DH and I are thinking about a quick trip to Chicago. We will be driving so will have a car. Haven't been to Chicago in years and years. Will plan on being there Saturday - Monday. Haven't used Priceline before but am contemplating giving it a shot. I did find a great price at one of the Kimpton Hotels (parking included!!) for $139 - can I do better on Priceline?

I know it's going to be cold but we really like museums/history/architecture. I have done a little bit of research online but right now I'm currently going to school and working full time and haven't been able to get online as much as I'd like. So, can you Chicago experts help me out?

Are there any tours you would recommend?
Which museums should we hit?
What about the Frank Lloyd Wright House? We will have a car so can drive
What neighborhoods should I pick on Priceline?
Lastly....Pizza. I want a good pizza. Doesn't matter if it's deep dish or not....so long as it's good!!!

I hope these questions aren't too vague?? Thanks!

I would grab that Kimpton deal if parking is included. Most hotels charge $50. per day. The least expensive public parking is in Millenium Park for $25. per day. If you stay at Kimpton, join their loyalty program before you go as it gives you free internet.We satyed in one in LA and it was very nice but don't know the Chicago Kimpton location.
Neighborhoods to search for lodging? River North, Streeterville, maybe the Loop but I prefer north of the river.
Museums: Art Institute of Chicago,Museum of Science and Industry, The Field Museum of Natural History.The Chiago History Museum is very interesting too withan exhibit ofn the Chicago Fire.
Although we prefer thin pizza, for deep dish I recommend Lou Malnatis; there are several locations.
Go to the Chicago Architecture Foundation website and see what tours they are offering during your stay. It's a wonderful organization. They usually offer bus tours as well as walking tours..and of course the river boat cruises..however i don't know about the winter schedules.

Ok, I actually ended up booking another room through Hotwire...it's at the Hotel Indego. The rooms look a bit small but the price was great and I stayed at one in the past and liked it. Kind of along the lines of a funky Kimpton decore, which I love.

I also prefer thin pizza...not sure DH will let us go and not get a deep dish pizza though.

I did check out the Chicago Architecture Foundation web page and they do have one walking tour on the Sunday we will be there. It's called the treasures tour....looks very interesting. I am wondering about a Chicago City Pass? Just don't know if I'm trying to cram too much into 1 weekend.

Hi td - the good folks at Fodors helped me when my husband and I went to Chicago last month for a weekend. You should check that thread for great advice. La Madia was great for thin-crust pizza, great wines and great salads. We went there for a late lunch and loved it. My co-worker loves Giardinos pizza. I've never been, so maybe a Chicagoan can chime in here. I have been to Lou's, but like you I'm a thin-crust girl, so I wasn't wild about it.

I would also heartily recommend the Purple Pig. Just google it and check the menu to see if it's your kind of place. i was just thinking this morning how much I'd love to have dinner tonight at the Purple Pig...

Have a great time - we love chicago!

It's Giordanos, sorry! Another posted recommended Il Mulino for Italian and it's just down the street from your hotel.

I also rather like Pizano's Pizza, which has a location on State Street.

Another vote for Lou Malnati's for deep dish. I've had Giordano's and Geno's too, and Lou's is my favorite. (I usually like thin crust, but in Chicago...)

Personally, I don't think the CityPass is worth it for the short time you'll be there, unless you plan to spend most of your time at the museums (and even then I'd check the individual prices). I haven't taken any other CAF tours, but have taken the architecture boat tour and loved it (I really doubt that's running in February!). I imagine the rest of their tours would also be good.

Thanks Rocket. I will check out La Madia.

I'd skip the City Pass for that short of time. You would need to cram a lot in to make it worth it. What about having a drink at the top of the John Hancock Building?

I really enjoyed the Field Museum and the Shedd Aquarium

I will look into a drink at the top of the John Hancock Building. Is that where they have the sky deck?

Ok, just a few more questions:

I think we would like to do the Chicago History Museum and the Museum of Science and Industry. How long should we plan for each? We don't have to look at every single thing, but also don't want to totally rush through it either.

As far as meals go I have reservations for Salpicon on Sunday night and La Madia on Saturday night. What about brunch on Sunday? I think the Ralph Lauren restaurant looks good, but a little pricey. Also Perennial looks like they have a good brunch?

As far as shopping or parks....what should we try not to miss? Is Magnificent Mile just a street full of shopping? Thanks!

I was in Chicago last fall for three days. I bought the 3 day pass, I don't remember what it was called but I got my $$$ out of it. Just 3 round trips and it is paid for. You may want to see if your hotel is near a subway or bus stop to help figure out your your mode of transportation. You can take the bus out to the Museum of Science and Industry and it drops you off at the door.

I was by myself and did not look at everything is great detail but somethings I did take my time at and the Museum of Science and Industry took me about 2 hours to go through. You may want to see if a free day falls while you are there. It will much more crowded on the free day so you may want to plan a different day.

Millenium park is beautiful and is near the Art Museum. I am not a shopper but to me the Magnificent Mile is a street full of chain store shopping. I was there just before Christmas so it was nice to window shop, however, Banana Republic is the same is all cities.

