I did...)

Skydeck Observation at the Sears Tower (especially in the evening on a clear night.)

 

[ToddKent]

I may go by "Navy Pier." It seems to be fairly close to where I'm staying.

 

[RoJoHen]

Navy Pier is decent for killing time. If nothing else, you can ride the ferris wheel for a couple hours.

 

[SicOne]

If the weather's cooperative, take the L to downtown and go to the top of the Sears Tower. Chicago at night is comparable only to New York. Bring many quarters for the binoculars up there.

 

[RoJoHen]

I find the top of the Sears Tower to be overrated myself, but that might be because I grew up in and around Chicago.

 

[John Picard]

The Shadd Aquarium is a treat as are the Field Museum and Museum of Science and Industry.

 

[SicOne]

I find the top of the Sears Tower to be overrated myself, but that might be because I grew up in and around Chicago.

I'm from downstate, so to us hayseeds, going to the tip-top was pretty cool.

 

[RoJoHen]

The Shadd Aquarium is a treat as are the Field Museum and Museum of Science and Industry.

Ooh, I love the Shedd Aquarium.

The other museums are great, too, but not if you only have a couple hours. You could spend all frickin day in them.

 

[SicOne]

Museum of Science and Industry was really cool. I remember from, like, 30 years ago that they had this ginormous model railroad set in there that took up an Olympic swimming pool-sized space.

 

[Misfit Toy]

Giordano's Pizza. It's a must.

 

[Non Sync]

Check out the Tribune Tower. There are some 138 stones from throughout the world including a piece of the Great Wall of China, the Great Pyramid, Taj Mahal, the Alamo, Lincoln's tomb, and the Berlin Wall.

 

[SicOne]

Rush Street, if you need female company for a price.

 

[TheLonelySquire]

House of Blues and Lawry's The Prime Rib are two of my favorites. Have fun!

 

[DBR]

Chicago has a very clean, beautiful skyline. Take a moment to enjoy the view.

 

[SicOne]

Ed DeBevic's

 

[Sheep]

Museum of Science and Industry was really cool. I remember from, like, 30 years ago that they had this ginormous model railroad set in there that took up an Olympic swimming pool-sized space.

There's a Harry Potter exhibit of some sort there now. I'm assuming it's props from the movie...not really sure how that qualifies as science or industry.

You can get a CTA day pass ($5.75 for 24 hours' worth of unlimited trips) and take trains and buses to all the sights you want to see. Being carless for the first time in a long time, as a new resident of the city I've found it very user-friendly and efficient (at least compared to San Francisco's mess of public transit).

You DO NOT want to get a rental if you're planning solely on using it for touristy things in the city--it's ridiculously expensive to park downtown and you'll spend way too much time sitting in traffic. If you're using it to get from the airport to your hotel, it still isn't worth it with the Blue line train that goes directly there from the city.

Definitely hit Millennium Park, the Cloud Gate (aka the Bean) and Pritzker Pavilion if you like modern architecture. The Sears Tower is also worth a visit if it's clear out; if not, don't bother. If you're time constrained, the John Hancock Building is closer than the Sears Tower and also offers some seriously impressive views.

 

[ToddKent]

Thanks everybody

 

[John Picard]

The Shadd Aquarium is a treat as are the Field Museum and Museum of Science and Industry.

Ooh, I love the Shedd Aquarium.

The other museums are great, too, but not if you only have a couple hours. You could spend all frickin day in them.

I grew up outside of Rockford and we would make a trek to Chicago every year or two when I was younger to visit the museums. Naturally, we had some school field trips there as well. My dad lived in Chicago during much of his youth during the Great Depression, and his father was a road construction worker who paved most of the streets.

A few years ago, I took my son (then age-8) to the Shedd Aquarium. There was extensive remodeling work in progress on the Field Museum at that time. He was absolutely amazed when he saw Lake Michigan and finally understood why I criticize the mud holes called lakes, in Oklahoma.

The coolest exhibit the Museum of Science and Industry ever had was the ashtray stamping machine. We went around 75 or 76 and my brother and I each got a dime from dad, plunked it into the machine, and watched as the gears, levers, arms, springs, and all of the mechanisms cut the metal, shot it into the machine, stamped it, whirled it around, and then spit it out of the slot. The bottom was embossed with a design of the museum's logo. To this day I still have that ashtray, but I believe the machine was removed in the early 1980's.

 

[Koinek]

Navy Pier is decent for killing time. If nothing else, you can ride the ferris wheel for a couple hours.

Yes! You *HAVE* to eat at Bubba-Gump's Shrimpery. It's got great outdoor seating. It's a tad pricey on the college student scale but on a business trip it would be very nice. Also, I'd visit Michigan Avenue for kicks on the Magnificent Mile.