Chicago Trip to see Family ~~~~~ Any things we must see?

[Tgoody]

Good morning,

My girlfriend and I are traveling to Chicago in march to see some of her family. We will be in the downtown area for a couple days and then do some driving.
Does anyone have some recommendations or must see things?
We are foodies so dining recommendations are also welcome.

Thanks!

 

[GBRforWDW]

Good morning,

My girlfriend and I are traveling to Chicago in march to see some of her family. We will be in the downtown area for a couple days and then do some driving.
Does anyone have some recommendations or must see things?
We are foodies so dining recommendations are also welcome.

Thanks!

A lot of people go to the bean in Millennium Park:

https://www.choosechicago.com/articles/tours-and-attractions/the-bean-chicago/
The Sears tower... er... Willis tower Is a popular spot, but tickets are rather expensive now.

Navy pier is a fun place to go. They have shopping, dining and a large ferris wheel. We ate at Harry Carey's bar a few years ago. If you're a baseball fan, it's a fun place to go.

You can see Trump tower on your way to visit the infamous Jussie Smollett attack!

Art institute of Chicago is along the Magnificent Mile - Michigan Avenue.

That's about all the spots I know. Enjoy your trip.

 

[mrs. magoo]

We loved Chicago and had an absolute blast. We bought the Go city pass which included admission to the Shedd Aquarium, the Skydeck, The Field Museum , the hop on hop off bus and the Architecture Cruise (this was incredible)and a ton of other places. We did so much in the 2 days. We also went to a Chicago White Sox game - worst baseball game experience I have every had. The Cubs tix were way too much money so we went with the cheaper white sox game - just rude people everywhere and the ushers did not stop the fans from coming into the sections so we missed a homerun because someone was walking in front of us. We loved Chicago though. This is my kids favorite city that we have visited.

 

[JimMIA]

I second the suggestion of The Bean. That's a must-see to me.

I would also go to a Cubbie's game at Wrigley if you're there during baseball season. I tried to go once when I was in Chicago for a convention, but we got stranded on the El platform by an incredible thunderstorm. Got back on the El and went back to our hotel.

We went to a White Sox game and had a similar experience to @mrs. magoo above. But other than that, we loved Chicago.

 

[bookgirl]

This is one of those 'Al Capone ate Here' places.

Don't know if he did or not but we ate there when we were in Chicago for a conference and it was pretty good. I had the Italian Beef.....yum!

https://www.exchequerpub.com/

Also go see Sue at the https://www.fieldmuseum.org/ ...... I think she's out on display at the moment.'


I think I got my Chicago Hot Dog at Devil Dog off the Magnificat Mile but I've heard that it's a little ubiquitous so any dog may do.

I got pizza at Pizzeria Uno. I had lots of recommendations for it. Good but it's a small place and always has a line

Got a steak at Morton's Good steak, it was pricey, but would do again.


Also if you go on youtube there is a disney blogger couple The Lefferson's and they live in the area and did a Day in Chicago blog not too long ago. It showed some cool places

found it

 

[lovesmurfs]

Agree with the above -- museums are great - Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Museum of Science & Industry. The Art Institute is absolutely amazing. But it's all based on what your family likes.

If you're looking for a good steak, Smith and Wollensky is right on the riverfront and (IMO) one of the best. https://www.smithandwollensky.com/our-restaurants/chicago/

If you're a real foodie, Girl and the Goat is popular. https://girlandthegoat.com/ You definitely want reservations.

The Purple Pig on Michigan is good as well. https://thepurplepigchicago.com/

Just FYI -- Chicago requires proof of vaccination on arrival for dining in any restaurant.

 

[NotUrsula]

Depending on what time in March you are going, and if you know how to ice skate, you might be able to do one of the most unique winter outdoor experiences in the US: the Ribbon. (March 13th is closing date this year.)

