Chicago Attractions & Things To Do!
|
Chicago, my kind of town - visit Chicago if you're looking for a good time. There are so many fun things to do in Chicago. Just imagine a romantic weekend getaway, getting snowbound in an elegant Chicago hotel, venturing out to one of Chicago's best restaurants, then walking over to Rush Street to hear some jazz. You might have missed out on a really great time if you haven't done
this, at least once in your life!
Chicago is a popular destination for vacations as well as business and no matter your reason for travel, you'll find the best Chicago discount hotels right here, along with all the other information to make your trip to Chicago
fun and affordable. Plus Be sure to check our
Chicago
vacation deals for fun and savings. Chicago has
loads of attractions, it's sun and exciting and you'll love your visit. See Broadway plays like Jersey Boys, My Fair Lady or the Blue Man Group, get the latest Chicago theater schedule and
find show tickets for Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (formerly Drury
Lane Theatre) The United Center, Briar Street Theatre, House of Blues, Civic
Opera House and all Show and Even venues in Chicago.
If you're a Chicago Cubs fan and if you're want to see a Chicago Cubs Baseball Game while you're here, you can get the best Chicago Cubs baseball tickets right here, in fact why not bookmark this page for all your premium sporting event tickets in Chicago and elsewhere. For a romantic fine dining, try one of the best restaurants with a great view in Chicago, The Signature Room at the 95th in the John Hancock Center is truly a romantic way to spend the evening or a delightful place for a lunch and very affordable at about $15.00 for the buffet. Dinner is of course more costly. Besides the outstanding food, you get all the views without paying additional for them.
Another great experience on the dining scene is definitely Alinea at 1723 N. Halsted St. - not since the days of Rogert Verge presiding over Mougins 'de Mougin have there been so many delectable courses available. Chef Grant Achatz is offering multi-courses, small soupcons of taste and elegance. Be sure and plan for a night of it, (think early roman Empire, 12 courses takes about 3 hours - non-reclining), bring your appetite and your pocketbook to enjoy a " world" dining experience.
A top Chicago restaurant is Charlie Trotters on Armitage in downtown Chicago, other top rated Chicago restaurants to consider would be Everest in The Loop and Blackbird on West Randolph Street. Also one of the most favorite restaurants in the world, Joe's Stone Crabs, not just in Miami Beach anymore, but right here in downtown Chicago and please be sure to make reservations at all of these restaurants well ahead of time.
Chicago restaurants for kids include the Rainforest Cafe at 605 N. Clark ST, part of a chain the kids will be
fascinated by the jungle animals, bridges and waterfalls. Another Chicago restaurant that kids love is Gino's East Pizzeria, kids can write all over the tables, walls, the chairs, you'll see more grafitti then you can see on a New York subway. Dave & Buster's has become famous cross country for their dining, fun and games for the kids chain and this is true here as well. Find them at 1024 N. Clark St.
To get the very best hot dog in Chicago! Many natives and visitors believe that to be Portillo's, we offer their link for locations as well as shipping! Never mind you moved to Arizona, just order those hot dogs here!
 Other Chicago things to do include exploring Chicago architecture, home to the 1893 World's Fair and known as The White City. Chicago is home of the first skyscraper, Home Insurance Building, a ten stories high building completed in 1885. Today's tall buildings are a tribute to a man named Otis. Otis invented the elevator and made it plausible and possible to go up any number of floors...today you think nothing of taking elevators as high as 100 floors! Chicago is home to the tallest building in the U.S. The Sears Tower, built in 1974, 2nd tallest building in the world over-shadowed only by the Petronas Twin Towers in Kuala Lumpur.
Not a skyscraper, but a landmark of Chicago since the mid-20's and home of world-famous Wrigley Gum, the white Wrigley Building is always a sight to behold,
in the can't be missed location of the southern end the Magnificent Mile. Wrigley has made gum (my personal favorite for many years - Juicy Fruit) since the late 1800's
and the Wrigley Building flood lit at night is a great favorite of all
Chicagoans.
The Water Tower, was built in 1869 and resembles a medieval mini-castle. It
survived the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 and since has become symbolic of
Chicago's ability to survive. The Tower has survived many attempts at demolition
and after a complete restoration in 1962, it will now be preserved for the
foreseeable future as the First American Water Landmark. It is the most visited
historical attraction in Chicago! immortalized at. The Chicago Water Tower
Shopping Mall is one of the most beautiful multi-storied structures in the city.
