Plan My Vacation to Chicago - Go**
- Thread starter dawgstudent
- Start date
My wife and I went there during Memorial Day.
I agree about the architecture river tour. It's great. Also, the museum on the south side (ghetto part beyond the White Sox stadium and get a cab to and from the train stop) is the best museum in Chicago. It's incredible and has a u-boat tour that is worth checking out. We went to the Cubs game where Pujols hit three homers and Harry Caray's place next to the stadium is a lot of fun. Get a city pass if you want to check out the aquarium, museums, planetarium, Willis (Sears) Tower, etc. It will save you some money, but it will save a ton of time as you get to skip many of the lines to get into these places. We had to choose between the Willis Tower and Hancock building--Sears is taller and offers a great view, Hancock Building has a bar at the top and also has a great view. We did the Sears and may have made bad call on that one. There were kids all over the place. We also did a bike tour through Lincoln Park and Navy Pier and it was cool to check those places out.
I got a kick out of the 'Bean' too.
edit: Gibson's is great (expensive though)! We also had a great meal at Ditka's.
I agree about the architecture river tour. It's great. Also, the museum on the south side (ghetto part beyond the White Sox stadium and get a cab to and from the train stop) is the best museum in Chicago. It's incredible and has a u-boat tour that is worth checking out. We went to the Cubs game where Pujols hit three homers and Harry Caray's place next to the stadium is a lot of fun. Get a city pass if you want to check out the aquarium, museums, planetarium, Willis (Sears) Tower, etc. It will save you some money, but it will save a ton of time as you get to skip many of the lines to get into these places. We had to choose between the Willis Tower and Hancock building--Sears is taller and offers a great view, Hancock Building has a bar at the top and also has a great view. We did the Sears and may have made bad call on that one. There were kids all over the place. We also did a bike tour through Lincoln Park and Navy Pier and it was cool to check those places out.
I got a kick out of the 'Bean' too.
edit: Gibson's is great (expensive though)! We also had a great meal at Ditka's.
The stuffed spinach pizza and breadsticks at Bacino's of Lincoln Park is easily my favorite. Other places to visit Hot Doug's (Cash only, weird hours, and quite inaccessible), Kingston Mines (Blues joint, check out the painting of Blues Alley on the wall), Old Towne Pizza Pub for open mic night, either Goose Island Brewpub, tour of Half Acre brewery, and, of course, Wrigley Field.
one of the most interesting places I've ever been. The Nazi U-boat is incredible. Pay the extra bucks to go inside the actual sub. You want regret it.
If your looking for something different to eat try this place:
Click here
Armenian food. Get the Red Lentil Soup. The only time I've had soup and felt like I was on a Seinfeld episode. It's right downtown off Michigan avenue...walking distance from the Navy Pier.
If your looking for something different to eat try this place:
Click here
Armenian food. Get the Red Lentil Soup. The only time I've had soup and felt like I was on a Seinfeld episode. It's right downtown off Michigan avenue...walking distance from the Navy Pier.
Eight were killed and a total of 52 were shot this weekend.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/2415428,weekend-shooting-roundup-062110.article
http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/2415428,weekend-shooting-roundup-062110.article
It is a Zagat Rated place southwest of Wrigley. Bit of a hike on foot but worth it. Giardano's is supposed to be good too (local Chicago chain).
Be sure to hit up Kuma's Corner for a burger when you are up there. One of the most unique burgers in one of the most unique locations (it has a death metal theme, if you can imagine that). Kuma's is about a 3-mile drive due West of Wrigley.
Be sure to hit up Kuma's Corner for a burger when you are up there. One of the most unique burgers in one of the most unique locations (it has a death metal theme, if you can imagine that). Kuma's is about a 3-mile drive due West of Wrigley.
When we went last month, the roses and peonies were in bud ready to bust. They were just then planting the summer color. Should be pretty awesome right now, but a little underwhelming to us because of the Spring-Summer transition period.
Giordano's is pretty good and I'm not a huge fan of Chicago deep dish. I thought it was better than Uno's.
Might try Water Tower Place - upscale shopping mall at north end of Michigan Avenue.
I always recommendReza Persian restaurant http<span style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: yellow" wordlookup="http"></a></span>://www.rezasrestaurant.com/on North Clark - about a mile above Wrigley Field.
Field Museum is Great. Great Dino bones exhibit plus about 1000 African animals Teddy Roosevelt shot stuffed and mounted in exhibits.
Shedd Aquarium great.
Planetarium great.