The expanse of green between Michigan Avenue and the Lake opposite the Loop is actually two parks, Millenium Park and Maggie Daley Park. Cloudgate (aka The Bean) is in Millenium Park, and there is a regular oval ice rink right next to it. Fun enough, and lots of local color, but the more amazing skating experience by far is just on the other side of Columbus Drive in Maggie Daley Park. The Ribbon is a freeform outdoor rink, 1/4 mile long and 20 feet wide, and it winds in and out of the trees and provides a stunning view of both the lakefront and the city skyline.
It's also not perfectly flat, so you get the interesting experience of skating up and down gentle slopes as well. This year it has been enhanced by reproductions of several Van Gogh paintings that have been embedded into the ice surface. https://www.timeout.com/chicago/new...-ice-skating-ribbon-is-van-gogh-themed-110821

The local edition of Time Out is an excellent source of information on restaurants and fun things to do in Chicagoland: https://www.timeout.com/chicago

 

[Dan Murphy]

Just FYI -- Chicago requires proof of vaccination on arrival for dining in any restaurant.

And matching photo ID for ages 16+.

 

[bcla]

Field Museum is all I've got for Chicago proper. Maybe Great America?

 

[PezRuth]

Not sure on the status on things right now but if there are shows...definitely go to Second City.

 

[Dan Murphy]

All the above are great choices

FYI, Cubs home opener, April 4th, Sox home opener March 31st.

The Wendella Architecture Tour appears to be open

Open even now as the River is not frozen over. March should also be fine. One of the best tours in the city.

A number of the musicals, etc have closed for COVID, best to check closer to time of your visit.

 

[Tgoody]

Woah! Y'all killed it with the info. Looked away from my computer for a bit and came back to a ton of great advice. Thanks!

We will do some of the museums and the aquarium. She is a big animal lover. We have dining plans at Maple and Ash for Friday night.
I will look into some of the other restaurants as well.
I looked up Blackhawk tickets and Bulls tickets and both were just too expensive for the available seats I saw, so we will pass on those.

 

[Dan Murphy]

She is a big animal lover.

Lincoln Park Zoo, perfect

 

[longboard55]

The tour were you go up the river from the Navy Pier

 

[mrs. magoo]

Woah! Y'all killed it with the info. Looked away from my computer for a bit and came back to a ton of great advice. Thanks!

We will do some of the museums and the aquarium. She is a big animal lover. We have dining plans at Maple and Ash for Friday night.
I will look into some of the other restaurants as well.
I looked up Blackhawk tickets and Bulls tickets and both were just too expensive for the available seats I saw, so we will pass on those.

I wouldn't give up on the tickets just yet. My son lives in Philadelphia and they get last minute 76er tickets all the time for cheap. Just keeping checking stub hub you never know what might come available even that day. The Blackhawk tickets will probably not come down since NHL games are notoriously expensive.

 

[Tgoody]

I wouldn't give up on the tickets just yet. My son lives in Philadelphia and they get last minute 76er tickets all the time for cheap. Just keeping checking stub hub you never know what might come available even that day. The Blackhawk tickets will probably not come down since NHL games are notoriously expensive.

Thanks, I will keep looking

 

[ShazzySteph]

Agree with the above -- museums are great - Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Museum of Science & Industry. The Art Institute is absolutely amazing. But it's all based on what your family likes.

If you're looking for a good steak, Smith and Wollensky is right on the riverfront and (IMO) one of the best. https://www.smithandwollensky.com/our-restaurants/chicago/

If you're a real foodie, Girl and the Goat is popular. https://girlandthegoat.com/ You definitely want reservations.

The Purple Pig on Michigan is good as well. https://thepurplepigchicago.com/

Just FYI -- Chicago requires proof of vaccination on arrival for dining in any restaurant.

Little Goat Diner is just across the way from Girl and the Goat and you may be able to get in without a reservation. It is less fancy but no less delicious! https://www.littlegoatchicago.com/ Actually, there are a ton of great restaurants in the Fulton Market Area.

