My husband and I will be taking a trip to Chicago this winter - we'll be visiting the Chicago theatre and staying at the Comfort Suites hotel on N. Michigan Avenue. I have heard from a few people who say that they are worried about us going, as Chicago is said to be unsafe. However, I have also heard that the loop is a safe area. I am looking for some advice from anyone with first-hand experience. Do we have anything to be really worried about? The show at the theatre starts at 8, so I am guessing that we'll be getting out around...maybe 10:30, 11? We also plan to walk back to the hotel (a short walk). Any info is appreciated

We visit a lot. Som and family are around Lincoln Square so we are frequently in the loop area and find it reasonably safe for a big city. I think you need to exercise some caution that you would in any big city.

The Loop and River North are fine. As the above poster said, you need to keep your wits about you, not flash large sums of money or electronics and not wander down dark alleys or places that look unsafe.

There are bad areas in the city, but you'd have to travel a good distance from downtown to find them.

I work in The West Loop and frequently go to shows or dinner downtown. I've wandered around and caught buses well into the wee hours after...um... visiting a sick friend. Some streets were quiet, but I've never felt unsafe.

Thank you so much! We are from a town of about 8,000, so it will definitely be a different experience. Half the people I've talked to about it have acted like visiting Chicago would mean certain death - lol. However, I did have the feeling that those people hadn't actually been.

I plan to just wear my everyday clothes to the show - nothing "fancy" to make me stand out, & carry my wallet in an inside coat pocket out of view to avoid pickpocketing. And as for my phone, it'll probably stay at the hotel, so I suppose we should be fine. If anyone has any other tips I should know, throw 'em my way. There may be something I'm not thinking of, being from such a small town lol.

That is a very short walk. We stayed at the Renaissance and walked to a show at the Bank of America Theatre. We were walking with a crowd most of the way back to our hotel until we stopped at a 7-Eleven for a bottle of water. When we left the store the street was pretty quiet, so you'd probably just want to stay with the group during your walk.

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That is usually the case!

You needn't leave your phone at your hotel, it's just that many people are so engrossed in their phones, they aren't paying attention to their surroundings and someone snatches it and dashes off the bus or into the subway and is gone in a flash.

You don't say when in the winter you're visiting, but if it's between Nov 7 and Jan 2, be sure to see the Great Tree on the 7th floor at Macy's on State. However, my favorite tree is at 900 N Michigan. Also, stop at the Cultural Center, just south of your hotel to see the Tiffany dome. For other events, sights, etc. check www.choosechicago.com. For transit info including how to track trains and buses with a smart phone, go to www.transitchicago.com. For restaurants searchable by neighborhood, cuisine or price, go to www.chicagomag.com or www.chicagoreader.com. If you have the urge to see other theatre while you're in town, the League of Chicago Theatres at www.chicagoplays.com list all shows and offers discounts.

With regard to your cell phone our Chicago son warns us not to have the phone out on the L/subway platform unless it is well protected. That appears to be the most likely spot for a phone theft. I suppose that constantly walking around and look up at the tops of the buildings might suggest that you don't have tall buildings in your town. Actually, the best thing you can do is act normal. There are always lots of tourists in Chicago both local (US) and foreign. Doubt if you will stand out too much unless you are wearing shorts and no coat in December.

Thanks, you've all been very helpful. We will be there during that time Citylghts, we'll have to check out those sights. I already wanted to see Macy's, but I didn't know about the rest - sounds pretty cool. We did want to walk to Blackwood BBQ, but that's a bit of a longer walk so we'll be doing that in the daytime. I forgot to mention that before.
As far as the phone thing goes, I still have a "dumb phone", so if someone stole it they'd probably just bring it back xD
On a serious note though, I'll keep it put away when we're out walking.

The buses are easy to use. Just get an all day pass and take the bus closer to where you want to go. Hit the visitor center in the old library on Michigan Ave and talk with one of the staff. We use them all the time with no problems. A couple of years ago we got the senior citizen pass so we are not up to speed on the availability of day passes.

Curious, just where are you coming from?

We might just have to check into that - it would be a good option to have if we get there & it's just way too cold to walk to the restaurant.
We'll be coming from eastern Kentucky - we've got a long trip ahead of us.

Hi, Mickiemac.

You really shouldn't worry about real danger or violence. Very unlikely in the areas where you'll be. The shootings/gangs are much further south/west, and they're really only targeting each other. Of course, the odd crime can happen anywhere, but you can't prepare for everything.

