V-Flyer

Please can anyone advise me on what to see / do in Chicago for a 3 night stop ? We're thinking of doing a trip next Easter.

If there are any pre-existing posts on the subject, please feel free to point them out to me, as 'Search' is disabled at the moment.

Thanks

Paul

Having just returned from Chicago, here's my list (in no particular order):

1) John Hancock Tower Observation deck - $15.00 entry (worth paying the extra $3.00 to include a 48 hour pass with also offers night-time views too) - no queues as not as busy as the Sears Tower observatory plus there's a Cheesecake Factory at the bottom too if your hungry [:D]

2) Sears Tower Observatory - again $15.00 but it can get busy/long queues.

3) Magnificent Mile - shopping and more shopping.

4) Millennium Park and the Cloud Gate sculpture (the big shiny jelly bean)

I was also going to visit the Shedd Aquarium but never got round to it.

Regards

Architecture boat tour. Very funny and entertaining! Down by Navy pier. Make sure you get the original one....!

Ahem.

1,
2,
and MAYBE 3

And if all else fails - 4 or 5


[y]

Originally posted by mitchja

1) John Hancock Tower Observation deck - $15.00 entry (worth paying the extra $3.00 to include a 48 hour pass with also offers night-time views too) - no queues as not as busy as the Sears Tower observatory plus there's a Cheesecake Factory at the bottom too if your hungry [:D]

Go to The Signature Room on the 95th floor of the Hancock Centre. Free entry, and for the same price as admission, you can have a couple of drinks a couple of floors above the observation floor. Dusk is the best time, but can be busy.

My top eating and drinking tip would be:

http://rlrestaurant.ralphlauren.com/

Enjoy !

hackneyguy

I can also recommend a ball game at Wrigley Field. Depending on easter's date, the season may have started.
The Art Institute of Chicago is wonderful, particularly if your a Brit of a certain age who remembers a Parker Bros. board game called Masterpiece - all the pictures came from this museum.
Great night life in the golden triangle - Race Street.
If your into architecture, then Frank Lloyd Wright built a huge number of homes in Chicago many in the Bucktown area.
There are so many good restaurants, check Zagat.
For old time chicago style I would recommend Shaw's Crab House, then one of the many fine Steakhouses.
Chicago is one of the most fun cities in the US and at Easter the weather will either be v.cold or beautiful - you never know.

Everyone has recommended everything we managed to do. We loved Chicago.xx The Upper class service was also excellent too on this route x

All the comments on different places are well worth looking into. Chicago really is a fantastic place and I loved it when I spent 4days there a couple of years ago.

One thing that you'll take away from Chicago is the great attitude of the people. For a big city they are so friendly and will do a lot for someone without knowing them. [y]

Enjoy, as writing this is making me want to plan another trip there!!

AC

We stayed at The Sax Hotel, right next too The House Of Blues. The House of Blues was fantastic as was the food Smith & Wollensky. Great shopping too xx

Thanks all! Flights now booked, and Hilton points being deployed to take care of the accommodation.

Paul

Paul - here's my list of suggestions:

Sears Tower / Hancock - like other comments I prefer the Signature Room for lunch and great views

Millenium Park / Cloud Gate - [y]

Lincoln Park and the zoo is a great place, the zoo is small, lovely building and a really cool big cat house

Alongside Lincoln Park is RJ Grunts - home of chocolate cheese (oh and good burgers, no reservations, queuing around the block on busy days

Pizza - Chicago has great pizza restaurants, my current fave is Pizza Due (again no reservations and heaving), the original Gino's East is more touristy but has fascinating walls

If time allows the Frank Lloyd Wright houses in Oak Park and the tour you can do of them and his home is great - if not then the river architectural cruise is fantastic and shorter (but if it's cold may not run due to frozen waterways!)

Michigan Avenue shopping, totally - Water Tower Place, Shops on North Michigan, the North Bridge malls could each keep you busy - and RL is very nice to stop for lunch (and watch the ladies wot lunch)

The Art Institute is stuffed full of treasures, it's also bigger than it looks!

Restaurants - a visit to Chicago may not be complete without a steak! There are a number around Ontario / Dearborn including the home town Ruth's Chris, Smith & Wollensky and the Chicago Chop House (my fave) - just beware portion control! Tru is more upscale but very highly rated and good!

Oh Wrigly Field - yes!

My recommendations are;

1. Hancock Tower.
2. Sears Tower.
3. Arrange a City Greeter.
4. Wrigley Field.
5. United Centre. (I think Easter is April so the NHL season might have finished.)
6. Shedd Aquarium - The Penguin Habitat is brilliant.
7. Field Museum.
8. Art Institute
9. Lincoln Park.
10. Millenium Park.
11. Magnificent Mile.
12. Oak Park.
13. House of Blues.

The City Greeter was brilliant, my wife are I are in to architecture, so our City Greeter (who was an ex-pat) gave us a tour of the best buildings around the Loop. So Burnham's Reliant building. Sears Tower, Frank Lloyd office buildings, Mies Van der Rohe buildings and the city art. All office buildings must have public art. So the Sears Tower has a Calder installation. There is a Picasso Sculpture, a Marc Chagall mural and lots more.

In addition to all the other thanks and tips...

Mike - the City Greeter. Our kind of thing...

Slinky - Ruth's Chris. I have fond memories of visiting one of these in Richmond VA a few years ago...

Sounds like a preparatory diet might be in order....

Paul

Originally posted by pjh
In addition to all the other thanks and tips...

Mike - the City Greeter. Our kind of thing...

Slinky - Ruth's Chris. I have fond memories of visiting one of these in Richmond VA a few years ago...

Sounds like a preparatory diet might be in order....

Paul

Here's a link to the City Greeter website.

Link