My parents are in town, visiting, but I have not lived in Chicago long enough to know what things are on the list of “must do.”
We took the architectural boat tour yesterday. They’ve seen the Frank Lloyd Wright house, and the Art Institute. Tonight we are going to a concert at City Winery.
Where should we go today?
Great stuff in Lincoln Park: The LP Zoo, the LP Conservatory, and The Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum.
The pier and aquarium, field museum, and pick a walking tour from historical society. The Pullman neighborhood museum & tour is great too.
The Navy Pier is a bit of a tourist trap, but the Stained Glass Museum at the Pier has some very beautiful pieces including a selection of Tiffany stained glass.
Quimby’s
Personally, I love the Field Museum and always suggest that. Additionally, the Shedd Aquarium is very nice if you like that sort of thing. Also, I almost always take my guests to lunch at the Signature Room on the 95th Floor of the John Hancock Building. You get a very good meal with a great view. The last time I went, they had a lunch buffet that was about $15 a person.
Late to the party, but I second the Shedd. I’ve been to many aquariums around the US, but Shedd is my favorite. Their show is just indescribable.
I second the Field Museum and add the Museum of Science and Industry. They have some nice exhibits right now.
Great suggestions here already. I also recommend the Field, it’s a lovely museum. Quimby’s, recommended earlier, is a great shop for book fans and not too far from a lot of other great shops at North and Milwaukee, like Myopic Books. Food is a whole other area, I won’t get into it now. 🙂
Millennium Park is really worth a quick visit if you didn’t go already when you hit up the Art Institute. A comedy show at Second City is great for evening entertainment. I second the Pullman neighborhood tour, but it is a bit of a trek to get out there.
After spending last week there as a tourist, I’d say if they like to cook, you could hit up Penzeys in Oak Park for spices & spice blends. I spent way too much there when we visited last week.
Also agreeing with the other comments – the Field Museum was quite good, both the new exhibits and the unmodernized bits for an interesting view of how our view of history changes. And Millennium Park for people watching and photo opportunities with the Bean.
Another good museum that hasn’t been mentioned yet is the Museum of Science and Industry