We’re headed to Chicgo in July for our daughters wedding. We’ll be there approximately five days with our 13 & 14 year old. They’re typical teens, pretty good kids, with a variety of interests and hobbies (they both play in a jazz band). What sights and experiences do you recommend we make a point to see while we’re there?
We’ll be staying in a suburb of Chicago, where my future son-in-laws folks are from, approximately 20 minutes from Chicago proper. We’ll be driving there, so we’ll have our own transportation. We love trying all sorts of new food, too! Our budget will be middle of the road - nothing too fancy smancy.
Your recommendations are appreciated 
June 30 - Jul 9: The Taste of Chicago
It’s truly an amazing festival. All the great food and live music you can handle. The 3rd is the fireworks display. That day is also the busiest, but the fireworks display is worth the hassle.
Go to the museam campus and do the Field and Shedd Aquarium. The Shedd is fantastic.
Do the architectural tour (get on the boat at Michigan and Wacker) and also do the bus tour.
Head north into Lincoln Park and go eat at the Basil Leaf on Clark just north of Fullerton (inexpensive but excellent Italian food). Then head less than a block to the Galway Arms for a few pints on the outdoor patio. Great for kids as well.
So much to do!
Ooh! We went to that years ago! Turtle Soup!!! Frog’s legs cajun style! Swordfish steak sandwiches. Yum!!
Navy Pier is nice too. Great view of the Chicago skyline from the outdoor Ferris Wheel on the pier.
I’m just back from my first trip to Chicago. I’ll second the Architecture Society boat tour and Navy Pier.
The Field Museum was good, and there’s an exhibition of King Tut artifacts through the summer. If you want to see that, you might need to get tickets well in advance.
The Museum of Science and Industry is also worth checking out. They have a da Vinci exhibit (also through this summer) and a great display of the U-505 (German submarine captured during World War II).
AdoptamomII, is a good guide to some of what’s happening this summer.
Everything mentioned is great. My top recommendations are 1) Architectural Boat Tour, 2) Art Institute, 3) Museum of Science & Industry
The boat tour is amazing…you will not only see some of the greatest architecture in the world, but you will hear some really interesting history of the city, as well.
The 2 museums I mentioned are the ones that I think are the most unique in the city…the Art Institute because it has one of the greatest collections of Impressionist art in the world (Mrs. Potter Palmer of the Palmer Hotels collected it back before it was really accepted in the art world, and ended up donating it to the museum). And the Science & Industry has hands-on exhibits that are really fun…the kids might really like it.
All the museums are good, though, the Shedd Aquarium, the Adler Planetarium, the Field Museum…would highly recommend any of them.
Sucks that you can’t make it for Jazz Fest. It’s the best! http://www.chicagojazzfestival.org/
While Long Time First Time and I were in Chicagoland last fall for a Northwestern basketball game, we discovered the Skokie Northshore Sculpture Park Since it was a cold day, we just drove by the art, but you can walk along the path and examine the sculptures in detail if you wish. Great photo opportunities!
Chicago is a great place to begin your summer outing. From O’Hare International Airport, located convenient to downtown Chicago, you can reach any one of dozens of fantastic summer destinations.
Chicago boasts similar advantages for winter get-aways.
I live in Indiana and we take the train into Chicago a couple of times a year. I would recommend just hanging out downtown, window shopping along the Mag Mile. We start at Randolph St. (that’s where the train station is) and just walk along Michigan Ave. There is the Hard Rock, several Borders Books, a Hershey store, a big Virgin records, and a lot more. We usually go to Nordstroms or Water Tower Place or Marshall Fields and look around. My wife and daughter shop, my son and I go to the bookstores or people-watch.
I like in the summer when it gets close to dark and the street performers are out.
There are some nice restaurants that are fancy schmancy and some that are middle of the road. I like a place called Portillos. Not too bad. Gino’s East has some nice pizza. It’s worth the trip. I thought Hard Rock and The Rainforest Cafe were both overpriced-touristy places. But then I’m that way. Our kids, then16&14, liked them. And there is a Starbucks on just about every street corner.
I would give you directions but I’m usually lost and just wandering around. My wife is the one who actually knows how to get to these places.
We just went to the lizard exhibit at the Shedd Aquarium. It was nice. We went on a Saturday and got there early. By noon, people were lining up to get in line to buy tickets.
You can also hook up with the free trolley that takes you out to Navy Pier and back. That’s pretty interesting.
Check out the Department of Cultural Affairs website, too, for free concerts, lectures, photo exhibits, and my favorite, SummerDance.
Also, for restaurant reviews, movie schedules, etc. check out Metromix (and the Reader, of course).
Depending on which suburb you’re staying in, you might have a Portillos right nearby, as well. Good stuff.
Hmmm. Spent last night thinking of neat-o stuff to do around here - not just downtown. Came up with a few -
There’s the McDonald’s Franchise Store No. 1 in DesPlaines.
Cantigny is way cool too - especially the First Division Museum - and in July, the Garden’s should be spectacular.
I’ve never been, but I’ve been told that Tommy Gun’s Garage is pretty cool. Kids should get into it.
Second City - no more needs to be said about THAT.
If you’re into Frank Lloyd Wright, there are tours.
There’s always Woodfield. It’s supposed to be one of the top tourist attractions around here - but why people will go on vacation to SHOP I have no idea.
Lastly, I’ll suggest Arlington Park - but that’s a no brainer! 
AdoptamomII[ul]
I agree with the other items listed, and I’d also recommend:
[li]Millennium Park. The Bean is worth it (and it’s disrobed now!), and the face-towers are cool (and refreshing!).[/li][li]Kayak rentals (with a paddle out to the pumping stations, if you’re fit!)[/li][li]Lincoln Park Zoo. Best Free Zoo around, IMHO. It’s really free.[/li][li]The Lakefront. Spend some time walking up and down the lake, pick a beach, and jump in. Watch out for the bike paths, though![/li][li]Wrigley Field. If you have sons, a baseball game at the “cathedral” is worthwhile.[/li][/ul] , which suburb will you be staying in? Some of the suburbs have their own sights to see.
Chicago is not a 2-3 day city. You can come back several times and have brand-new fun times. Enjoy it!
I also second Portillo’s and Gino’s. Any Portillo’s is great, but for Gino’s, please try to hit one of the originals downtown. Pizzario Uno (or Due, down the street) are better, in my opinion. Again…go to the downtown ones…the chains suck.
-Cem
Oh, if you’re public radio fans, you can get tickets to a taping of Wait, Wait, Don’t Tell Me.
Y’all have given us a lot to choose from - thanks for all of the great suggestions!
I highly recommend their four-cheese pizza … mmm … pizza with feta!