Gardendiva, forgive me for doubting you, but you went through the entire Museum of Science and Industry in 2 hours??? All the exhibits (special and regular) and the Omnimax movies? Of all the museums in Chicago, that's by far the largest.

The Museum of Science and Industry located in the Hyde Park neighborhood, 7 miles to the south of the downtown area. It will take at least an hour just for round trip travel on the CTA. At this time of year, please note that the #10 (MSI) bus only runs on weekends. I personally wouldn't allow less than 1/2, probably closer to 3/4's, of a day for this museum.

The Chicago History Museum can be seen in a couple of hours, though.

Oh wow...I might have to rethink the Museum of Science and Industry then. I don't want to spend most of the day in one museum when I only have a little over 2 days.

tdmort, I agree with your thinking. With only two days available, you wouldn't want to invest that much time at one place. That is, not unless there's something there you absolutely want to see.

Are you not interested in visiting the Art Institute because you were there before many years ago? Several years ago, the Terra Museum of American Art closed their doors and the Art Institute now has much of their collection. And two years ago, the AI opened the Modern Wing which basically doubled the space. So there is probably much of what you didn't see before there now.

If you are going to the Art Institute and/or Millennium Park, you might also want to stop in the Chicago Architecture Foundation's ArchiCenter (SE across Michigan Avenue from the Art Institute) or the Chicago Cultural Center (to the west of the north end of Millennium Park - on Randolph).

The Hotel Indigo is in the Gold Coast. You are not too far away from the Newberry Library, in case you have any interest.

Also, I'm not sure if you've ever visited Astor Street in the Gold Coast. One of the prettiest streets in Chicago, and one with many architecturally- and historically-signficant buildings. In fact, you can take a tour of the Charnley-Persky House on Saturday, if you wish. See the website charnleyhouse.org for details.

princess...thanks for the suggestion of the Charnley-Persky House...unfortunately at this time of year the only Saturday tours are at 10 am and I won't be in town that early in the day. DH didn't seem too thrilled with the Art Institute, to be honest. Since I have ruled out the Science and Industry Museum on Sunday I'm thinking of:

Blue Man Group @ 4:00
Is there a place to purchase discount tickets?

OR

The treasures tour with the Chicago Architecture Foundation. It looks like it's going to be in the 30's while we are there. How much of this tour is walking compared to being indoors?

Thanks again everyone!!

exiledprincess, You are correct. I did not see the Omnimax movies or stand in line for 30 min to see the coal mine but I did see everything else. Perhaps because it was my second day of museums, it was 65 degrees outside in November and there seemed to be an abundance of unruley children, I may have gone through a bit quickly but I felt that I did get to experience what the museum had to offer.

Walk west a few blocks from your hotel over to N. Wells Street for many excellent dining options. I lived near there and that is where we ate out several times a week for years. Topo Gigio for wonderful Italian, and also Dinotto's on 215 W.North Ave., just west of Wells.Bistro Margot on N. Wells may have brunch , Kamahachi for Japanese to add a few others...You already mentioned Salcipon which is on N. Wells. A few blocks south and one block east of your hotel is Bistro Zinc,nice French bistro, very authentic. They may have brunch.

gardendiva, I can then understand a bit more why you were able to go through the museum in only 2 hours.

But, and I have to be honest, IMHO, a person is missing the best parts of visiting the MSI if they don't go on the boarding tour of the U505; go down in the Coal Mine; perhaps take in an Omnimax movie; and see the special exhibits. These all take time to do so.

Even I, who has been a member of the MSI for many years and goes at least a couple, sometimes several times a year, spend at least a 1/2 day when there. Although now I usually go particularly for the special exhibits and/or Omnimax movies, there are regular exhibits which I always do make time to see again. For me, it's the U505 (although I don't board each time); the Fairy Castle; a quick stop at the Incubator (gotta luv those chicks!); and during the holidays, the Christmas Around the World/Festival of Lights exhibit.

And one other exhibit/tour I always see which the OP might really appreciate since they enjoy history and architecture (and perhaps at least look at the information online): "The White City: Then and Now" Tour.

Before I get off the subject of the MSI, for the sake of others who might be reading this thread in the future: I just wanted to add that the reason why I always tell visitors to go to the museum as soon as it opens is so they *don't* have to wait 1/2 hour for the Coal Mine exhibit. When planning your day there, I would suggest that you go to the Coal Mine first, then any special exhibits and/or the U505 boarding tour, then any Omnimax movie and finish off with the regular exhibits along the way. Many of these are timed entry so you need to keep in mind how long you will need to finish seeing the exhibit before and then include enough time to get to the area where the next is. I see many people trying to fit in as much as possible in as short a time as they can. Although the people at the admission booths are pretty good about helping those purchasing tickets there with these matters, many visitors might now purchase online and they don't have that guidance.

To the OP, that's too bad about the Art Institute.

"Blue Man Group"...Well, if you are set on that production, you can check Hottix to see if there are any discount tickets available - but, frankly, for mature adults I think there might be better options to be had.

Re: CAF "Treasures" tour. Are you speaking of the Historic Downtown (North) Treasures tour? Although it's been a long time since I went on this (and I did so in the summertime), I would assume that the larger majority of it will be outside. You can always send them an e-mail to see.