A weekend in
Chicago wouldn't be the same without the music. Chicago nightlife has been a big attraction for years. From the late 50's when Lurlene Hunter, Art Tatum, and many others were the artists of choice at Mr. Kelly's and the London House, right up until the present time with Chicago blues clubs still dominating today. Head for State Street (that great street) and many other locations until the wee hours of the morning. One of our favorite things to do, fly to Chicago for a weekend and immerse ourselves in the "blues". Get the B.L.U.E.S on the near North Side, intimate, crowded, fun with live music all 7 nights. 2519 N. Halsted, Chicago. Or our favorite, Buddy Guy's Legends 754 S. Wabash, Chicago Illinois. Talk about "lightning in a bottle". This night club has been around a long time with an admission plus cover, it can get pricey but it's worth every
penny, sing the blues all night long. Can blues lovers of 35 years be wrong, visit Kingston Mines, 2548 N. Halsted St. for great after-hours music. and another winner,
Metromix. Also if you love jazz then it's worth the cab ride and fare to the Green Mill Jazz Club, dating back to the days of prohibition, a speakeasy catering to the likes of Al Capone, the interior hasn't changed all that much and the "jass" is hotter than ever.
Many consider it the very best bar in Chi Town!
Comedy clubs have long been around as well, from the beginning days of Second City, (yep it's still here - since 1955) where MacLean Stevenson made his comic debut, before he was the colonel in Mash - to Mort Sahl the lean mean political comic of the 60's. When you think about it things really haven't changed that much.
The Chicago Children's Museum at Navy Pier is another great place when looking for something for children to do!
Some other not-to-be-missed
Chicago attractions:
- Shedd Aquarium -
this absolutely
awesome and unexpected aquarium is perhaps the favorite of
Chicago attractions for families with kids of all ages. 2
million people visit the Shedd Aquarium every year. There are
millions of gallons of salt water in the especially made
reservoirs and wondrous exhibits, the most exciting being the
Caribbean Reef, the Wild Reef and the Oceanarium.
You can view over a thousand different types of sea life. The
Oceanaium is home to beluga whales, dolphins, seals and sea
lions and is the world's largest manmade mammal habitat. At the
Caribbean Reef exhibit you can ooh and aah at sharks and
stingrays. Kids absolutely love the Dolphin Show or watching the
sharks swim around and between and other the sandbar at the Wild
Reef. From catfish to piranhas to River Otters, you can see it
all at the Shedd Aquarium.
- Museum of Science &
Industry - The Museum of Science and Industry
has been a world-wide attraction since its opening in 1933. The
over 800 exhibits are truly unique, capped by a replica coal
mine. A fascinating exhibit to say the least, and if you are not
claustrophobic, you will be enthralled by the experience that
miners have of descending into the bowels of the earth. Here it
is only 50 ft, but you will get the sensation!
If you were a child of the 50s and lived in the right town,
the
sight of this train made any kid's heart go pitter-patter. We
thrilled to the Chicago Zephyr bulleting thru town. This silver
train with the vista domes was something all of us aspired to
ride on. You can see this Pioneer Zephyr train at the Museum and
dream the dreams of yesterday. Don't miss seeing this special
glimpse into the past. It will still make your heart go
pitter-patter!
The Museum
has so many unmatched exhibits and is just a great place to take
the kids when you come to town. Colleen Moore's Fairy Castle
is a favorite with the little girls with tiny treasures of
furniture and more. The Idea Factory is fun for all kids.
From a German U-boat of WW II times, replica of the Kitty Hawk
(first plane made by the Wright brothers) to the first manned
spaceship Apollo 8 you and the kids can see it all here.
The Chicago Children's Museum at Navy Pier is another great place when looking for something for children to do!
- The Lincoln Park Zoo
is
probably the best-known zoo in the country, at lease among the
older of us and it's all due to Marlin Perkins and his "Zoo
Parade" which highlighted the zoo on TV back in the late 50s. It
houses all species of animals from the normal to the exotic.
Kids love petting and touching the animals at The Pritzker
Family Children's Zoo and The Farm-in-the-Zoo is where kids can
get in touch with the farmer in themselves, it takes them back
to olden times when the kids milked the family cow, helped churn
butter and gather eggs! Most things none of our children will
ever do, but should at least experience once!
|
We hope you've gotten a taste
for Chicago from these pages and truly want to visit!
The Best time...Spring and Summer! But winter if you're brave and really want to getaway!
Don't you think it's time to book a
Chicago vacation - you won't be disappointed!
TOP OF PAGE
|
|
|
