Chicago - Odd or Unusual Attractions
 

Returning solo for a few days. On previous visits, I have visited the regular haunts (Art Institute, MCA, Field, Sci/ind, Navy Pier, Shedd, Sears, Hancock, and planetarium).

I'll probably revisit one or more of the foregoing, but I'm looking for some less traveled museums/attractions. One I'm considering is the Surgical Museum. Please share your ideas. thx.

The Architectural Foundation offers a tour based on the book "The Devil in the White City".You can visit the Biograph Theater , filled with the history of John Dillinger.
The Chicago Historical Museum in Lincoln Park is quite interesting.

Bus tours, walking tours, boat tours with the CAF--
http://caf.architecture.org/page.aspx?pid=698

Have you done any research on the Explore Chicago website?

There are 1000s of ideas there, including information on the numerous museums located in Chicago.

Hi Bitter,
One of my favorite plays from last year is "Clybourne Park" which will be playing at Steppenwolf Theatre beginning Sept. 8. There are "day of" discounts -- the "20 for $20" and the "Rush" ticket sale (1 hour before show, tickets are half-off). That could be a really nice 2 hours, and then you can wander up Halsted to Armitage for their boutiques and a few coffee shops.

Or perhaps a walk beginning at Lincoln Park Zoo northbound to the gorgeous conservatory, then continuing north to circle North Pond?

Hope you have a great time!

another vote for any of the CAF tours.

Have you visited the Frank Lloyd Wright houses - both in Oak Park (his house & studio) and in Hyde Park (Robie House)?

Do you like architecture? We took a self-guided tour of the architecture at IIT (many buildings designed by Mies).

Thanks for the input. I have done some informal architectural tours in past trips, but maybe something more formal is warranted.

exiled, that's just it, there are 1000s of ideas on that website. Nearly every building and pothole in the downtown is listed :) (Same with the Fodor's research page, btw.) I also have a couple guide books that are dogeared from use over the years. Once you get past the top tier of attractions, it can be a little difficult to determine what is simply notable, versus something you want to spend a couple hours of limited travel time.

You have to go through some security but the self guided tour at the Federal Reserve Bank is fun. It is right across Jackson from the Chicago Board of Trade.
Take a boat tour on the Chicago River.

This page lists many of the lessor known Chicago museums.

http://chicagovisitor.net/Other%20sights.html

Will second the Chicago Historical Museum and Chicago Fed Money Museum, as well as the Frank Lloyd Wright houses yk mentioned. All are worth a visit.

If you're looking for something really unusual, I'd recommend Intuit: The Center for Intuitive and Outsider Art. It contains a large roomful of this enjoyably eccentric stuff, plus a reconstruction of Henry Darger's small Chicago apartment. Really enjoyed this a lot.

Bitter, that is where you use the website's tools to narrow the search down by your interests and, quite frankly, your travel dates - because attractions and events change frequently, sometimes daily.

For example, what's the use of me telling you to check out the Chicago International Film Festival and all the ancillary events if you aren't going to be here then. Or tell you to visit the Newberry Library, maybe listen to the Newberry Consort, if you'd be bored stiff by them.

In addition, even if you have visited the major museums and attractions, have you looked into their schedules for those special events (seminars, behind the scenes tours, etc.). If not, then you are missing some of the best options available to you. I'll give you a couple of examples of what I'm mentioning here:

Millennium Park - practically every tourist goes there at least once in their visit. But the Jay Pritzker Pavilion during the summer months (and the Harris Theatre during the fall through spring months) have live theatrical performances that change constantly.

Museum of Science and Industry - One of the last standing reminders of the World's Columbian Exposition of 1893, a seminal event in Chicago's history. But they only have the tours and/or computer simulation events of what it was to actually be at that historic fair at certain dates during the year - usually once a month.

Maybe you'd prefer the National Museum of Mexican Art over the Swedish Museum, with a visit to Pilsen over a visit to Andersonville - although I think they are equally great in their own ways.

