Chicago - What to do?

[cw42]

I'll be in Chicago for a few days next month for work (never been there). I'll have some time free during the evenings, any suggestions for someone traveling by themselves? I'm going to be staying near the airport and won't have a car.

 

[Xylitol]

eat chicago pizza
snow

 

[Ballatician]

Museum of Science and Industry was pretty cool IIRC. Same for the aquarium or whatever it is right on Lake Michigan.

 

[K1052]

Take the Blue Line or Metra to get in to the city for fun. There isn't jack to do near the airport.

 

[zoiks]

Maybe you can take a gander using the large overhead projector.

 

[illusion88]

Go see the bean
Top of sears tower
eat pizza

 

[Ns1]

pizza and hotdogs?


just don't eat the burritos

CHICAGO BURRITO WTF?!

 

[Scarpozzi]

Not sure which airport, but either way, the train stations are everywhere. You'll probably only have a few blocks to walk to get on the train. Buy a day pass and you can ride downtown and go just about anywhere you want to. It's pretty easy to walk around downtown...if it's cold and snowy, you may have trouble finding a cab. Dress warm and make sure you have a waterproof windbreaker, gloves, and a good hat just in case.

Take the train to the loop and you can hit the Sears tower. Then you can hit Navy Pier and Michigan Ave for sight seeing/shopping. If anyone asks you what you think of the Bears, just mutter something about how much you hate Rex Grossman.

Get some Deep Dish Pizza and feel free to drink Old Style beer.

 

[Gooberlx2]

The Field Museum and Shedd Aquarium are both top-notch. Top of Sears Tower is cool.

 

[Platypus]

There are like 50 threads like this, search for one as a lot of good info has been given out in the past.

 

[melchoir]

Portillo's Italian beef.

 

[TehMac]

Talk to a black person and describe the experience.

 

[SandEagle]

Shedd Aquarium
http://www.sheddaquarium.org/index.html

 

[cw42]

fyi... i'm in NY - so big buildings, black people, and tasty pizza are not that big of news to me.

 

[BurnItDwn]

For sure try the pizza.
If you are in NY then you've probably never had good pizza.

 

[Billb2]

Originally posted by: BurnItDwn
For sure try the pizza.
If you are in NY then you've probably never had good pizza.

:thumbsup:

 

[buck]

Originally posted by: rrahman1
Shedd Aquarium
http://www.sheddaquarium.org/index.html

Yup, best aquarium i have ever been to.

 

[zerocool1]

Originally posted by: Platypus
There are like 50 threads like this, search for one as a lot of good info has been given out in the past.

QFT...

 

[amdskip]

Originally posted by: melchoir
Portillo's Italian beef.

Dipped, peppers optional

 

[Twista]

Originally posted by: TehMac
Talk to a black person and describe the experience.

Give me the location and time. Im black and will talk to cw42.

<--in chicago

 

[ghostman]

I'm from NY too and I posted a similar thread in OT several months back. I only spent 3 days there, but I had a great time. I got a Chicago CityPass and hit up all the touristy points. I went to the Shedd Aquarium, Planetarium, Field Museum, Sears Tower, Hancock building, Millennium Park, Navy Piers, boat tour, jazz club, pizza and hot dog.

- Pizza - If you've never had Chicago-style deep dish pizza, give it a shot. Lou Malnati is a famous chain, but I went Giordano's (also good) because it was close by. There is a Chicago vs. NY pizza debate. You can decide for yourself.
- Hot Dog - Taste a Chicago dog... basically a hot dog that's nearly turned into a sandwich.
- Jazz Club - I went to Andy's Jazz Club. Nice, cozy place if you are into that stuff. NY has a few jazz clubs of it's own, so I wouldn't say it's very different.
- boat tour - I took the architecture tour from Navy Piers. I thought it would be boring, but I thought it was very enjoyable.
- Millennium Park - I downloaded the MP3 tour from its website, which made it much more enjoyable than just walking around and staring at objects.
- Shedd Aquarium (CityPass) - Nice, big aquarium. NYC's aquarium isn't as nice, so it might be worthwhile.
- Adler Planetarium (CityPass) - This was ok. NYC has AMNH/Planetarium, which I'd say is better.
- Field Museum (CityPass) - Again, NYC has plenty of museums, so this may not be that impressive.
- Sears Tower (CityPass) - If you get the CityPass, it'll give you the option to use it on the Sears Tower or Hancock Building. Use it for the Sears tower. I went at night, which looks amazing.
- Hancock Building (CityPass) - I didn't use the CityPass for this. They have a buffet lunch in the building that costs only a bit more than the price of the view alone. Go for the lunch (if you can) and get the view for free.

 

[Born2bwire]

Hot Doug's.... HOT DOUG'S!!!!

 

[ultra laser]

Enjoy your first time being shot. The first time is always the most painful, so be prepared.

 

[BarneyFife]

Chicago is a Spring/Summer city to visit. Going there in December is going to blow.

 

[cw42]

Originally posted by: ultra laser
Enjoy your first time being shot. The first time is always the most painful, so be prepared.

Pfft, i'm not scared. I lived in Newark for four years. Chicago is full of school girls.