peppergirl

1st time visitor to Chicago-what NOT to miss?

tchoiniere

Could you please give us more info? What are your interests? Kids coming? Budget? etc. This would make it easier to suggest sites.

I would recommend
Hancock Tower
Field Museum
Shedd Aquarium
Chicago Arch. Foundation River Cruise
Cubs game at Wrigley
and / or White Sox game at US Cellular.

tenthumbs

all of what tchoiniere said PLUS:

The cruise down the river showing off the architecture of the city;

The Museum of Science and Industry.

sf7307

>>

Which IS the Chicago Arch. Foundation River Cruise, tchoiniere said

I'd add that no trip to Chicago would be complete without a walk/bike ride along the lake and a stroll through Grant Park and Millenium Park (including the "bean" and the Pritzker Pavilion). Also, if you're interested in Frank Lloyd Wright, a visit to Oak Park, where his home and studio are, and where there are many homes he designed.

bk123

Art Institute

Deep-dish pizza

bachslunch

The first thing not to miss is a read through a guidebook or doing a site search here. Chicago's reasonably well covered. Here's one thread to start you off:

http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...ack-wanted.cfm

exiledprincess

I think the most important question is: How long will you be visiting?

peppergirl

arriving Sat. evening, leaving Thursday, late afternoon-no kids

bachslunch

peppergirl, I'd suggest posting a rough itinerary for suggestions if we're going to best help you. We don't know your interests, and we shouldn't be doing all the heavy lifting here.

You can use the link to my earlier Chicago trip (both preliminary and actual itinerary are included) above as a basis if you want.

barbrn

May should be a great time to visit Chicago. There are many must sees that are already covered above. It's a great town to walk in, the lakefront and Michigan Avenue are fun areas to just walk. The Art Institute is world class, and there is a new walkway to Millenium/Grant Park. I personally would not miss the Architectural River Cruise. The water taxi (what a bargain!) goes to Chinatown and is also a great way to see the buildings from a river view. I'm a Cubs fan, so I think Wrigley Field is a must see too. And the restaurants you could go to.....my personal fave is any of Rick Bayless's. I can taste the guacamole now. Of course deep dish pizza is a must too...Gino's East comes to mind. Enjoy Chicago, it's pretty easy to do.

tenthumbs

thanks, sf.... (red face)
I was having difficulty remembering what the name of the cruise was, and there it was in the post above mine!

We had deep dish pizza at Lou Mahlnati's that was very good.

The Willis Tower, formerly known as the Sears Tower, has a sky deck~a plexiglass box in which you can look at the street over 1,300 ft below. I belly crawled (which garnered much laughter from my sister, mother and 6 year old niece) and peered over the edge, but I could not bring myself to stand in that box!! :0