Help with one day tour

A friend and I will be taking a quick one day tour this Sat. Since it was a sudden decision and neither of us are familiar with the city can someone help with a quick itinerary?

We would like to visit The Navy Pier, Millenium Park and the Sears Tower Skydeck. Will this be possible to do in 12 hrs.? We will be dropped off at the Oprah Studio/Store(?) and will need a map and general timeline.

Are any senior citizen discounts available for these attractions? Any coupons available online for the Skywalk?

Thanks so much.

Help with one day tour

Sure, all that can fit. If you are being dropped at Oprah, you can walk to Sears Tower from there. It%26#39;s about a mile. Go enjoy the observation deck. From there, cab over to Millenium Park and spend a couple hours there. From there, you can walk over to Navy Pier or if you are tired of the walking, take a quick cab. You can eat at Navy Pier. There are several restaurants and a food court there. You can take a boat ride too.

Help with one day tour

For something different - consider taking a water taxi after Sears Tower. http://www.chicagowatertaxi.com/

Where do you want to end your day? If it is an hour or so before sunset, you may want to make the Sears Tower your last stop. Or, end your day at Navy Pier since it is open late. If there is a free concert in Millennium Park, you may want to make that your last stop. All are good options.

You have a lot of short hops in your schedule; since you say you are seniors, I would recommend taking a cab for most of them unless you are very healthy walkers. From Harpo Studios to the Sears Tower is a mile and a half. From Sears Tower to Millennium Park is a about 3/4 of a mile; it%26#39;s then almost another mile to Navy Pier. Navy Pier itself and Millennium Park are large and must be walked through, so save your legs!

You could do Oprah-Sears-Millennium Park-Navy Pier, or Oprah-Millennium Park-either Navy Pier-Sears or vice versa, using the water taxi. Take a look at www.navypier.com and www.millenniumpark.org for information on concerts and other special events.

In addition, let the weather be your guide. If it%26#39;s cloudy out, skip Sears Tower.

Thanks for the replies!

Now I%26#39;m hearing that The Hancock Observatory may be better. Both of us are not interested in long lines so would this be a better option?

Can anyone give advice on the best seafood or italian restaurant(s) along our route?

Hancock is better in my opinion but not really on your route as indicated in your post. But not far out of the way. It%26#39;s not a waiting in line issue, the wait time varies in each location, but I think the Hancock has the more interesting views. Also, Hancock has a bar/restaurant on the 95/96 floor so instead of going to the observation deck, many people choose to have a drink instead. In fact, maybe you can have lunch on the 95th floor and see your view. Kill two birds with one stone. On Saturdays they have an all you can eat lunch for about $20. Includes carving stations and sides, salads, etc.

Theater Listings

Is there a central website to check theater listings in July in Chicago?

Theater Listings

I always use this

events.chicagoreader.com/chicago/EventSearch鈥?/a>

Good place for a family reunion?

We%26#39;re trying to find a centrally located place for an informal family reunion for this summer. Somewhere in southwestern Michigan, northwestern Indiana or northeastern Illinois would be best.

We haven%26#39;t gotten together in way too long, and we%26#39;d just like a place to reconnect and have a good time. Obviously we%26#39;d need something that works for all age groups with a variety of activities. For lodging, we%26#39;d need a hotel rather than a vacation home because I%26#39;m not sure how many people would be able to make it, and it would only be for the weekend.

Thank you in advance for any help you can give us!

Good place for a family reunion?

http://www.grizzlyjacksresort.com/

Good place for a family reunion?

Also in that area is Starved Rock State Park. There is a lodg cabins and miles of trails. More info at: …state.il.us/LANDS/…park.htm

Enjoy your trip!

Thank you both very much!

I look forward to looking at the links in depth!

Trump Tower

Does anyone know if the Trump Tower plans to have an observation deck similiar to the John Hancock or Sears Tower where the genearl public can view the city from the upper floors? Are there any restaurants in the Trump Tower that the general public can attend and see some of these views?

