Hello All!!!

We are going to Chicago (June 18-22) for Ebay Live! Now, our DD & MIL are going to (woo hoo-no vacation here)...Anyway...Please Please give us some tips!!!

What is an absolute MUST SEE?

We are staying 1 mile from McCormick Convention Center. We are on Michigan Ave. Now it was going to be ($25/day) to keep car on hotel property...NOW...Last year at Ebay Live in Boston, we stayed about 1/2 or so out...& did park & ride at Mass Transit (L-Trains)...Now, i just checked Chicago's Mass transit, looks like I can park for $12/per 24 hours. I will give them a call tomrorow to double check I can leave car for 4 days in their garage.

If anyone has any other parking arrangement ideas...Please let me know!!!

Now for those who live there & know the L-Trains...Can we take the train to Brookfield Zoo? I couldn't find that on the map. I will probably be buying 5 days passes for us for the train.

We will be at the convention probably most of the day...Can can DD & MIL do?

I know they want to visit American Girl & Build A BEar..>What else??? Please we want this to be as fun as possible...

Anyone know about the CityPass (i think that is what it's called--it is $59--wondering if that is worth it?)

Thanks in Advance for all the great tips!! Please anythign helps!! LEt us know!!!
~Christy

I'm sure you'll get lots of great advice from others, here, but I can tell you what little I know. We were there just last month for several days.

We went to the Shedd Aquarium, which was really nice, and also to the Museum of Science and Industry, which was something we just didn't get nearly enough time at. The U-boat exhibit was just fascinating to me. It was history I didn't know about at all.

We saw a Broadway show (obviously not ON Broadway...!), which was very cool.

We went to a Cubs game at Wrigley Field and shopped downtown quite a bit.

There is also the Sears Tower. We went up to the top at night and the view was magnificent.

There's lots to do!

Brookfield Zoo is in the suburbs. You can go to Lincoln Park Zoo on public transportation and there is NO entrance fee. Navy Pier is a great destination on the lakefront, it has something for everyone (Giant Ferris wheel, Children's Museum, boat rides, mini-golf, food...etc) and starting this weekend there are fireworks every Saturday night. Michigan Avenue is called the Magnificant Mile and is filled with high end stores American Girl is located there. There are free trolleys (or use to be not sure with gas prices this year) that run throughout the downtown area, Gold Coast area and to the Museum Campus (Adler Planetarium, Shed Aquarium and Field Museum of Natural History all great). Chinatown is also close to where you are staying great restaurants and some interesting stores. There are tons of things to do in Chicago have a great time.

Navy Pier Chicago: Historic Navy Pier is Chicago's lakefront playground. It is the Midwest's #1 tourist attraction and leisure destination.

Bring lots of money because almost everything has a fee to get in. Lincoln Park Zoo is free like the other poster said. Parking is a premium whereever you go. My son lives there so we have been many times.

Travel to Chicago Illinois - Traveler Directory, Convention Guide to Hotels, Restaurants, Dining, Nightlife, Sightseeing Attractions, Events, Tourism This has a lot of info...

The Musuem Campus is beautiful and a short walk away is beautiful Buckingham fountain! Go see it at night for the light show.

City Pass is a great help, but a few of the musuems are free general admission that week.

Shedd Aquarium Shedd Aquarium | Plan a Visit | Discounts Go see the Oceanarium before it closes in September. It will be closed for 9 months for a renovation. Added fee, not part of admission.

Museum of Science and Industry The U-505 is great! Added fee not part of general admissionMuseum of Science and Industry | Visit the Museum | Museum Info | Admission | Free Days

Adler Planetarium Adler Planetarium, Chicago, IL

Field Museum isn't free that week, but they have "Sue" the dinosaur Sue at The FIeld Museum and the Tsavo Lions in the movie, the Ghost and the Darkness I love to look at them. Watch the movie before you come and you'll really be interested in seeing them, at least we were. The Tsavo Lions Those are regular exhibits so they are included in general admission. That musuem is OK. Their special exhibit is Nature Unleashed, added fee.

Peggy Notebart Museum is also great The Notebaert Nature Museum :: Special Programs Our grade school goes there on field trips every year and they love it. Thursday-free day

Go see Cloud Gate or "The Bean" as everyone here calls it. Millennium Park :: Art and Architecture :: Cloud Gate on AT&T Plaza

Navy Pier, lots of things to do...Navy Pier Chicago: Historic Navy Pier is Chicago's lakefront playground. It is the Midwest's #1 tourist attraction and leisure destination. Fireworks every weekend. You can rent bikes there, Lots of places to ride.

