3 days in Chicago

[spankswife]

Fri-Sun in the summer, where to stay/see/do/eat? TIA

[RoxMonster]

We've stayed a couple places in the city I liked. One would be Westin Michigan Ave. which is nice because it's centrally located, near shopping, restaurants, etc. and is a pretty nice hotel. I'd try to get a Michigan Ave. view. We also liked the Dana Hotel, a smaller boutique hotel in the River West district on State. It's a newer hotel and we had an amazing corner room with floor to ceiling windows.

There is so much to do there! What types of things do you like? I'd recommend in the summer renting some bikes at Navy Pier and exploring parts of the city that way. Maybe take an architectural tour or a sightseeing tour of some kind. Check out Millennium Park and "The Bean." Shop on Michigan Ave. See a comedy show at Second City or catch a musical/play. If the Cubs or Sox are in town, a game would be fun.

For drinks, I'd recommend the Signature Lounge at John Hancock on the 96th floor. Go in the women's restroom for the best view of the city! Seriously. I took my camera in there. There is also an observation deck on John Hancock and Sears (Willis) Tower.

[marytini]

We've liked the Hard Rock hotel, Four Points by Sheraton (micro and fridge in room), and the Hilton Garden inn (one block east of Michigan on a quiet street.

We have enjoyed an architectural boat tour, an architectural walking tour that went on the el, and a food tour (taste bud tours). We also enjoy the museum of science and industry and Lincoln park is nice take walk inn (and free!).

We personally don't enjoy navy pier, it is just too touristy.

Sent from my DROID RAZR using ProBoards

[hz80408]

Just you and S/O? Do you have kids?

What interests you?

A broad list of to-do items:
-Cubs Game or Wrigleyfield tour
-Navy Pier
-Architectural boat tour
-Shopping on Michigan Ave
-Drinks at Signature Lounge (in John Hancock; much better than paying $18pp to go up in observatory or Willis/Sear's Tower ledge; you get the view and a beverage)
-Lincoln Park Zoo (free)
-Festivals: Taste of Chicago, Greekfest, Ribfest, etc
-Outdoor concert at Millenium Park
-Fireworks at Navy Pier
-Museums: Science and Industry, Shedd, Field (listed in order of my personal pref)

[spankswife]

Thanks for all the ideas so far! I don't really know anything about Chicago, so I don't even know where to begin. We would probably bring DD, who will be 3 at the time.

We like museums, culture/things unique to the city, DD loves boats, so the pier might me a a good idea. Is it like the wharf in SF? We like parks, fun areas to just walk around....food!...need pizza recs, as well as other restaurants.

[ChiKate]

The Chicago History Museum is one of my favorites. It's not huge, there's a lot of interaction type stuff and it's obviously unique and city-specific. It's right by the Lincoln Park Zoo which I also recommend. If you do those things on a Saturday, the Green City Market is a nice outdoor farmers market to walk around (it's in between the museum and zoo). I've heard good things about the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum but I've never been. It's really good for kids of all ages. All of those things are in Lincoln Park.

[wineenthusiast]

The Hard Rock Hotel is awesome. Its very close to Millenium Park, which is a cool place to walk around for free. There seems to always be something going on there. explorechicago.org/city/en/millennium.html

Gino's East is hands down my favorite pizza in the city. I prefer that over Lou Malnati's or Giordano's, though they are good too.

Like other pp's mentioned-
Lincoln Park Zoo (especially since its free)
Museum of Science & Industry and Shedd (though may get pricey)
Navy Pier- I also personally dont enjoy because its so touristy but may be good to do with a 3yo. I dont think its like the Wharf in SF- its literally 1 long pier, not numerous. There is a (enclosed) ferris wheel that a 3yo would probably enjoy.

North Avenue or Oak Street Beaches are fun to just hang out at in the summer.

[hz80408]

I used to babysit in the city; some of my favorite kids activities are:

-Lincoln Park Zoo
-Children's Museum (in Navy Pier; it's awesome)
-Molly's Cupcakes
-Millenium Park has free kids activities during summer
-Shedd or Field Museum
-Play in water fountain at Millenium Park
-One of my fav city parks is just east of Michigan Ave and the river (very close to Hard Rock); called Lake Shore East Park; it has some fun water fountain features to play in for summer: www.chicagoparkdistrict.com/parks/lakeshore-east-park/

For pizza, there's Edwardo's, Giordano's, Gino's East, Art of Pizza and Lou Malnauti's. My fav is Art; but there's only one location and it's not downtown. After that, I like Giordano's.

