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!