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Chicago recs

funksouljon

funksouljon

Veteran Seminole Insider
Jan 26, 2004
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We will be in Chicago as part of a 3 week trip this summer. I have the kids solo and am starting to look for things to do with them. We have about 3 days to fill. Monday - Wednesday.

Anyone have thoughts on their "you must take your kids to see..." list? I've never been to Chicago outside of the airport.

We are staying somewhere in town, don't know those details. Is it easiest to just cab around the city? Or Uber?

Smarta$$ suggestions also welcome, its gonna be a rough week at work.
 
funksouljon said:
We will be in Chicago as part of a 3 week trip this summer. I have the kids solo and am starting to look for things to do with them. We have about 3 days to fill. Monday - Wednesday.

Anyone have thoughts on their "you must take your kids to see..." list? I've never been to Chicago outside of the airport.

We are staying somewhere in town, don't know those details. Is it easiest to just cab around the city? Or Uber?

Smarta$$ suggestions also welcome, its gonna be a rough week at work.
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I was just there about four weeks or so ago. We stayed at the “Chicago Hilton” which is not a boring typical Hilton, but an old historic hotel right across from Grant Park on Michigan Avenue where every single white and black (but not orange) president has stayed while in Chicago since 1927. I highly rec staying there as it’s not crazy priced and is in the heart of the tourist spots. Plus if you do the tourist hop on/hop off bus it’s at one of the stops (I only rec doing this one day as the taxis are pretty cheap in Chicago and it’s quicker and easier).

As far as food, I’d mostly suggest skipping what we did as I was unimpressed for the most part. I did really enjoy the deep dish at Louisa’s Pizza and Pasta but the Chicago Dog at Superdawg (allegedly the best Chicago dog, which I’ve had the style before and enjoyed it) was pretty terrible and not worth the drive.

If your kids are older teens or you can get away from them late at night somehow, the current A cast show from Second City, called “Dream Freaks Fall From Space” was one of the funniest things I’ve seen. And that’s coming from someone who flew out to LA and drove out to Austin for comedy festivals. IF you can get to it, it’s well worth the hassle.
 
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Oh and sidenote, the famous painting American Gothic is not at the Art Institute as it’s out on loan for several months.
 
Kids are 4 n 5.

No clue where we are staying, she is traveling for work so its whatever hotel they set up. We are just crashing with her. Leaving the camper somewhere out of town and coming to town most likely.
 
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Took a day trip there years ago.

We went to the Art Institute of Chicago, Sears Tower and even caught a game at Wrigley. Super cool. We also got caught up in a parade downtown - not sure what the event was but it was fun.

Definitely recommend it!
 
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Formerly Rockymtnole said:
Took a day trip there years ago.

We went to the Art Institute of Chicago, Sears Tower and even caught a game at Wrigley. Super cool. We also got caught up in a parade downtown - not sure what the event was but it was fun.

Definitely recommend it!
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Any parking garages you can recommend?
 
Formerly Rockymtnole said:
Took a day trip there years ago.

We went to the Art Institute of Chicago, Sears Tower and even caught a game at Wrigley. Super cool. We also got caught up in a parade downtown - not sure what the event was but it was fun.

Definitely recommend it!
Click to expand...
You left out the best part - you got to be sausage king for a day.
 
Grant and Millenium park - check out the bean. Do a boat tour. Navy Pier. Taste of Chicago might be going on while you're there. Deep dish pizza and chicago dogs are a must. There's a Nutella Cafe on Michigan that always has a long line of tourists.

You can easily get around on a combination on CTA, walking and Uber/Lyft.
 
ericram said:
Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Lincoln Park Zoo, and take the architecture boat tour.
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I'd enjoy the boat tour but they might get bored. The rest will be on the list. We have a family friend who took one of the curator positions at the Field Museum, too bad he is in Europe this summer else. Will still have to go there. Definitely agree on the Zoo and aquarium.

They are weird eaters, but gonna try to get them to eat deep dish. Definitely go to Lake Michigan. Millennium Park. What other items?

Art Institue of Chicago? for kids?
 
funksouljon said:
I'd enjoy the boat tour but they might get bored. The rest will be on the list. We have a family friend who took one of the curator positions at the Field Museum, too bad he is in Europe this summer else. Will still have to go there. Definitely agree on the Zoo and aquarium.

