Four days in Chicago, help us hit the highlights

[Anonymous]

Planning to take a short trip to Chicago in July with my wife and two teen girls. We’ve never been, so what are the must see places? Assume we’ll stay somewhere in The Loop. Thanks in advance.

[Anonymous]

Enjoy! I'm from Chicago but haven't been back in years but I think below still applicable..

Chicago architecture tour on the water is always what I suggest to tourists.

The museums are INCREDIBLE. To me they are better than the ones in DC. You really can't go wrong with any including Planetarium, Art Institute and of course the Field Museum.

Downtown of course is where everyone wants to be but it's the neighborhoods of Chicago that are so fabulous. The Lutz is a family owned place that's been there forever. Ann Sathers has multiple locations for breakfasts. Chicago is a big breakfast town and after you return you will miss it cause it's just like that here We do breakfast with more than just buttermilk pancakes LOL Food is really where it's at in Chicago.

Neighborhoods will typically have different fests throughout the summer so you may want to look at some calendar for that. Getting to Lincoln Park or Wrigley should not be hard if you are around Loop.

Tourists typically do Navy Pier, Millennium Park, Willis Tower, etc. I like 96th Fl of John Hancock. They also have a restaurant up there, best drinks ever.

2nd City in Old Town for a show is always fun.

[Anonymous]

I am from Chicago and these are what I recommend to visitors: Architectural Boat tour on the river through the Architecture Center, Millennium Park, the Art Institute, Museum of Science and Industry, Cubs game, Hancock observatory. There is also so much good food. Get a Chicago hot dog at Weiner’s Circle in Lincoln Park or a burger at Au Cheval on Randolph. And I know this is in other cities, but we enjoy going to Eataly. There are also tons of festivals in Chicago in the summer. This might be a great way to see a neighborhood outside of downtown.

[Anonymous]

I would not stay in Loop. Look at River North/Old Town/Lincoln Park. You'll be close enough to see tourists spots (maybe a bit further from museums/Navy Pier but it's not bad). You'll be closer to the neighborhoods and food places. I used to live in Old Town and when I return for visits, I stay at Hotel Lincoln in Old Town. North Ave Beach is an actual beach so you can if you wanted do some beach time in Chicago as well

[Anonymous]

Another Chicagoan that recommends the architectural boat tour!!

Other than that, what do you like to do? Are you museum goers? Outdoorsy? Like live music? You should check and see what music festivals may be happening while you are there. I’m guessing since you’ll be there such a short time, you will mostly want to stick to downtown. Oh man, there’s so much good food too! I haven’t lived there in 10+ years so don’t know what is current as far as trendy restaurants, and my favorites are in the neighborhood I used to live in (so not downtown).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Planning to take a short trip to Chicago in July with my wife and two teen girls. We’ve never been, so what are the must see places? Assume we’ll stay somewhere in The Loop. Thanks in advance.

Personally, I'm not a huge fan of museums, and you have teen girls, so: Why not look at college campuses? They usually have good, cheap food all around them, and the campuses might have interesting little museums or libraries.

You could look at Columbia College, DePaul, Loyola, Northwestern and the University of Chicago and see what's there.

The one I've seen is Northwestern. Getting there from downtown Chicago is easy, and Evanston is pretty, if you're into that kind of town.

[Anonymous]

Don’t miss the architecture boat tour. Fantastic. Oak Park and the Frank Lloyd House are nice. See if the show Six is still playing.

[Anonymous]

Another architectural boat tour rec from a Chicagoan who lives here now. Stay in River North before you stay in the Loop. Very touristy but easy - get a drink (mocktails too) at the Signature Room at John Hancock. The Gage (near Millennium Park) is fantastic.

[Anonymous]

Lived in Chicago during my 20s and agree with all the recs here. Architecture boat tour, 96th floor Hancock for cocktails/a drink and a view, don’t stay in the loop, SO MUCH GOOD FOOD. Seriously. The food is truly so much better than here. Do some classic Chicago but also do some searches for top restaurants generally, it’s probably changed since I’ve been so I’m sure lots of options I couldn’t share. Let’s see all things people said.

Only other things I didn’t see mentioned that we enjoyed doing when visitors came - biking along the lakeshore path. So nice for an active fun day when you don’t want to do museums etc. You can stop at one of the beaches along the lake. Comedy show - second city or others. Blues shoe at Kingston mines or other if you want a night activity.

But really, food. Go into the neighborhoods and enjoy. Also a game at wrigley is always a blast and very Chicago if the timing works.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Thank you for all the feedback. We might need to stay another day or two!

[Anonymous]

You do!! . It'll always be home to me. No other better city in summer at least in US. Seriously. Aug brings air and water show if you ever went back. Really fun.

[Anonymous]

Man we loved Chicago. You do have to go to Ann Sathers, the cinnamon rolls and Swedish pancakes are really something special. We went to Chicago Pizza and Grinder Co (I think that’s what it was called) for the pizza pot pie. That was good but the Mediterranean bread they serve - oh my god, unreal. The architecture boat tour, Field Museum, Art Institute, Shedd Aquarium, the Macy’s on State St- it’s a really really special city. One of my favorites.

[Anonymous]

We always like to visit the Obama house for some reflection.

[Anonymous]

A lot of thefts and shooting becareful

[Anonymous]

Watch out for pickpockets on the “tree” streets off MagMile