I will be in Chicago for the first time and wanted to know what are the must sees I should try to catch between meetings?
Thanks.
My girlfriend always (ALWAYS) has to see Tony N Tina's Wedding. She said it's the funnest thing she does there. www.tonyntina.com.
The Chicago mamas will be on shortly.
The Sears Tower, a must do
The Bean
The Lincoln Park Zoo, Brookfield Zoo is out a ways
The Field Museum
Shedd Aquarium
Museum of Science and Industry
The Chciago History Museum, this is a good one if you have never been to Chicago
Do you want good, authentic food? Greektown
Are you going during Taste of Chicago? I think they still do that. It's a big eat fest. Usualy in the middle of July
Have a great time.
Look at "city pass". It's cheaper and will give you great options...
Good answers already.
Art Institute of Chicago if you like art, especially Impressionists.
If you love comedy, try for tickets to The Second City improv comedy theatre (from which came many Saturday Night Live folks and others). Also many good theatres for plays in Chicago -- it has a very strong theatre community.
The Field Museum of Natural History, which is right next to the planetarium (word of advice, take a bus there rather than the subway; my friends who live in the city told us to do this as the walk from the subway to the museums isn't great, they said).
The Museum of Science and Industry -- fun!
I agree with the person who said to do an architecture walking tour if architecture interests you and you have time. Big city for that.
I also vote for top of the Hancock Building. Do that rather than the former Sears Tower. The Sears (new name now, no one calls it by the new name!) is off in the middle of the business district and there is not much else to do around it, so it's a better use of your time to go up in the Hancock, which is amid all the other interesting things, etc. Also the view from the Hancock (my Chicago friends think and I agree) is better -- you are right next to the lake and get to see the whole city better as well as the lakeshore views.
Enjoy! We love Chicago. GREAT city with kids, too, if they are a good age for museums!
My top picks:
Top of the Hancock...great view of the city of course and also has a swanky bar to get a cocktail if you are without the kiddos.
Architecture boat tour from the pier
North Avenue beach on the lake
Shedd aquarium, art institute
My favorite restaurant in the city is a little bit north of downtown...it's called Rose Angelis and you will need a reservation. It's near Lincoln Park.
Have fun!
The architectural boat tour is awesome. My favorite. Museum of Science
and Industry but that is a whole day. Museums. Go see "The Cloud." Navy
Pier is not one of my favorite places. Always very crowded and nothing
really to see. Some restaurants and shops and a childrens museum.
Top of the Hancock building. As you walk from window to window, you can listen (on headphones) to brief descriptions and history of what you are viewing.
I loved the boat tour we went on. Caught a boat off of Navy Pier--guide pointed out and described various buildings and areas. I didn't think Navy Pier itself was all that spectacular, however.
Have fun!
I guess it depends on where you will be and what you mean by "between meetings." If you're only talking about an hour or two I really wouldn't consider the museums.
I've never been to the Hancock Building (But my friend got engaged up there! Her husband had meant to take her to the Sears Tower ... oops.) We will be taking our son to the Willis Building (formerly known as the Sear Tower). He's been DYING TO GO ever since his cousin told him about it last summer. If you're interested, it is also called the Sky Deck.
If you want the famous Chicago Style Pizza, I highly recommend Giordano.
Aaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh, the kids are calling. I'll try to say more later.
I love, love, LOVE The Museum of Science and Industry. So cool.
The Brookfield Zoo is pretty great too. Navy Pier.
And if you have the $$, shopping on the Miracle Mile :)
Have fun!
You have great recommendations. Here's a link for what you can do at Navy Pier:
http://www.navypier.com/things2do/boats.html
By the way, Sue the Tyranasaurus Rex is at the Field Museum. They also have a cool mummy exhibit right now AND a good Genghis Kahn exhibit. You need to get there early in the day to get the passes for both those exhibits, because only a certain number of people can get in per day, and those tickets are given out early.
Have a great time in Chi-town!
Dawn
It depends. There are lots of world class museum, restaurants, etc.
Do an architecture tour if you can fit it into your schedule. Try a few good restaurants, go to Navy Peer and walk the Mag mile.
edited to add: architecture boat tour! It's a great way to see the city.
I went to a zoo when there, I cant remember the name of it tho. It was cool tho.