Lincoln PAk Zoo and Botanical GArden - excellent
Brookfield zoo excellent
Great Greek food on [url="http://theparthenon.com/coupon/?scid=753083&cid=556779&tc=10062113050367305&rl_key=10da5987990c35c933d2ff5029bd297e&kw=1323966:3851&dynamic_proxy=1&primary_serv=theparthenon.reachlocal.net&se_refer=http%253A%252F%252Fmaps.google.com%252Fmaps%253Fhl%253Den%2526um%253D1%2526ie%253DUTF-8%2526q%253DChicago%252BGreek%252Bfood%2526fb%253D1%2526gl%253Dus%2526hq%253DGreek%252Bfood%2526hnear%253DChicago%252C%252BIL%2526ei%253D0cUfTM6HOsHflges_Kj3DA%2526sa%253DX%2526oi%253Dlocal_group%2526ct%253Dimage%2526resnum%253D1%2526ved%253D0CDEQtgMwAA"]http<span style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: yellow" wordlookup="http">http://theparthenon.com/coupon/?sci...26ct%3Dimage%26resnum%3D1%26ved%3D0CDEQtgMwAA</span>://theparthenon.comon Halstead plus other good greek restaurants close by.
Great German Food in Lincoln Heights area.
Take the river cruise.
Go to Chicago Art Institute http<span style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: yellow" wordlookup="http">http://www.artic.edu/aic/</span>://www.artic.edu/aic/Great - cool place.
Navy Pier - Touristy and good food.
If there 4th of July - tryGrant Park Symphony, incredible fireworks, close to a million people on the grass picnic baskets, sandwiches, wine, blankets, nice evening.
Go to Portillo's there are multiple locations around town. Best Italian beef sandwich you'll ever eat and a great family fast food restaurant Chicago Style. <a href="http://www.portillos.com/barnellis/">http://www.portillos.com/barnellis/[/url]
See a Chicago Off Broadway show. http://www.chicagoplays.com/
Find a deep dish pizza like Unos on Ohio Street (Frank Sinatra's Fav place) orLou Malnati's http://www.loumalnatis.com/all over town and rated best in Chicago
Find a baby back ribs place - Chicago has lots of them.
There is a Hampton's Inn down town that is nice and relatively cheap.
http://www.hamptoninn.com/en/hp/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=CHIHSHX
Chicago China Town (just east of McCormick Convention Center) is a Great China Town - maybe not the safest place in Chicago.
I'd happily go to Chicago and take my family with me tomorrow and anytime not during winter.
I always recommendReza Persian restaurant http<span style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: yellow" wordlookup="http"></a></span>://www.rezasrestaurant.com/on North Clark - about a mile above Wrigley Field.
Field Museum is Great. Great Dino bones exhibit plus about 1000 African animals Teddy Roosevelt shot stuffed and mounted in exhibits.
Shedd Aquarium great.
Planetarium great.
Lincoln PAk Zoo and Botanical GArden - excellent
Brookfield zoo excellent
Great Greek food on [url="http://theparthenon.com/coupon/?scid=753083&cid=556779&tc=10062113050367305&rl_key=10da5987990c35c933d2ff5029bd297e&kw=1323966:3851&dynamic_proxy=1&primary_serv=theparthenon.reachlocal.net&se_refer=http%253A%252F%252Fmaps.google.com%252Fmaps%253Fhl%253Den%2526um%253D1%2526ie%253DUTF-8%2526q%253DChicago%252BGreek%252Bfood%2526fb%253D1%2526gl%253Dus%2526hq%253DGreek%252Bfood%2526hnear%253DChicago%252C%252BIL%2526ei%253D0cUfTM6HOsHflges_Kj3DA%2526sa%253DX%2526oi%253Dlocal_group%2526ct%253Dimage%2526resnum%253D1%2526ved%253D0CDEQtgMwAA"]http<span style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: yellow" wordlookup="http">http://theparthenon.com/coupon/?sci...26ct%3Dimage%26resnum%3D1%26ved%3D0CDEQtgMwAA</span>://theparthenon.comon Halstead plus other good greek restaurants close by.
Great German Food in Lincoln Heights area.
Take the river cruise.
Go to Chicago Art Institute http<span style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: yellow" wordlookup="http">http://www.artic.edu/aic/</span>://www.artic.edu/aic/Great - cool place.
Navy Pier - Touristy and good food.
If there 4th of July - tryGrant Park Symphony, incredible fireworks, close to a million people on the grass picnic baskets, sandwiches, wine, blankets, nice evening.
Go to Portillo's there are multiple locations around town. Best Italian beef sandwich you'll ever eat and a great family fast food restaurant Chicago Style. <a href="http://www.portillos.com/barnellis/">http://www.portillos.com/barnellis/[/url]
See a Chicago Off Broadway show. http://www.chicagoplays.com/
Find a deep dish pizza like Unos on Ohio Street (Frank Sinatra's Fav place) orLou Malnati's http://www.loumalnatis.com/all over town and rated best in Chicago
Find a baby back ribs place - Chicago has lots of them.
There is a Hampton's Inn down town that is nice and relatively cheap.
http://www.hamptoninn.com/en/hp/hotels/index.jhtml?ctyhocn=CHIHSHX
Chicago China Town (just east of McCormick Convention Center) is a Great China Town - maybe not the safest place in Chicago.
I'd happily go to Chicago and take my family with me tomorrow and anytime not during winter.
