Going there in a few weeks...taking the family for a short va-ca.
Want to see the aquarium....what else?

Someone suggested that I find a hotel near Midway Airport and take the L into downtown...what are your thoughts about that? Will it take too much time?

I am from there....

My recommendations:
Aquarium, Planetarium, Field Museum, Art Institute, Museum of Science and Industry, Brookfield Zoo. Millenium Park (If you are going during 4th of July time frame, you may want to avoid this area as Taste of Chicago will be going on)

My Unrecommendations:
Navy Pier, Lincoln Park Zoo, Sears Tower, MOMA (unless there is a cool exhibit), Taste of Chicago

Last Sunday Nights - Berlin Nightclub has their Prince Party...which is awesome.

Regarding Hotel...Midway is kinda far. Nice suggestion but not really a great one...IMO. I would not recommend a Hotel Downtown unless you have the money. There are plenty of Hotels near and around downtown...just not in it. I would look a wee bit west of DT and either walk or Cab to where you need to go. Depending on how long you stay, I do recommend a temp Bus Pass to get around.

Cool Areas to check out...Lakeview (Belmont Stop), Lincoln Park (Fullerton Stop) and Wicker Park. Lots of places to shop and eat.

Eats: Pizza definitely. Italian Beef Sandwhich, Chicago Hot Dog.

If you rent a car, driving down Lake Shore Drive at night is a must.

superspaceboy said:

Thanks so much...why not Navy Pier? (that's one of the places we were thinking about going)

Revolution said:

Parts of Navy Pier are okay, but it's probably the most touristy part of the city, and you get the least amount of true Chicago experience (though if you take a boat ride, you get some excellent views). If you manage to come here on a nice warm summer day (we're still waiting for one; it's been mostly in the 50's and 60's for the last three weeks along the lakefront ), I would seriously recommend going to North Avenue Beach. It's got a lot of people hanging out, the beach house has a nice restaurant and bar on top, and there's lots of great people watching and volleyball nets.

As for the Taste of Chicago, if you are in Chicago around that time, I would definitely recommend going there if you like food but go during the middle of the week and stay away from Grant Park on July 3rd unless you love being around hundreds of thousands of people, because that's the night Chicago hosts its Independence Day fireworks display. The 4th of July is also extremely crowded as well because Navy Pier has its own 4th of July fireworks.

If you're coming for Lollapalooza, then maybe come a day earlier or stay a day later to check out other sites. Most of the hot clubs are around Ontario street or Wicker Park (though there are a few around Wrigleyville/Wrigley Field), the ritzy cool restaurants are on Randolph Street between Halsted and Ashland Avenues, and the gay clubs can be found on Halsted Avenue in Lakeview between Irving Park Road and Belmont Ave.

If you're really adventurous, you can go to Chinatown (Cermak Rd.and Wentworth Ave.) for Chinese food, to Pilsen (18th Street) for Mexican food, or you can head to the suburb of Oak Park to see some of Frank Lloyd Wright's original architecture, Wilmette to see the B'Nai Brith Temple, or the Morton Arboretum or Chicago Botanical Gardens.

I wouldn't stay by Midway. Some of the neighborhoods around there can be a little dicey and it's very residential. Not a lot to do at night. But you can easily take the L from either airport to downtown.

Navy Pier is lame; there is nothing there! It's just a big building with a bunch of kiosks selling stuff like dreamweavers and knick-knacks.

I recommend:
-The Museum of Contemporar Art (mcachicago.org) -- not MoMA, that's in NYC!
-The Art Institute of Chicago (artic.edu, i think) -- their new modern wing, designed by Renzo Piano just opened.
Both of these museum have suggested admission, which means you don't have to pay the "full price", you pay what you wish.

- taking an architectural boat tour at sunset -- get the one that goes on both the Chicago River and Lake Michigan.

I agree with SSB, skip the Taste of Chicago, it's crowded, sweaty, hot, and overpriced.

RE: Hotels. There is a Comfort Inn and Days Inn on Diversy in north Lincoln Park which might be cheapish. The rooms are small, and not fancy, but it's easy to get downtown from there.

Have fun! I lived in Chicago for 6 years and I still miss it. It is a great city.

I'll tell you what I tell every visitor that comes here: just see downtown chicago at night. I never get tired of it.

Vendetta1 said:

anyone know who's playing the Taste this year?

superspaceboy said:

and don't fuck it up with ketchup.

errant said:

I'm only going the first day to see Charlie Wilson.

Charlie Wilson (Gap Band singer) and Cameo, June 26; Counting Crows, June 27; Wallflowers and Lovehammers, June 28; Broadway in Chicago concert (“Mary Poppins,” “Jersey Boys,” “Young Frankenstein,” “Spring Awakening,” “In the Heights”), June 29; Barenaked Ladies, June 30; Ne-Yo, July 1; fireworks show with the 85th Army Band, July 3; Buddy Guy plus two opening acts, July 4; Michael Musso and Jordan Pruitt (kids day), July 5 matinee.

For music fans looking to dig deeper, the real action at Taste will be at a stage set up at the south end of the festival, at Balbo and Columbus. The stage will present music overseen by respected local labels, including Bloodshot (June 27), Earwig (June 30) and Thrill Jockey (July 2), including Eleventh Dream Day, Fred Anderson, Doug McCombs and David Daniel, Bobby Conn. One of the city's leading music clubs, the Hideout, will present “A Patriotic Salute to our 44 Presidents” July 4, with a variety of artists presenting a song for each president.

Also to be presented on the second stage will be lineups built on particular themes (indie rock and power pop, world music, tribute bands, gospel and jazz); blues patriarch David "Honeyboy" Edwards (June 30) and jazz saxophonist Von Freeman (July 5) will be among the performers.

I highly recommend this lil place, The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum. http://www.naturemuseum.o...php?id=303 watching over 1,000 butterflies as you walk through the exhibit is an amazing experience. Wear a cologne with a sweet scent and 25 to 40 will land on you.

It was probably one of the most amazing things I've experienced in Chicago. One thing though its a very relaxing place, so make sure if you have kids that they are able to be quiet.

Vendetta1 said:

TELL 'EM!! *high five!!* 23 short years and it still takes my breath away after all this time.

Vendetta1 said:

Absolutely! When I was there in 2004,I really enjoyed driving around downtown at night.

Free concerts during the Taste? The view of the skyline from right beyond the "married with children' fountain? North Ave Beach? Lakeshore Dr at night? I guess there are still some good things here.


uh...
Don't stay near Midway.

Vendetta1 said:

Go up to the Signature Lounge on the 96th floor of the John Hancock building at dusk and watch the lights come on. Then take a stroll on Michigan Avenue.