They are weird eaters, but gonna try to get them to eat deep dish. Definitely go to Lake Michigan. Millennium Park. What other items?

Art Institue of Chicago? for kids?
Click to expand...

At 4 and 5, I doubt there’s a lot in Chicago they would enjoy other than the Shedd, the Field Museum (dinosaurs and that’s probably it), and the Zoo.

Have you looked into getting a vacation sitter for at least part of the days? I saw citysitter has several in Chicago with a lot of good reviews. I didn’t look at any of the others but this would be a good idea.

https://www.google.com/amp/www.chic...ter-travel-babysitter-20150223-story,amp.html

Maybe do some stuff they would enjoy during the day and then get out at night to Second City and maybe a play or good club?

And even if for some reason you can’t get a vacation sitter or for at least part of the day, I would suggest doing a quick run through of the Art Institute. Not doing the whole thing but hitting the European Impressionism wing as it’s got a LOT of famous Van Gogh’s, Seurat’s, Cezanne’s, Monet’s, Gaugin’s etc you will probably recognize immediately and the kids MIGHT enjoy the medieval armory with tons of weapons and armor.
 
funksouljon said:
I'd enjoy the boat tour but they might get bored. The rest will be on the list. We have a family friend who took one of the curator positions at the Field Museum, too bad he is in Europe this summer else. Will still have to go there. Definitely agree on the Zoo and aquarium.

They are weird eaters, but gonna try to get them to eat deep dish. Definitely go to Lake Michigan. Millennium Park. What other items?

Art Institue of Chicago? for kids?
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The AIC is probably not good for little kids.

There's plenty of touristy stuff on Navy Pier to interest them. I would also take them up in Willis Tower.
 
The Chicago History Museum is very cool and has a lot of stuff geared towards young kids.

I really enjoyed visiting and would happily return the next time I’m in the city.
 
RunRonnieRun said:
I don’t think anyone would get bored on the boat tour. Four and five should be just fine.
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Really?
So its not just a <queue monotone voice> "Here is a building built in 1923 by famed architect.... , notice the high arched windows to maximize morning sunlight...." . They like boats so...
 
funksouljon said:
Really?
So its not just a <queue monotone voice> "Here is a building built in 1923 by famed architect.... , notice the high arched windows to maximize morning sunlight...." . They like boats so...
Click to expand...

No that’s precisely what it was. Even I got bored midway through when they take you to some of the less interesting parts. I did get some great shots and can post them if you’re interested to see what you can see along the ride. But I’d say it’s good for adults to see, teens who are calm and intelligent will get something out of it, tweens are mainly bored and playing on their devices and little kids are a nightmare.

I would strongly suggest you and your wife do it 1) If you get a hotel babysitter and 2) you want to be able to say you’ve “seen” Chicago rather than just the main touristy parks and Magnificent Mile.
 
funksouljon said:
We will be in Chicago as part of a 3 week trip this summer. I have the kids solo and am starting to look for things to do with them. We have about 3 days to fill. Monday - Wednesday.

Anyone have thoughts on their "you must take your kids to see..." list? I've never been to Chicago outside of the airport.

We are staying somewhere in town, don't know those details. Is it easiest to just cab around the city? Or Uber?

Smarta$$ suggestions also welcome, its gonna be a rough week at work.
Click to expand...


Basically with small kids in tow, I’d only rec the two Children’s Museums (the one 30 mins out of town is supposed to be better than the one at the pier but I wouldn’t know as I’m purposefully sans rugrats), the Shedd, the Zoo, the dinosaur parts of the Field Museum, the Navy Pier and the Museum of Science and Industry. I would save the Art Institute, architectural boat ride, and Second City until you either come back alone or you get a hotel babysitter.
 
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ReliableOstrich said:
May follow this advice in a few weeks.
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It’s great. Obviously it’s sketch comedy over which they also do some improv within the boundaries of the sketches, so it is going to vary somewhat each time. But when I was there, it was hilariously funny and unlike SNL the sketches don’t go on forever past the point they’re funny, it’s quick two minute vignettes and then moving on.