Boat tour right outside the Shedd or Buckingham Fountain I love that.

This is also a pretty good deal depending on what you want to do.
Go Chicago Card for Discounts on Chicago Attractions, Tours, Places To Go, Sightseeing

What ever you decide on, if you want to see a special exhibit that is not included in general admission prices, buy your tickets on line, like for the U 505. You won't regret doing that. Some events are sold out well in advance.

I would recommend a Sox game...Not a Cubs fan here. You'd want to see a REAL MAJOR LEAGUE game, not the Cubs. I would recommend driving there.

Too bad you aren't in the next week. The Taste starts! Hope it helps you.

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Freedom Stands...Because HEROS Serve

Mary

We love the China town. You can easily get there via the train. It is small but fun to walk around. There are tons of small mom and pop restaurants and little Chinese stores to explore. I always get my favorite sesame seed candy there. We also always find a fun addition to the Christmas tree---we have a travel tree! We add little momentos for every place we vist-a seashell from Boston, a straw doll from the Bahamas, a marionette from Mexico, a tiny Coke Light can from Italy, a huge "castle" key from England and the list goes on and on. Every year when we put the trip up, the whole family starts with "Oh remember when we got that?". It is a lot of fun.

Second the motion for the Science and Industry. It is easy to catch the bus to the museum. Leavng, if I remember correctly, was a little trickier. I think we had to walk down a block or so. Anyway, great museum with lots to see and do.

If you have the time, it is fun to go to the bar and the top of the John Hancock building and watch the sun go down and all the lights of the city start to pop on. Well worth the price of a beer or two. Get there early and drink slowly. Plus it has one the greatest views in town from the woman's bathroom- take the camera with you.

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Lyn Clarke

Never been to the bathroom. I will have to go there and see! LOL

__________________
Freedom Stands...Because HEROS Serve

Mary

You must eat the pizza!
You must try a Chicago Beef sandwhich ( best one I ever had was at a place called Bostons) Funny name for a place in Chicago lol.

Sears tower is a must see.
Sheed Aquarium was nice
The Museum across from the Shedd is ok too my son though didn't care for it because it was full of old dead things lol.
Shop til you drop!
Go to the lake. I was amazed it had waves and they crashed just like you were at the ocean.

I love Chicago I have lots of family there so try to go there often.

That would be the Field Museum. It is OK. I only like to see a few things there, to me otherwise it is pretty boring.

__________________
Freedom Stands...Because HEROS Serve

Mary

I use to live in Milwaukee. My son lives in Chicago. For the last 21 years we have lived in Maryland not to far from the ocean. People are always amazed when I tell them that Lake Michigan has waves as big as any ocean water.

I grew up in Chicago and just moved to VA.....and I miss it.


You are going at a great time....you should check out the following events:


Lincoln Park Summer Fest
When: June 21 : 12 p.m. - 10 p.m.
June 22 : 12 p.m. - 9 p.m.
Price: $5
Event Phone Number: 773-665-4682
Clark Street and Armitage Avenue Neighborhood: Lincoln Park 2000 N. Clark St.
Lincoln Park gets festive with live music, arts and crafts and kids' entertainment.

Thailand Festival 2008
When: June 16 : 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
June 17 : 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
June 18 : 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
June 19 : 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
June 20 : 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Price: Free
Event Phone Number: 312-664-3129
Daley Plaza 50 W. Washington St. (not too far from where you would be staying)
Features dance performances, a fashion show, Thai boxing demonstrations, food and merchant vendors and more.

Weird Chicago Tour
When: Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays : 8 p.m.
Price: $30
Event Phone Number: 888-446-7859
Hard Rock Cafe Neighborhood: River North 63 W. Ontario St.
Chicago, IL 60610 312-943-2252
This grab bag of Chicago history, inspired by Troy Taylor's book "Weird Illinois," includes stops at crime scenes, allegedly haunted sites, unusual eateries and more. Routes change often

Also, hit metromix.com. They should have a little bit of everything listed for you.

If you want to save money, don't pay to go to the skydeck on the Hancock....go up the the 96th floor....there is a resaurant(Signature Room on the 95th) and bar. If you go to the 96th and pay to just have a drink or a soda, you will get the most amazing view.

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I'm the kind of woman when my feet hit the floor in each morning, the devil says "Oh crap, she's up."

