Chicago Tour/Vacation from a Tourist's Perspective

[Luke]

Hi Guys and Gals,

Heading out to my home town of Chicago soon for family visits and to perform some stand up at several clubs.

So! If you were headed out to the City of Broad Shoulders, what destinations would be a must for you?

Granted, I've probably hit every tourist spot before, but some may be worth revisiting, and others I may have skipped. I know for a fact I'll be hitting up some regulars, but if you have never been to The Windy City, what would be some "must sees" or "must eats"?

Thanks for the recommendations, and wish me a broken leg.

[Ivo]

If I was going to Chicago, I would look up some information on the net.

Having browsed a bit, I would pay the 7 bucks to rent bikes for 24 hours (in 30 min segments) and tour a little bit on 2-wheels.

I would try to sample some genuine deep dish pizzas in Chicago, Chicago hot dogs and beef sandwhiches. I would ask here in Racketboy for suggestions of local places to check out for those (like I did for the cheese steaks before I went to Philadelphia).

[Luke]

I would try to sample some genuine deep dish pizzas in Chicago, Chicago hot dogs and beef sandwhiches.

Already have those covered, but thanks for the input.

Three places I always go to include Superossa Pizza, Superdawg, and no one beats my Grandmother's Italian Beef. We'll also hit up King's Gyros #2 (where I get free gyros on each visit if I bring my wife), Gale Street Inn, and the bar near the Empire Room where I usually get a complimentary signature cocktail.

I've never taken a tour of the Tribune building, nor the Water Tower, so I may put those on my list. Some of my gigs are in Wrigleyville, so if Cubs tickets are affordable might add that to the list as well.

Art Institute is also a must for me, but I may pass on Navy Pier this year.

So much to do, so little time.

[Ivo]

(where I get free gyros on each visit if I bring my wife)

That sounds a bit funny

Apparently you can visit a firefighter's academy in Chicago (where they train new firefighters). That may be worth checking out.

[Luke]

That sounds a bit funny

Apparently you can visit a firefighter's academy in Chicago (where they train new firefighters). That may be worth checking out.

Ages ago I took my wife to King's gyros #2 and asked the owner "Do you still make the best Gyro's in Chicago?". He answered boisterously, "Yes my friend! You haven't visited in years! Who is the lovely lady?".

I told him "This is my girlfriend, and it's her first time in the Windy City. I told her she HAD to have one of your gyros".

His response, "Girlfriend? Why not wife? She's far too beautiful to be just a girlfriend. You aren't ugly, but she is a beautiful woman" (I get this a lot...Too much actually). "You need to propose before she finds another man!".

I tell the owner "When we get married, can she get free gyros?".

"Of course my friend!" he said with a loud doubting laugh.

Well, a year or two later I visited the restaurant on a business trip and showed him the wedding ring.

"But you didn't bring the beautiful blonde. No wife, no free gyros".

Fair enough. A couple of weeks later I brought my wife with me, and BINGO! free gyros ever since. I always leave a hefty tip as each visit is an experience. I'll share pics of the restaurant as well as me and the owner (finger crossed) when I return.

[Nemoide]

Coincidentally, I just got back from Chicago for a library conference!

The only suggestion I have that might not be super-obvious is Kuma's Corner or Kuma's Too. It's best described as a heavy metal-themed burger place. It's pretty awesome!

I also thought The Field Museum was great if you like natural history museums.

[Luke]

I also thought The Field Museum was great if you like natural history museums.

The Field museum and the Push Button museum (especially the coal ride) are great, but I about have them memorized. For some reason I never get tired of the Art Institute.

[YoshiEgg25]

I'm going out there in a couple weeks with my girlfriend. These are the places we're planning on going:

1. The Museum Campus
The Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium and Adler Planetarium are all on the campus. We're going to go to the aquarium and planetarium, but if you've never been to Chicago, go to at least one of these.

2. John Hancock Center
Tip: You don't have to pay the $20 to go get a view. Take a trip up to either the Signature Room or the Lavazza Espression; it's free to go to either and you can get drinks/food. And from up there, you can see Wisconsin and Indiana, and on a clear day you can even see Michigan. In the basement, there's a Cheesecake Factory too, so you can get a decent meal as well.