Trump Tower

Sixteen is the restaurant that offers dramatic views of the city and river. However, it%26#39;s only on floor 16 so you are not going to get the expansive views that the hancock offers. But the Trump views offer a different perspecitve--close up of the Wrigley Clock for instance is very neat.

Help - Two 30 somethings off to Chicago

Can you help? We are two 30 something females (one the right side and one the wrong) going to Chicago from London in May. Neither of us are really drinkers or big into nice meals (well, when on hols) but love to shop! We also like to see some of the sights - what would you recommend we do and see?

Help - Two 30 somethings off to Chicago

Sorry - we are in Chicago for 5 nights.

Help - Two 30 somethings off to Chicago

I%26#39;m not a big shopper myself, but of course North Michigan Avenue and the streets just off of it up around Water Tower Place is must-do for shoppers. Other areas, like Bucktown (the Damen stop on the Blue Line) and Lincoln Park area (west of Lincoln Park on streets like Clark, Halsted, LIncoln) are always mentioned - some of that depends on how comfortable you are with public transportation, which is excellent in those areas. For sights, there are many, many posts here on what sights to see - big ones are Art Institute and Millenium Park, taking the architecture boat cruise - if you indicate what you are interested in seeing, i.e. museums, history, architecture, culture, people can give you more specific information. You will have a great time here!

www.explorechicago.org is a good site to do some research.

www.transitchicago.com for public transit information. A CTA visitor pass might come in handy for your visit.

www.themagnificentmile.com/shopping.cfm

www.chicagoreader.com for dining and entertainment listings.

Many thanks to you both for your advice. I%26#39;m not big on museums but may pay a trip - I like architecture and people. I love to people watch too from cafes etc.

I have no issue with travelling on public transport unless advised there are bits to avoid. We both like to walk too - comfy shoes are the first thing to be packed.

We are staying at the Affinia if that%26#39;s any help.

Leaving In a Week! Help!

My husband has a course in Rolling Meadows beginning next Friday moning and ending Saturday afternoon. We get into OHare Thursday at Noon, April 30th. Our two teenagers, 16 and 18 will be with us. We are staying at the Holiday Inn in Rolling Meadows 3405 ALGONQUIN, as course is there.

Planning on changing hotels to one in the city Saturday afternoon. I was thinking Embassy Suites, as our oldest and his girlfriend may stay with us Sat and Sunday night (he lives in St. Charles). Although I did find great deals at Hotel Sax Chicago and Hotel Monaco both for 119 per night on Travel Zoo.

I am planning on taking the kids into the city on Friday and Saturday. A couple of ideas are Shedds Aquar. and the Museum of science and history. Then on Sunday do Navy Pier with husband too. We do want to eat at Giandaoros (spelling) and maybe an Irish place? Also, Sat night I think we all may catch a Second City Show????

Tons of Questions! Should the kids and I take a train into the city on Friday and Saturday? We are renting a car, but unsure about parking and getting around the city (city driving does not bother me). If using public transports should I purchase some kind of discount card? Also, should I get GoCards for the kids and myself?

What should we not miss? We did Sears tower a couple of years ago when we stopped in Chi-town for a few hours. What sites, restuarants, geeze just everything!

Our flight leaves for home Monday at 1:00 from ohare...

Leaving In a Week! Help!

www.metrarail.com is what you%26#39;ll take from the %26#39;burbs into the city. They have a great deal for weekend tickets. The bad news is that trains run about every two hours on Saturday.

An alternate suggestion would be to drive to either Rosemont or Cumberland CTA blue line train station. Parking%26#39;s available at both. CTA trains run more often than Metra. www.transitchicago.com for details.

The other thing to consider is that the MSI is 7 miles south of downtown. Also, you need to allow at least a 1/2 day for a visit there.