I would recommend steering clear of the single men who ask to shine your shoes or ask if you're lost/needing directions. Just smile a little (not too friendly, though), let them know you're hurrying to get somewhere/know where you're going, and keep walking. For some reason, those guys can spot out-of-owners. No need to be unfriendly--just don't engage them. Those guys really aren't dangerous either, but they can get unpleasant if you're rude/curt to them.

The crime that happens to tourists in the Loop/River North is more of the 'snatch and grab' variety (cameras, smart phones, wallets from open purses/purses). Just keep your valuables stashed securely and you should be just fine.

After your show at the Chicago Theater, just for your own comfort and to be in the most visible/well-lit/busiest streets, I recommend walking north on State Street to Wacker Drive, go right/east all the way (following the curve so you're always along the main Drive, i.e. not down Wacker Place), then turn right/south on Michigan to your hotel. It's a longer route than just going due east to Michigan Avenue on Lake, but you'll feel more secure and you'll have a nicer view of the buildings along the river. (Even going due east on Lake is really not dangerous, but as out-of-owners, I think you'll feel better that way.)

And Blackwood BBQ on West Lake is in a fine location. You should be able to walk very easily on Wacker Drive over to the restaurant. Hopefully it won't be that cold. I'd walk it myself, but if it's really frigid that day, then you can hop into a cab for $6-8 to get there/back.

As you're from Kentucky, be sure to bring gloves, a scarf and some way to cover your head, just to keep yourself warm.

I hope you and your husband check out north Michigan Avenue (John Hancock Bldg. area, for Uniqlo, Bloomingdales) then wander down Oak Street over to Rush for places like Madewell, Frye Boots, Lululemon. You might want to have lunch at Lou Malnati's or Velvet Taco on Rush. There's also a Barnes and Noble nearby.

Some night, you might have fun catching a show at Second City. It's an easy cab ride to/from our hotel--very safe Second City is in the Old Town neighborhood, and you two might like wandering down Wells and having dinner in Old Town somewhere.

Have a great time in Chicago. State Street will be nice and festive, and be sure to dress warm and check out gorgeous Millennium Park.

Thanks ChgoGal! Definitely some useful information. We were planning to take the route down Wacker Place back to the hotel, but I'm a fan of sticking to well-lit & busy streets, so that helps a lot. And that's great to hear about Blackwood BBQ as well - we're really looking forward to that! Hopefully it's as good as it looks online. It's going to be hard to pin down what else we want to do - there's so much it's hard to choose when you have only a short amount of time. Thanks for the suggestions!

Take it from another rural KY gal, you will be fine. I visit Chicago at least once a year and have never felt unsafe. Have a wonderful trip.

ChicagoGal's advice to avoid Lake Street may have rung true 20 years ago or so, but after a show at the Chicago Theatre, its one of the busiest spots in The Loop. In addition to being part of a major bus route, two hotels and two apartment complexes front the street and it is frequently the staging area for buses and trucks used by the performers at the Theatre, so there's even the chance you'll see them dash out of the building and onto their buses. While the portion under the L track is not especially scenic and a bit noisy, I wouldn't characterize it as unsafe or even anxiety-invoking.

I still recommend for an out-of-towner to walk along Wacker Drive. I've lived here 20 years and am often in the loop after shows at the Goodman or the Lyric, so I don't feel unsafe on Lake, either, and if there's a big crowd moving east on Lake, that's great. But the Wacker Drive route is more scenic for a tourist, then under the tracks to Michigan.

Interesting to get some input from another rural Kentuckian charsuzan. And thank you!
And with that being said about the different routes back to the hotel, it's good to know that both would be considered safe routes. I suppose we'll get a feel for it when we get there and take our pick, thanks for the info!

I have to agree with Chgogal on the walk along Wacker Dr. It really is a pretty walk. I was in Chicago for New Years a few years ago and stayed along that stretch of Wacker. So pretty.

I have traveled solo several times to Chicago and never felt unsafe. When not in a crowd, walk with a purpose. I also walked closer to the street than the buildings. It may be a little chillier but you can see what is happening around you and a better view of the beautiful buildings.

On my last trip I noticed a lot of police walking on the streets. I asked if this was normal or if something had happened. I was told that they are always there just as a deterrent not that their are incidents all the time.

Update: one of my cats is pretty sick, so we'll more than likely be cancelling the trip in order to help with his vet bills. But we may still end up visiting at some point in the future, so thanks everyone for your advice!

So sorry to hear, mickiemac. There's no way to enjoy a holiday when your pet is not doing well. I hope the kitty will be all right.

Thanks ChgoGal!