I will be in Chicago 10/7-10/11 for the marathon...fun things to do, good restaurants, etc. with a 10 yr. old girl and 16 yr. old boy? Already booked a day at American Girl Place with my daughter...also, an architectural river cruise with the family....will we even be able to do much....the city will be PACKED!!!

Best time of the year in Chicago. Color change going on. You might go out to suburban Oak Park and take the Frank Lloyd Wright tour of homes. Very popular, worthwhile, interesting.

If you get out of downtown and head for the neighborhoods you won't even know there's a marathon going on. The Museum of Science and Industry in Hyde Park is fabulous, they just reopened the U505 submarine exhibit.

Your kids are a bit too old for the Children's Museum, but the rest of Navy Pier (though expensive, touristy and crowded) will have some things they might like.

What else are your kids into? There's other stuff to do...if you want to get out of downtown. Lincoln Park Zoo is nice and free, though on the race route.

As for food, I know the topic of Chicago style pizza is controversial, but our favorite (for 20 years, and we live here) is My Pi (the math symbol) at 2417 N. Clark St. It's walking distance from the Lincoln Park Zoo (unless it's freezing). They have great deep dish and an old-fashioned (circa 1982-style) salad bar. Iced steins for pop and beer.

If you go to Oak Park there are many choices for restaurants on Lake Street, from Indian and Thai food to pancakes and Greek. I use the Chicago Reader's website to help with restaurants: http://www.chicagoreader.com/cgi-bin/rrr/form.cgi, it's our local free "alternative" paper.

Walk around Wicker Park (Milwaukee Avenue between North and Division). Lots of cool shops, there are art studio in the Flatiron Building at Milwaukee, Damen and North avenues. Very trendy, perfectly safe in the daytime (and even at night, though there's nightclubs and that kind of crowd).

Really, my experience with the marathon is if I stay away from downtown I don't even know it's happening. Chicago is a big place.

PC

Wicked is in town. You may get tickets, but probably not all together. Your daughter would LOVE it. Your son would like the ESPN zone.

It won't be any more packed than some other weekends. Actually the Bears are out of town and in the playoffs in baseball- well we know the Cubs won't be in it. LOL!

Check w/ the Visitor's Center across the street from the John Hancock Tower. You can get show tickets 1/2 price. If you contact them in advance of your stay, you can get a free tour guide to show you around.

Make it a must to check out Millenium Park. The best thing to hapen to Chicago recently. Its awesome. And free!

The issue will not be whether the city is PACKED, but whether you can get there due to road closings the day of the marathon. You may want to consider places you can get to by El, as that won't be affected.

If you're running, you'll know the route--otherwise, make sure you look at a map to see where you WON'T be able to go.

HTH,
Racy

Wow....first time I have used this forum....thank you for all of the great advice and ideas!

You should visit www.metromix.com for more ideas.

How about a nice restaurant for our last night in Chicago...there will be 10 of us...6 adults, 3 teens and 1 10 yr. old...not too expensive, but good food and good atmosphere?????

Hi everyone! I came on here in search of some advice on where to go/what to see in Chicago, as I will have a free day there this Saturday. I've never been & am very excited to go! Plus, the weather looks like it will be beautiful. I've jotted down a few suggestions from various posts, so I thank you all for your insights!

Shawnie

You have gotten some GREAT suggestions. I agree that Millenium Park is a must.

I highly recommend checking out the Teen Chicago exhibit at the Chicago Public Library (right off the el). The content was developed in part by a group of 15 Chicago-area teenagers employed by the Chicago Historical Society. I think it would be a really empowering and educational experience for both your kids. Check out the web site (and have your kids look at it, too, if you decide to go)!

http://www.teenchicago.org/

As for restaurants: Buco di Beppo is a fun, family-style Italian restaurant that's pretty reasonable (it is a chain, however). I also like Wishbone, which has locations in the west loop and on the north side. Here's their web site:

http://www.wishbonechicago.com/

I hope you have a great time!

We'll be down there this Saturday seeing Wicked and dining at the Atwood Cafe this time. Great desserts too, and it's at One West Washington and within a block from Field's State St.

It's chilly- temps have dropped 30 degrees in one day. Check your weather site for Chicago right before you come- it is SO up and down right now. Today's the first day you need a jacket or heavy sweater at the least.

And the public library mentioned is the Harold Washington. It's quite nice just for the views and inside architectural features, IMHO. Pink marble that deepens in color as you rise in the building with a great central room on top.

You will love the river cruise and you are just at the tail end of its season. You picked a great time to visit. But do bring outdoor covering, just in case-and you will need it on the cruise.

As you are going to be in Chicago for 4 days and over the Marathon- you may want to consider the Museum of Sc.& Industry as well. Your kids are just at the right ages to get a lot out of it.
If you don't want to wander that far- at least hit the Field Museum, the Aquarium, and the Art Institute.

You can buy package deals for entrance and if you go to more than just 2, it is definitely worth it. Aquarium is not like other cities, and more like a Sea World. It will take you about 1/2 a day there and you could do the other 1/2 at Field Museum right next door.

Well, you have really hit it!

You will probably overlap the baseball playoffs.

Mayor Daley showed up looking 10 years younger than normal in his White Sox hat yesterday. South of the Loop is going to be multi-crowded as well. They'll be parking all the way to McCormick Place.

If you hear sirens, don't be alarmed. His father got in trouble for it too. We don't own the Chicago Tribune or WGN or any media people (he says)but we might get "heard" in other ways. The Ritz Carlton electrical crew left yesterday during game time and they were not alone. Lots of service people will be in the "sick" day mode. Most Sox fans work in the daytime, but then again not in October under these conditions.

Chicago can handle hundreds of thousands of visitors at one time. The fact that the marathon will be going on isn't all that different from busy summer weekends.

Okay....I'm having a heck of a time finding an Italian restaurant (9 of us..trying to get reservations) for Sat. night 10/8...everyone plus my hubby must want to carbo load before the Marathon on Sunday!! Can anyone suggest a place that's NOT right in the downtown area, but not too far away? Thanks so much for your replies so far....I've jotted some notes and I've decided we're not going to be in Chicago long enough to do all the cool things there are to do there!!

There is an Italian area not far South of the Loop. If you do a google for Francesca, Tuscany, Rosebud- you will get some good ones.

Francesca is my favorite. Another good one that is not fancy but that my son likes closer to the downtown area is Maggiano's 514 N. Clark. Tuscany is 1014 W. Taylor St.

If you are going to the U.of I./Taylor St. areas - I would take a cab. Others with addresses - check out:

www.metromix.com (with directions)

Thank you!!!! Finally got in at Tuscany...

Thanks again to everyone for your great suggestions...we're lookiing forward to our trip!!!