3. Navy Pier
Lots to do at Navy Pier. An IMAX theater, an arcade (not the gaming kind!), mini golf, a carousel, and you can take a boat onto the lake. But the big attraction is the ferris wheel, a 150-foot-tall monster modeled after the very first ferris wheel.

4. Pizzeria Uno/Due
Okay, you're in Chicago. You want to take in the "local cuisine". That would be deep dish pizza, and arguably the best in the city is at Uno's and Due's. A block apart from each other on Wabash St. (corners of Ohio and Ontario, respectfully), these places have fantastic deep dish with a fairly short wait.

[Luke]

I'm going out there in a couple weeks with my girlfriend. These are the places we're planning on going:

1. The Museum Campus
The Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium and Adler Planetarium are all on the campus. We're going to go to the aquarium and planetarium, but if you've never been to Chicago, go to at least one of these.

2. John Hancock Center
Tip: You don't have to pay the $20 to go get a view. Take a trip up to either the Signature Room or the Lavazza Espression; it's free to go to either and you can get drinks/food. And from up there, you can see Wisconsin and Indiana, and on a clear day you can even see Michigan. In the basement, there's a Cheesecake Factory too, so you can get a decent meal as well.

3. Navy Pier
Lots to do at Navy Pier. An IMAX theater, an arcade (not the gaming kind!), mini golf, a carousel, and you can take a boat onto the lake. But the big attraction is the ferris wheel, a 150-foot-tall monster modeled after the very first ferris wheel.

4. Pizzeria Uno/Due
Okay, you're in Chicago. You want to take in the "local cuisine". That would be deep dish pizza, and arguably the best in the city is at Uno's and Due's. A block apart from each other on Wabash St. (corners of Ohio and Ontario, respectfully), these places have fantastic deep dish with a fairly short wait.

These are all basically places I would tell people to avoid, save for the Field Museum. The aquarium is hot and humid as Serena William's butt. Why in the world would anyone eat at a Cheesecake factory (ever) while in Chicago? Navy Pier is THE tourist trap of Chicago. The Ferris Wheel is neat, but it is a one and done. Pizzeria Uno is tourist pizza, and isn't good at all compared to small family owned businesses.

Sorry to be a grump guss. But to turn that frown upside down, here are some suggestions for you, all in walking distance:

1. Art Institute and Millennium Park. Touristy? Yes. Worth seeing? YES! Free? Usually.

2. Sears Tower (what 'choo talkin bout Willis?). Ask to be seated at the front of the elevator, and sit in the first row of the theater. You'll save hours in wait time. Also, don't go in the Deck entrance.

3. Palmer House. Probably my favorite hotel to stay at, and just visit. Visit the Empire Room, and soak in the history. The amount of money that went into building that joint is ridiculous (the window locks were custom made by Tiffany & Co.). Tip the bartender well and they'll become a friend for life.

4. Suparrossa pizza. When the mob owned it, it was called Mary's Pizza. Ownership has changed, but their delicious deep dish pizza has not. Makes Uno's taste like Little Caesar's. And PIECE PIZZA in Wrigleyville makes some incredible pies.


Now if you want to take a quick culinary tour of the best Chicago has to offer, hop on the blue line to Jefferson Park. As soon as you exit, grab a Burger at The Gale Street Inn. Decent prices, great food. Delightful Pastries, a Polish bakery is right around the corner. Walk a mile or two from there and you'll find King's Gyros #2, home of the best gyros in Chicago (if you aren't counting Central Gyros). Hail a cab, or hoof it, down Milwaukee blvd. to Superdawg, home of the best Chicago style hotdog. Period.


But seriously. Make it a priority to visit the Palmer House. If the Empire Room isn't being used, go in there. No one will stop ya.

[noiseredux]

I've done some research on Chicago Luke. Be careful about someone stealing your cab. If this happens it could lead to a chain of events involving nearly a full weak of various planes, trains AND automobiles!