BTW, I directed you to that website because it also gives much information about the various neighborhoods of Chicago as well as information on the Chicago Greeter service. And there are different types of Greeter experiences as well.

I know this sounds a little trite, but...Research, on our own, is the key in really getting the best experience for our own particular likes and interests.

I am not one to visit cities when I travel but I do love Chicago. It is easy to get around, lots to do, flowers everywhere in the summer, lots of festivals---It seems we hit a different festival every visit.

I have always wanted to contact the Chicago Greeter service--that is a great suggestion. I love walking the streets of the Gold Coast and one of these visits I want to set up a walk around that neighborhood with one of the greeters.

I also love walking around the Lincoln Park Zoo--and walking or biking along the lake.

I also love the free Thurs. nt at the Art Museum--I have done it several times and always hit a different area--have you ever rented their headsets with the walking tours?

The docent led Highlights Tour at the Natural History Museum is really good too.

Have you been to Old Town in Lincoln Park? We did Bobby's Bike Tour through there one visit.

If you enjoy cooking or are looking for a nice gift, I enjoy browsing around The Spice House at 1512 N Wells St. in Lincoln Park--I like the Lake Shore Drive Seasoning and the Back of the Yard Garlic Pepper Butcher Rub. There are some nice restaurants in that area too.

Take the water taxi to the museum campus

We are going to Chicago in Sept. and plan to go on the Tastebuds food tour-we are looking forward to trying some new restuarants and walking around the city.

thanks everyone. I've signed up for a Weird Chicago tour (ghosts, crime etc.), I'll probably hit the Surgical museum and the Chicago History museum nearby, which seems a bit off the normal path. And thanks for reminding me the Art Institute is open later on Thursday. My notes didn't reflect that. (MCA is open late no Tues, but I won't be there0.

exiled princess: I appreciate your suggestions, but I'm a little confused by your other comments about research. I come to Fodor's for suggestions and personal experiences. It is part of my research (that and 2 guidebooks and multiple websites).

As you are aware, there are different levels of research. And some need to be done before posting questions on a forum.

Even on the travel websites, such as this, there are several levels to look at first. The overview of the location, reviews, maybe hyperlinks to articles to review and so forth...before you get to the forums.

You might notice that posters who pose very general or broad questions, without giving much detail about themselves (i.e., likes and interests) usually don't get many responses.

Now, I realize that you have been to Chicago before, but you don't give any information about your interests. And many attractions/events are date specific, as well.

I might also mention that many more people read these responses than those who post the questions. For example, didn't you, yourself, look at past threads? By giving the OPs site information where they can go for their research, those "lurkers" (who might have different interests than the OP) also have the opportunity to make the visit fit their needs as well.

Inasfar as my own travel experiences with those "paths less traveled", many of the highlights of my most important trips were not even mentioned in the travel forums. I found them by good old research ahead of time...by going to the particular city (or region's) websites, reading travel guides and articles and so forth.

exiled, holy cow (Chicago reference by the way) you are sounding preachy. I've been asking and answering questions on this forum since well before registration. I know the routine. I wanted some odd and less traveled ideas and got some great responses, and a self important lecture. I certainly appreciate the former.

Bitter, I'm not sure what else you could have expected when you said: "I appreciate your suggestions, but I'm a little confused by your other comments about research." If you troll for a gripe, it's not surprising to me that one came your way.

I agree with exiledprincess here. She makes good points, and is likely less than happy when people don't do research before posting. I can sympathize with that sentiment, myself, as it happens a lot on this forum.

Bach: The gripe came earlier; I was just pointing it out. It is always fun to troll the self annointed forum patrol person, though. And it is interesting when the lectures are longer than the actual substantive response: That's dedication!

Next time I'll make sure to add my bibliography of what I've researched BEFORE posting. Indeed, it sounds like I better know the answer to my question before even posting! ;)

Bitter: well, I'm really not sure it has to go as far as all that. But we also run into folks here on the forum who don't look like they've done any poking around at all, and I guess it sticks in the craw a bit when it's seen so often. And exiledprincess does provide excellent, in-depth Chicago advice on this forum, in my experience.

