Looking for recommendations for fun stuff for a summer day in Chicago with my son age 13. Not baseball fans.

What kinds of things do you like to do?

Museum of Science & Industry - currently has a Titanic exhibit.

Lincoln Park Zoo - it's free

John Hancock and/or Sears Tower Observatory decks

Pizzeria Uno or Pizzeria Due's for lunch or dinner

Navy Pier

He will not be bored and neither will you. Great city. Welcome!

Navy Pier for sure. Pizza for lunch. Sears tower observation deck?

Ok, so it's not a deck. It's a level near the tippy top of the Sears...and also the Hancock.

picky, picky, picky ;-)

Sea-dog on Navy pier, high speed boat tour on the lake.

I think your son will love the Seadog at Navy Pier. There is also a movie at the Imax that he would probably like. I think it is called Ultimate Games. My 16 year old son really liked it. Museum of Science and Industry is always fun for kids of that age. You could also rent bikes at Navy Pier and bike along the lakefront.

Maybe you should become a baseball fan. Cubs games are a lot of fun, what 13 year old boy does not like baseball?

There is also Great America which is loads of fun but not unique to Chicago

What about Shedd Aquarium? If he could be interested in it at all, it is wonderful. Could spend 1/2 the day there and 1/2 the day at the Museum of Sci/Industry. (Although could spend a whole day in either if not more). Have not had a chance to go to the Navy Pier but have heard it is wonderful. I also agree w/Pizzeria Uno or Due's...even if you have been to another somewhere else--they just don't compare to what you get in Chicago. Have a wonderful time. What a fun place!

What about The Art Museum? You don't have to stay long and I'm sure he'll recognize some of the paintings.The minature collection downstairs is cool for kids too.

Bob-sorry but for most 13 year old boys....the Art Institute would be not on their list for only one day in Chicago. Yes,its a great place but most kids would want to hit other spots.
How about going to the Espn zone for lunch or a pizza place, then taking a free trolley on Michigan Avenue over to the Museum campus to the Shedd Aquarium(which is absolutely wonderful for all ages as it is beautiful, interesting and educational) or go to the Field Museum(see Sue the real T-Rex,etc.)and then walk over to Buckingham fountain for a great lake view. Grab a bus,cab or another free trolley from there and hit the Sears Tower-fabulous views and very interesting historama at the top about Chicago and everything and everyone that has made it famous(from tootsie rolls to Frank Lloyd Wright). End up at navy Pier at night and I think that he will definitely have enjoyed himself? Have fun...........

I think your boy would enjoy Hell better than Sh!tt-cago! He'd probably enjoy getting an enema over visiting this hellhole too. Midwest nice my a$$. I hate those surly, rude, agressive, racist motherfu@$ers (not all midwesterners, but most).

J. Carson you must be an East-Coaster.