Visiting Chicago this spring ... UPDATE

Can anyone recommend a specific hotel, or at least a general area where I should stay?

Anything else -- places to eat, things to do/see -- would be appreciated, as well.

I'll be traveling solo and I'll be there for five days, so I'm as flexible as I can be on my itinerary.

 

Re: Visiting Chicago this spring ...

I'll get this out of the way: Real Chicago pizza is the thin-crust kind you get in the neighborhood pizzerias, NOT the stuffed crap (which is good, but it's mostly for unsuspecting tourists). A good chain for thin crust is Home Run Inn.

Anyway, the Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium and Field Museum are all together by the lake. They're all worth a visit.

 

Re: Visiting Chicago this spring ...

Definitely hit Shedd. It's top shelf.

I assume you want to stay in the city?

 

Re: Visiting Chicago this spring ...

What kind of coin do you want to spend on the hotel and such. Downtown fancy-schmanzy or suburban chain? Near the lake, the crowded tollways or (heh heh) southside?
Where you plan on going might help recommendations; day trips planned perhaps to Milwaukee or (dare we dream?) DeKalb?

 

Re: Visiting Chicago this spring ...

Is there really enough in DeKalb to spend a day? Maybe that could be a DeKalb/Rockford day trip.

 

Re: Visiting Chicago this spring ...

I'll be in the city the whole time, unless someone can give me a reason to head elsewhere for a day.

I want to be downtown or in one of the nearby neighborhoods, like Lincoln Park. Other than that, I have no plans at this point. I haven't been to Chicago since I was 12, and the Cubs won't be in town, so I'm up for anything.

I know I'm probably going to have to spend $300 or so a night for some place decent, which is fine since my Visa points will be paying for most of it.

 

Re: Visiting Chicago this spring ...

If you stay in Lincoln Park, go to the zoo.

 

Re: Visiting Chicago this spring ...

You must go to The Art Institute. I believe they have the biggest collection of Impressionist works any place outside of Paris. I am not a big "art fan" but I try to make the Institute whenever I am in Chicago. When you find yourself face to face w/ American Gothic or A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte you will always remeber the moment. But maybe thats just me.

 

Re: Visiting Chicago this spring ...

Here's a couple previous threads that might help as well

http://www.sportsjournalists.com/forum/threads/45781/

http://www.sportsjournalists.com/forum/threads/42200/


And I agree with Badger on the Art Institute and disagree with pallister on the deep dish pizza.

 

Re: Visiting Chicago this spring ...

Good, more of the good stuff for me.

 

Re: Visiting Chicago this spring ...

If you do go to the Field Museum, leave a little extra in the donationbox if you can.

It seems as though they can't even afford to feed their animals anymore.

 

Re: Visiting Chicago this spring ...

Thanks, good stuff in there. Still trying to figure out where to stay, though.