These are some of my not to be missed sights:

Art Institute of Chicago – free admission on Thursday evenings from 5 to 8 pm – See American Gothic, Nighthawks (diner scene); Sunday Afternoon in the Park, Paris Street, Van Gogh’s self portrait, Monet’s water lilies, etc. I saw more famous artwork in this one location than most of the Smithsonian combined!!!

Millienium Park – The bean (Cloud Gate) statue & Crown fountain…really cool!!! (no admission to either)

Billy Goat’s Tavern – the inspiration for Saturday Night Live’s Cheeseborger, Cheeseborger skit. A riot in person!

Superdawg – Chicago hot dog institution

Lou Malnati's and/or Giordano’s - for deep dish pizza

Ed Debevic’s – terrific food in a nostalgic setting – the servers dance on the countertops!

Second City Improv – free improv set after the show on Mondays. And go to the paid show…most Saturday Night Live stars got their start here.

McDonald's Museum and Store No. 1 in Des Plaines - suburb of chicago

You can do searches on google.com for information, directions, hours, and menus of the places I noted above.

Have a great time!

We moved to Maryland when my son was 9. When he was ready for college 9 years later, he got a ROTC scholarship to Marquette University. I figured since he was going into nursing he would probably marry someone from the Midwest and they did. After 4 years in various places (including 1 1/2 year at Walter Reed down the road from us) they settled in Chicago near her parents.

Hello Everyone! Thank You for all the great ideas...I have been checking them all out! & There are MANY things we are interested in that you all posted for us!

I think we are going to buy the Go Chicago Card (not CityPass)...it is 10% til tomorrow...So it will be $108/adult 80/child for 3 days of unlimited to Shedd, Navy Pier (with attrations) & lots of other stuff. Sears & the other Observation deck place.

Keep giving more ideas! & don't be afraid to post when i'm on vacation....I will be interent ready & i have a smart phone...So i'm set!!!!

I'm going to make index cards with the info so it isn't hard to carry around!!!

Thank you all & Please keep the ideas coming!!!
~Christy

madison66 is right....

Ed Debevic’s – terrific food in a nostalgic setting – the servers dance on the countertops!

This is a fun place for the whole family to have lunch. The servers dress in 50's diner wear, act all sassy and fun, and the food is pretty good. They serve the world's smallest hot fudge sundae and Green River soda....the kids will love that.

If you eat there for lunch one day, you are on the same city block with some other family friendly attractions....Rainforest Cafe, Hard Rock, and the must see Rock n' Roll McDonalds.

Chicago is a big city and the attractions (Shedd, Art Inst, Mich Ave stores) seem close together, but you are going to be doing a lot of walking. So, be prepared. Also, set a little money aside for some cab rides...

Make sure you stop at Garret's on Mich Ave while you are shopping and get some popcorn. The line might be out the door, but it's so worth it.

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I'm the kind of woman when my feet hit the floor in each morning, the devil says "Oh crap, she's up."

Garrets on Michigan Ave is closing May 31st. (Tomorrow)
Garrett Popcorn closing Michigan Avenue store :: CHICAGO SUN-TIMES :: Business

__________________
Freedom Stands...Because HEROS Serve

Mary

we just went...parking is bad in most residential areas. Field Museum is fun. There is an Underground exhibit right now, not sure whne it is closing. Check tripadvisor.com for more Chicago info.
Oh and be prepared w/ lots of change to get off and on tollway!

Again--Thank everyone for giving us great tips! We will be following your advise---

---Tollway-You mean highway? When we went to see my aunt in Wis, about 3 yrs ago, I wanted to strangle someone! They nickle & dimed you to death! $.35 here...$.40 there! I think My EZ Passworkds tho? Going to the website to figure that one out...


YIPPEE~Ill. takes EZ Pass...not freakin Ohio tho!! (Coming From almost Pittsbugh, pA!!!)

It's been three years since we went to Chicago, but at that time every toll was 80 cents (and they all seemed to be exact change!) and they didn't take EZ Pass -- glad to hear that's changed.

Have a great time -- I really like Chicago. I could ride the el for hours.

We are going in July and August to Chicago. Our second grandchild should be born by June 28. So we are going July 9 and then in August for the baptism. Airfare is better cheap.

We are going in July and August to Chicago. Our second grandchild should be born by June 28. So we are going July 9 and then in August for the baptism. Airfare is better cheap.

I am heartbroken! Visiting this store was a regular part of my routine growing up!

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I'm the kind of woman when my feet hit the floor in each morning, the devil says "Oh crap, she's up."

link for tollway info http://www.illinoistollway.com/
and map that you can click on for each one for cash amount (Toll Rates button) Illinois Virtual Tollway