To be fair, in re-reading your initial post I actually think you did provide some background (what you had already seen in Chicago) and an unusual attraction you wanted some feedback on. That's fine by me -- no gripes here. Chicago's such a big place with so many sightseeing possibilities, though, and as a result it's pretty tough to provide a good answer to your question without missing some good options. That may be a bit of an issue here, too.

In the spirit of good faith, I'll suggest a couple other possibilities that seem off the beaten path for consideration: the Polish Museum of America, National Vietnam Veterans Art Museum, National Museum of Mexican Art, and McCormick Tribune Bridgehouse & Chicago River Museum. No vouching for any of these, though, as I haven't been. I can also suggest a few other attractions I have been to such as the Spertus Museum, Museum of Contemporary Photography, and Jane Addams Hull-House Museum -- all are small and nice enough second-level attractions.

Good luck, and have fun.

Have you gone upstairs at the Chicago Cultural Museum and seen the 2 beautiful stained glass domes and all the mosaic work? The museum was the old library. It's not off the beaten path but some people just enter the Visitors Center portion of the building and never see the rest of the building.

concerning the little reasearch battle above:
I like to do the reasearch for my trips myself.clicking on this topic is part of the planning I am doing for my upcoming Chicago trip

Reporting back: Here are the "new to me" things I did in Chicago: Int'l Museum of Surgical Science was very interesting, though kind of expensive for the size (though I liked the otherwise managable size and the beautiful building in which it was located).
Chicago History Museum near/at lincoln Park. Very well done. Packed with exhibits and info about Chicago.
Weird Chicago tour: Informative and interesting (for the most part). Bus is uncomfortable. This was an evening tour and it was dark. This added ambiance to some of the stories, but prevented us from really seeing (out the windows) other locations. Mixed bag.
Segway tour: Fun and some info, but 2 hours is a looong time on a segway IMHO. Some even go 3!

Thanks for doing some of my research for me, Bitter......the Museum of Surgical Science sounds like something I would enjoy! :)

Thanks from me too!

Head to the excellent Natural History Museum.

Ok, another year later and another visit. New to me this time was: University of Chicago Oriental Institute and the Smart Museum. Very much worth the trip out there and back (basically same distance south as the Science and Industry Museum). If you didn't know the Oriental Institute is a museum with exhibits from Egypt and the middle East. There is a 14+ foot tall statue of King Tut (though they aren't 100% sure). Meant to hit the Rennaisance institute on campus (modern art), but didn't have time.

Smart museum was probably mostly modern art, but had some wonderful old stuff, too. Almost a perfect combination of exhibits.

Loyola Art Museum (LUMA). What a gem on the Mag Mile. Mostly religious art. Not too long.

The Christmas Market started while we were there. I was surprised by what appeared to be an excellent selection of merchandise, and the food actually looked good.

Hit some of the old standards too (Field Museum, Art Institute, Willis Tower).

Squabbles notwithstanding, I appreciated reading the information that everyone has contributed on this topic. I grew up in Chicago, and have been planning to lead some friends from Ohio on a "Back-Alley Tour" of the city. The above suggestions will add some places to my itinerary that are more respectable, yet still offbeat. I've visited many of them before, but am learning of some others for the very first time: Intuit, Fed, Smart Museum, Bridgehouse and Chgo River Museum.
Thanks!

I also would note that the Robie house (Frank Lloyd Wright) is on the U of Chi campus. Unfortunately, its hours aren't in tune with the other 2 museums (?), so we could do nothing more than view it from the outside.

I appreciated the info given in response to this post also, as we are looking at another vacation in Chicago this summer (our fourth, at least).

Thanks so much for all of the info. Am trolling for ideas for an upcoming trip after Christmas. Traveling with my mom who hasn't been in years and years so we will stick to the bigger attractions, but this will come in handy for the next trip after that!