If you%26#39;re pressed for time, you might want to bite the bullet and drive first to the MSI and head downtown from there. Yes, you%26#39;ll need to pay for parking twice. But what%26#39;s your time worth?

Lots of information at www.explorechicago.org

Dining search tool at www.chicagoreader.com

Leaving In a Week! Help!

Shedd is OK but tends to attract huge crowds with many small kids running around....be prepared that your teenagers might not love it. Navy Pier is a good teenager scene, and so is Lincoln Park, like walk down Armitage, up Lincoln or Halsted. Likewise Michigan Ave and the Beach Scene...head north of the river along the lakefront. Field Museum is world class as is the Art Museum. Giordanos for Pizza or Malnatis or Pizza Uno or Due or....Deep dish.

Hotels you mention are all good.

ZB

If you are going to Second City on a Saturday, get your tickets ASAP. They usually sell out the early show on Saturday.

I would not go through the hassle of trying to do Shedd and MSI, the distance is too far apart to enjoy either one fully. If you must do Shedd, I would pair it with either the Adler Planetarium or the Field Museum and then a nice short hike down to Millenium Park.

I agree, get your tickets to SC early.

16 and 18 yr olds.........espn zone downtown.....red line to addison and see wrigley field and all around that area. Maybe do that Fri. afternoon. Museums and aquarium will probably be busy. Just people watch on Michigan Avenue...there is a Burton store by Hancock building that teenagers might like. Also the view from Hancock is good (and free) sears tower charges.

The Hancock Observatory is not free. hancock-observatory.com/en/…general_info.html

Stand corrected....we usally enter off the side road and go to the lounge. Sorry.

We just took our kids to Chicago for a day over spring break to visit the Field Museum and the Museum of Science and Industry. Our kids are 16yo girl and 14yo and 9yo boys.

Half a day was enough time for us to see the Field Museum, but we%26#39;ve been there before about 8 years ago so it wasn%26#39;t completely new. I personally think even kids your boys%26#39; ages will enjoy seeing it for at least part of a day. There is also a special Pirates exhibit that my kids REALLY wanted to see, but I vetoed it due to cost (it%26#39;s an extra fee) and because we didn%26#39;t have a lot of time.

MOSI is a hit for our entire family as well - although a few things are geared towards younger kids, it%26#39;s not a ';children%26#39;s museum';. I actually think my husband enjoyed it more than anyone though.

We live about 3.5 hours away, so drove into town and parked first at Soldier Field to go to the Field Museum ($16) then drove to MOSI and parked there (another $16). Drive was very easy between the two museums, although price wise we would have been better off taking the bus back and forth between them than paying parking at both locations. It was worth the extra cost for the convenience for us that day though.

I%26#39;m sure my kids would love the aquarium, but it wasn%26#39;t in the budget this time. We actually made the trip because we have annual passes to another Science museum, and can get into the Field Museum and MOSI for free w/ reciprocal museum arrangements. This might be worth looking into if you have a local science museum of some sort - could very well be cheaper to buy an annual pass at a local museum before heading to Chicago - the at-the-door prices can get fairly expensive.

I can%26#39;t say anything about Navy Pier because we%26#39;ve never visited there, only drove past - but we%26#39;ll get intimately acquainted w/ it this summer becasue my daughter as a huge volleyball tourney actually on the pier in June - looking forward to that trip!

Also, if your boys are at all interested in baseball and they%26#39;ve never been to a Cubs game, I%26#39;d highly consider doing that too - we go every few years and it%26#39;s a great experience, win or lose :)

Have a wonderful trip!

Pacquiao and Hatton Fight this saturday

Will be in Chicago this weekend. Any place in Mag Mile/River North area where we can watch the fight? Thanks in advance!!

Got tix for the cubs/giants next monday/tuesday...hope it doesnt get rained out.

Pacquiao and Hatton Fight this saturday

Maybe here - www.espnzone.com/chicago