Hi Everyone

We're in Chicago right now! Staying at the corner of Kingsbury and Ontario - just so you know which part of town we are in.

I wanted some advice/some critique on the following rough itinerary I have and hopefully help refining it.

First, about us:
- 3 adults and one 2 year old. We need to keep the two year old engaged with some activity each day otherwise she'll get totally bored and cranky.
- We are vegetarian
- We enjoy art, heritage/history, local cultural things especially things that help us identify a place uniquely.

Friday, May 25: Arrive. Dinner at Big Bowl and walk about downtown (done)

Saturday, May 26: Its already nearing noon and we're planning to go to Navy Pier. Planning to walk around, hopefully do the Ferris wheel, a bike ride and visit the children's museum. Dinner, mostly at Vermilion (Indian/Latin fusion).

Sunday May 27: Visit Millennium Park. Dinner at Giordano's (we're not big dinner eaters, but apparently, you have to do this in Chicago once) Lunch?

Monday, May 28: Lincoln Park Zoo, Lunch, Dinner?

Tuesday, May 29: Willis tower observation deck, Architectural tour of Chicago. Lunch, dinner?

Wednesday-Sunday: Heading to Deerfield for a wedding. The wedding is at the botanical gardens, so apart from that is there anything else to see/eat in that area?

Thanks a lot!

Several vegetarians that I know make a point of going to The Chicago Diner when they are in Chicago. According to its website, its won many awards. Thought you might be interested if you didn't already know about it.

The Chicago Diner
Meat Free Since ‘83
All vegetarian, mostly vegan menu.
Award Winning Veggie Brunch from $5.99.
Dine in, Carry out, Vegan Bakery.

3411 N. Halsted, Chicago IL

I would think that you could do Millennium Park and the Lincoln Park Zoo both in a day. They are both things that I would recommend, but won't take a full day.

The Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder isn't too far from the Lincoln Park Zoo.

Traverler2005: Thanks a lot. Yes, we'll do Chicago diner and also try to do the park and zoo in a day, although with the kid it gets complicated since she needs to sleep in the afternoon so our goal is to get back to the apt by 2:30-ish.

It's too bad that the nap isn't more like noon. Then you could go to Millennium Park, go back for the nap, and then venture out to Lincoln Park Zoo. (I checked their website - they usually close at 5 but it looks like summer weekend hours have started and they are open to 6:30.)

Actually, if you have not already gone out, flipping the order would work. You could do the zoo first and then go back for the nap when needed. Millennium Park will be available whenever you get there.

Lincoln Park Zoo is small as zoos go, so you don't need as much time as you would at some zoos. Plus, since it's free, you don't have to worry about a short trip not being "worth it."

Thanks, again.

So its 11 AM and as it stands, she would like to go swimming now instead of go to the park (her otherwise favorite activity). Current plan then is to take her swimming and then to the park.

Planning for Chicago diner tomorrow for lunch. Any ideas where we can go tonight around Magnificient Mile? We had Lou Malnati's pizza for dinner last night and it was great.