Btw, after the main show is over, if you stick around they do normal improv based on audience call outs. I’d say about half the people stuck around for it and on my night it was hilarious. Hopefully you get the same luck.
 
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funksouljon said:
Really?
So its not just a <queue monotone voice> "Here is a building built in 1923 by famed architect.... , notice the high arched windows to maximize morning sunlight...." . They like boats so...
Click to expand...

Given that the child-free tribe refers to kids as "rugrats" I hope you'll take his advice with a grain of salt.

I would take my five year old on the architecture boat tour without hesitation. It's a lot of history of the buildings and their architecture but it's also stories about Chicago and a boat ride through the middle of a city.
 
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I've never been to Chicago other than for work so all I have are food recs. Purple Pig, Eataly, and I prefer Geno's East for Deep Dish.
 
RunRonnieRun said:
Given that the child-free tribe refers to kids as "rugrats" I hope you'll take his advice with a grain of salt.

I would take my five year old on the architecture boat tour without hesitation. It's a lot of history of the buildings and their architecture but it's also stories about Chicago and a boat ride through the middle of a city.
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I took my then 4 yr old son on it when we were there several years ago. He loved just being on the boat, looking at the different views, and moving through the city. The guide was funny and they even let him pretend drive the boat.
 
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ericram said:
I took my then 4 yr old son on it when we were there several years ago. He loved just being on the boat, looking at the different views, and moving through the city. The guide was funny and they even let him pretend drive the boat.
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Ha, I gave the kids the wheel for a pontoon boat we had on an empty reservoir. They were happy to do circles for over an hour. Once I showed them the throttle, they would have been happy to drive all day.
 
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ericram said:
I took my then 4 yr old son on it when we were there several years ago. He loved just being on the boat, looking at the different views, and moving through the city. The guide was funny and they even let him pretend drive the boat.
Click to expand...

Well I did it about 4 weeks ago and the boring monotone guide talking about what architect was born where and at what time was interrupted only by the squalling and whining of the toddlers and young kids bored out of their minds in the bright heat of the day. LOL so we had very different experiences.

I did get some great shots of the city, but I can’t say the boat ride itself was entertaining or fun. It was a marathon of tedium interspersed with irritation from the crying kids.
 
Imtotallynottribe said:
Well I did it about 4 weeks ago and the boring monotone guide talking about what architect was born where and at what time was interrupted only by the squalling and whining of the toddlers and young kids bored out of their minds in the bright heat of the day. LOL so we had very different experiences.

I did get some great shots of the city, but I can’t say the boat ride itself was entertaining or fun. It was a marathon of tedium interspersed with irritation from the crying kids.
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Choose your boat company carefully. You choose poorly. ;)
 
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Imtotallynottribe said:
Well I did it about 4 weeks ago and the boring monotone guide talking about what architect was born where and at what time was interrupted only by the squalling and whining of the toddlers and young kids bored out of their minds in the bright heat of the day. LOL so we had very different experiences.

I did get some great shots of the city, but I can’t say the boat ride itself was entertaining or fun. It was a marathon of tedium interspersed with irritation from the crying kids.
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Only negative review I’ve ever heard of the tour.

Sorry it wasn’t Biloxi?
 
funksouljon said:
I haven't been to Chicago Pizza, but you have my interest with the grinders option.
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As chance would have it my wife and daughter ate there last night. They are touring Northwestern, Michigan and then my daughter has a 1 week musical theater event. Have a nephew who lives in Chicago and he said it is amazing. It is also right near a zoo and park. If you want details let me know and I will ask him.
 
RangerNole said:
As chance would have it my wife and daughter ate there last night. They are touring Northwestern, Michigan and then my daughter has a 1 week musical theater event. Have a nephew who lives in Chicago and he said it is amazing. It is also right near a zoo and park. If you want details let me know and I will ask him.
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Thats about all the info I need... food is amazing, proximity to where I will be going... :) No need to overthink it right?

No clue what my kids will think about deep dish pizza. They are weird. They get it from their momma.
 
funksouljon said:
Thats about all the info I need... food is amazing, proximity to where I will be going... :) No need to overthink it right?

No clue what my kids will think about deep dish pizza. They are weird. They get it from their momma.
Click to expand...

They are going to wonder why you keep calling a casserole a pizza....
 
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