Chicago...

For those who have visited:

-How many days are needed to see the city?

-What do you recommend to see?

-Where to stay?

Re: Chicago...

I can't give you too much info b/c DH and I went there a few years ago when we were dating to visit friends. We stayed at their apartment with a beautiful view of Lake Michigan

Go see the famous fountain
have a drink at the Handcock building (you don't need to eat there. just go for drinks)
Sears tower
boat tour of the architecture of the buildings
famous second city club
Def rent bikes. they have these underground bike stops you rent a bike and ride all around.

I'll get back to you on where to eat. My best friend lives there and goes out all the time

Beautiful city! I long weekend is good enough.

Re: Chicago...

Can't recommend a place to stay since SIL used to live there so we'd stay with them. I love Chicago because its beasically a a smaller version of NYC.


Take a walk along Lake Michigan or rent a bike- its beauitiful.

Go to Navy Pier for some lunch, than take one of the many river boat tours from there.

Shop on Michigan Avenue

Take the Articheture tour

EAT EAT EAT - some of the BEST foods are in Chicago. Some places we love to re-visit when we go to Chicago:

Lou Mitchell's for Breakfast - YUMMMM they give fresh baked donut holes & milk duds while you wait.

We also love Meli's Cafe & Jucie Bar in Greek town. They have a nice breakfast & lunch menu.

Lou Malnati's - for Chicago's famous deep dish pizza

Chicago Chophouse - DEF a great steak house & lots of history

Have a famous Chicago dog - we like Gold Coast Dog, they have locations in both O'hare & Midway.

Millennium Park is beautiful, lots of great art & articheture to see.

Buckingham Fountain is also nice to see. They have a water show at night during the summer months.

Go down & have a beer near Wrigley Field - lots of bars in that area.

Bucktown is good for nightlife.

There is so much to see & do. I love Chicago.

Re: Chicago...

I second Lou Malnati's! There is some great food to be had in Chicago.

You'll need to visit the bean sculpture in Millennium Park!

If you plan to go to the Field museum or aquarium, go EARLY b/c exhibits sell out and the line can be brutal (I was there on a holiday weekend though).

Navy pier is a nice walk.

if you're feeling adventurous, you can go to the Wiener Circle for a late-night snack (after a few drinks) and verbal abuse.
Wiener Circle

Our local friends took us to a dueling piano bar (Howl at the Moon)...it was entertaining!

Re: Chicago...

I live in Chicago and I think 3-4 days is enough time to see the main attractions.

Must do:
* Navy Pier
* Architectural Boat tour - get to see some of the great buildings, cruise Chicago river and Lake Michigan
* Museum of Science and Industry and Art Institute
* Sears tower
* Shedd Aquarium
* Shopping on Magnificent Mile (Michigan Ave)
* Millennium Park/Grant Park/Buckingham Fountain (the one from Married with Children)

I can go on and on, there's a little bit for everyone so it depends on what you're into.

Place to stay
* Any where on Magnificent Mile
* Cool new hotel - The Wit Chicago - Have heard from a friend that the rooms are really nice and there's an awesome rooftop bar with amazing views of the city.

For Breakfast, I have to recommend our favorite place in the city. Sweet Maple Cafe - a small place with great food. We love going there bc it's so homey. It's a quick cab ride from downtown.

Re: Chicago...

I agree 3-4 days is perfect. We stayed at the Omni Hotel right on Michigan and had a wonderful time! Such good food in Chicago for sure!

Re: Chicago...

I met my friends there for Labor Day weekend a couple years ago. We stayed at the Intercontinental on Michigan/Magnificent Mile and I'd highly recommend it.

Also, if you are wondering what to do between the Sears and Hancock Tower, I'd do Hancock. The views are better from the top.

It's cheesy of us but my friends and I enjoyed a Ghost tour. There have been some tragic events in Chicago, and surprisingly the fire wasn't one of them. Link

We did the bus tour of the city, the hop on, hop off kind. I would've loved to do a bike tour or boat but we had a newly pregnant friend with and she wasn't up to that. The bus was still fun though!

Have fun! I loved Chicago and can't wait to go back!

Re: Chicago...

not sure when you are going, but if it is during baseball season and if the Cubs are in town go to Wrigleyville.....we had so much fun at the Cubs game and Wrigleyville ......