-There's also several water taxis, Wendella and Shoreline are popular names. There's one from museum campus to Navy Pier that's under $10/person. The kids I babysit love going on it

[mariafromnj]

Poeple have covered the best sites... And don't miss Molly's cupcakes. They are the best ever! They recently opened one in NYC and I am so happy!

Hotels - I usually travel there for business and the hotels are great but not as much for families. My friend stays at the Embassy Suites Hotel Chicago Downtown whenever her husband and kids fly out.

[hz80408]

Aug 28, 2012 15:37:07 GMT -5 mariafromnj said:

Poeple have covered the best sites... And don't miss Molly's cupcakes. They are the best ever! They recently opened one in NYC and I am so happy!

Lol, we recently got Magnolia Bakery here and that has me thrilled. Now if only we'd get a Laduree!!

[Tacocat]

Ditto staying at the Hard Rock Hotel - right on Michigan Ave and walking distance to a lot of stuff. Millennium Park is like right across the street, as well as Giordano's Pizza. You can also easily take the bus to the Lincoln Park Zoo.

[justthetip]

It's been several years since I lived there, but they used to have free concerts in Millenium Park on Friday evenings. It's great to bring a picnic and blankets and watch the sunset. The Field Museum and Shedd Aquarium have lots of kid-friendly activities.

[hz80408]

Just beware that some of the bathrooms for Hard Rock, for rooms on Michigan Ave side, can be seen in from neighboring buildings.

H works nearby and has seen sever people showering at Hard Rock from his office building!

[dearprudence]

Aug 29, 2012 0:46:53 GMT -5 justthetip said:

It's been several years since I lived there, but they used to have free concerts in Millenium Park on Friday evenings. It's great to bring a picnic and blankets and watch the sunset. The Field Museum and Shedd Aquarium have lots of kid-friendly activities.

We were just there earlier this month, and maybe because it was summer, Millenium park had concerts every night. We saw one on a Tuesday.

We went to Chicago with our 10 month old for a few days.
Day 1 - Lincoln Park - green market, zoo, conservatory

Day 2 - Shedd aquarium, Art Institute of Chicago

Day 3 - Architectural Boat tour, Millenium Park

Places we ate and enjoyed:
Breakfasts at Yolk, Bongo Room, Xoco
Dinners at Giordanos, Trencherman

[RoxMonster]

Aug 28, 2012 11:13:43 GMT -5 spankswife said:

Thanks for all the ideas so far! I don't really know anything about Chicago, so I don't even know where to begin. We would probably bring DD, who will be 3 at the time.

We like museums, culture/things unique to the city, DD loves boats, so the pier might me a a good idea. Is it like the wharf in SF? We like parks, fun areas to just walk around....food!...need pizza recs, as well as other restaurants.

I like it better than FW in San Fran. Yes, it still is touristy and can get busy, but FW was ten times more touristy and crowded than I've ever seen Navy Pier, even on a weekend in the summer. However, I will say that overall, there are less shops and restaurants at the Pier than at Fisherman's Wharf.

[spankswife]

WOW!!! What would I do w/o the Travel board!? You guys rock!

[moreace01]

Aug 28, 2012 15:37:07 GMT -5 mariafromnj said:

Poeple have covered the best sites... And don't miss Molly's cupcakes. They are the best ever! They recently opened one in NYC and I am so happy!

Love Mollys cupcakes!! The browned butter frosting is the best. They were brought in for a work meeting yesterday and I had three (for the record -they were minis). Sooo good!

[mariafromnj]

Aug 30, 2012 12:09:54 GMT -5 moreace01 said:

Aug 28, 2012 15:37:07 GMT -5 mariafromnj said:

Poeple have covered the best sites... And don't miss Molly's cupcakes. They are the best ever! They recently opened one in NYC and I am so happy!

Love Mollys cupcakes!! The browned butter frosting is the best. They were brought in for a work meeting yesterday and I had three (for the record -they were minis). Sooo good!

My favorite is the Berry Cupcake with fresh berries in top and cooked berries inside.
I travel to Chicago about 3 times a year. I always stop in and bring whoever is traveling with me.

[hz80408]

Aug 30, 2012 13:48:26 GMT -5 mariafromnj said:

Aug 30, 2012 12:09:54 GMT -5 moreace01 said:

Love Mollys cupcakes!! The browned butter frosting is the best. They were brought in for a work meeting yesterday and I had three (for the record -they were minis). Sooo good!

My favorite is the Berry Cupcake with fresh berries in top and cooked berries inside.I travel to Chicago about 3 times a year. I always stop in and bring whoever is traveling with me.

Those are awesome; this post reminds me; I have a google offer I need to use there!