 

[Boopuff]

Lived in Chicago my entire life. Skip Navy pier-tourist trap. Art institute is fab, along with the Science and Industry. Don’t pass up the original Blue Man Group. Shopping the Magnificent Mile, great food every where of course pizza! Baseball (if in season) cubs a much more fun area around the park with bars/restaurants- Sox not so much. Very cool vibrant place. Really miss it!

 

[princesscinderella]

See Sue the T-Rex at the field museum if you love dinosaurs she is displayed spectacularly. I was truly amazed at how many real (not recasted) Dino bones they have there. The Egyptian section there had so much too. They were able to acquire so much before a lot of the rules went in place with Egyptian artifacts since the museum is over 100 years old.
The Lincoln park zoo is a wonderful 1/2 day free excursion too.
Skip paying to go to the top of the John Hancock tower for the tourist floor exhibit (tilt I think) and instead go to the signature room at the top for a drink and an amazing view of the city, no admission required, usually a line to get in and sunset is the perfect time to be there

 

[Tgoody]

Mini Trip Report!

We flew in late Thursday and picked up our rental car. We were supposed to have a Lou Malnatis pizza waiting for us at check in at the 21C Hotel. When we arrived it was no where to be found. Called the store back and the manager was pretty rude, but the delivery driver got it to us finally after retrieving it from the wrong hotel haha. First time having the pizza and I really enjoyed it!

Friday we got up early and grabbed breakfast at the hotel before heading out to the Aquarium. Quite a few exhibits were being worked on, but my girlfriend loves aquariums and she had a blast. We then walked to the Art Institute. I had been to the Smithsonian art museums a few years ago and loved them. I could have spent the rest of the day checking out all the exhibits, but we got hungry after 12:30 and went to The Gage. We both ordered a drink and I ordered a burger, she ordered a mahi mahi sandwich. Both were amazing and the drinks were great. We couldn't decide between an apple crumble or deconstructed coconut cream pie for dessert, so the waiter chose for us. The coconut cream pie was outstanding!

After lunch we ventured over to "The Bean" and took pictures and watched people ice skate before heading to Millers Pub to meet up with a friend. We had a few beers and something called Malort. It was disgusting, but we came to find out it was a tourist tradition. We ventured back towards the hotel and stopped at the Starbucks Reserve for a drink (to wash out the still burning malort taste).

After a quick nap and change of clothes we went to Maple and Ash. This restaurant was recommended to me by a few people, and funny enough my friend works there. We walked in and were greeted by the staff and directed to the back to take an elevator to the main floor. The bouncer/attendant joked that no one was talking or having a good time. When we exited the elevator he took us to the bar and gave all 6 of the people in the elevator shots of tequila and told us to wake up before dinner! We had a reservation at 8pm and this place was packed, we were seated at 8:15pm and were greeted by Shawna who did an amazing job all night. Our friend sent us over a round of drinks to start the night as well as a king crab truffle sushi roll. Which may be the best thing I have ever eaten. It was perfect! We ordered tuna tartare and grilled octopus as appetizers. The girlfriend ordered the fish special and I ordered a 30 day dry aged ribeye. We had asparagus and lobster mac as sides. The lobster mac was better than any I have had. Better than Tiffins/Nomad, better than bull and bear, better than other places outside of WDW. The steak was cooked perfect and the fish was very fresh. For dessert we saw coconut cream pie listed and wanted to compare to our lunch. Sadly it didn't compete with The Gage. The dessert may have been the only blemish on the meal. We took our time and dinner lasted a little over 2 hours. On the way out we met an NBA player from the Milwaukee Bucks who just so happens to have been a player on the team here locally. Was a great interaction and chance to meet him.

The next day we got around late and explored some of the small neighborhoods like Fulton. Ate at Time Out Market and enjoyed the various food booths. We headed out to Valparaiso to meet up with family and stopped at a downtown square area that had a meadery. If you haven't had mead before it is worth a try if you enjoy really sweet drinks.


Thanks for reading and the advice prior to the trip! We will be going back to Chicago in the future to check out more places to eat and the other museums.