My dad grew up in Chicago and we went back for a weekend series about 8-10 years ago. Within 5-10 blocks of Wrigley there was great Italian, Korean, Chinese, Mexican, etc. If you're going to see the Cubs play just get there early (or hang out afterwards) and walk around, pick a spot that smells good and eat some great food. That's what we did every day.
Edited to Add: The other poster reminded me, we also did Second City, and the night we went they were hilarious. Great improv troupe. If you're familiar with Eugene Levy, Rick Moranis, Catherine O'hara, Harold Ramis, John Candy, etc. They all got their starts working at Second City and specifically on SCTV, which gave us such greats as Count Floyd's 3D House of Horror, Ed Grimley, and Bob and Doug McKenzie and the Great White North.
Edited to Add: The other poster reminded me, we also did Second City, and the night we went they were hilarious. Great improv troupe. If you're familiar with Eugene Levy, Rick Moranis, Catherine O'hara, Harold Ramis, John Candy, etc. They all got their starts working at Second City and specifically on SCTV, which gave us such greats as Count Floyd's 3D House of Horror, Ed Grimley, and Bob and Doug McKenzie and the Great White North.
Otherwise I would do Craigslist or buy on the sidewalk. I flew up the day Maddux went for #300 and Nomar's Cub debut (same day) and ended up in the shade on the third base line. Of course the opponent has something to do with it too. If for instance Strasburg is pitching, they might be tough.
Give some thought to where you want to sit. The bleachers are great, but it's hot as Hades and if it rains (as it has on me twice), there is no escape. It's also all general admission out there, which means for a low seat you need to arrive early. I liked sitting on the top row in the bleachers because it was easier access to food/drink/bathrooms.
Give some thought to where you want to sit. The bleachers are great, but it's hot as Hades and if it rains (as it has on me twice), there is no escape. It's also all general admission out there, which means for a low seat you need to arrive early. I liked sitting on the top row in the bleachers because it was easier access to food/drink/bathrooms.
Will be sold out, but I bet you could still get a ticket.
I usually get my baseball tickets off of MLB.com, but that may not be the best way to get Cubs tickets.
I usually get my baseball tickets off of MLB.com, but that may not be the best way to get Cubs tickets.
- Hancock Tower bar is free to enter and you have the best view of the city
- second City is definitely hit or miss. But, we saw the latest main stage show (Taming of the Flu) and it was the funniest I've seen yet. Specify that you want tickets on "the rail"... Costs a little extra now, but they are the best seats in the house.
- eat at Weber Grill restaurant. God is awesome and all cooked on charcoal Weber Grills.
- goose Island Clybourn has more beer and way better food than Wrigleyville location. But, Wrigleyville is a fun area.
- The Frank Lloyd Wright walking tour is free and pretty cool
- I bought tickets to a Cubs game about 100 yards south of Wrigley for face value at a trailer on Clark Street. Of course, they were only playing Pittsburgh. Ticket prices vary by opponent (bronze, silver, gold and platinum prices).
- Buy CTA passes and use the buses and subways to get anywhere in the city. 1-, 3- and 7-day passes, I believe.
- there are several good tapas restaurants in the area. Emilio's and Cafe Iberico are really good.
- Pizzeria Uno and Due are really good for chitown pizza
- tons of shopping on N. Michigan.
- Lincoln Park Zoo is free - not a bad way to kill a few hours.
- second City is definitely hit or miss. But, we saw the latest main stage show (Taming of the Flu) and it was the funniest I've seen yet. Specify that you want tickets on "the rail"... Costs a little extra now, but they are the best seats in the house.
- eat at Weber Grill restaurant. God is awesome and all cooked on charcoal Weber Grills.
- goose Island Clybourn has more beer and way better food than Wrigleyville location. But, Wrigleyville is a fun area.
- The Frank Lloyd Wright walking tour is free and pretty cool
- I bought tickets to a Cubs game about 100 yards south of Wrigley for face value at a trailer on Clark Street. Of course, they were only playing Pittsburgh. Ticket prices vary by opponent (bronze, silver, gold and platinum prices).
- Buy CTA passes and use the buses and subways to get anywhere in the city. 1-, 3- and 7-day passes, I believe.
- there are several good tapas restaurants in the area. Emilio's and Cafe Iberico are really good.
- Pizzeria Uno and Due are really good for chitown pizza
- tons of shopping on N. Michigan.
- Lincoln Park Zoo is free - not a bad way to kill a few hours.
I always get tickets at Harry Carey's at Wrigley. Usually lots of tickets and energy in the place. If you like to be outside, rent a bike and head to the Lakeshore. A great bike path along Lake Michigan goes north about 10 miles from downtown and about 15 miles south. Reguardless of how far you ride, its a great ride and view. I would probably recommend going south - you ride through the museum campus and Soldier Field past McCormick Place. When you turn around and head back toward downtown the skyline views are awesome.
I vote for Giordano's for pizza, Ditka's for Steak
I vote for Giordano's for pizza, Ditka's for Steak