Chicago - One Day Alone
 

In a few weeks, I will be coming to Chicago for a business meeting on 4/16. I decided to fly in early on 4/15(arrive at O'Hare at 10:45 AM) to explore Chicago for a day before the meeting, as I have never been to the area.

I am debating between the Chicago Loop and Magnificent Mile areas for staying that night. My tentative plan for the day is to arrive at O'Hare, take the blue downtown. Drop my bag off at the hotel and find a place to rent a bicycle. Bike around Millenium Park and along the lake for the entire afternoon(stopping at interesting looking places along the way). Then get dinner and walk around at night, perhaps stopping at a jazz show(preferably free).

In general, I am very interested in trying local food as much as possible, so will be sure to try the deep dish pizza, but am not sure where yet. I also love pastry/dessert/ice cream shops and would love to find one along the way.

Which area would you recommend that I stay in? I do not need any bit of luxury, nor will I be spending much or any time in the hotel other than sleeping. I am also not interested in luxury shopping, theater, the Sears tower, bars(as I will be alone), etc.

Thank you very much for your help!

Both areas a readily accessible by the CTA (public transportation). If you are taking the blue line in from ORD, then staying in the Loop would be easiest.

For some local food places, I would suggest checking out Xoco, The Gage, Garrett's Popcorn (a big tourist place), Beard Papa's Cream Puffs, The Purple Pig, or Do Rite Doughnuts. Not a fan of deep dish pizza.

I highly recommend the Hotel Monaco: it's technically in the Loop, but just a few blocks from the Miracle Mile.

We've enjoyed Giordano's and Lou Malnati's for deep dish pizza- definitely order a small pizza!! It is a ton of food, even for one.

If you want a Chicago Steak House experience, the Chicago Cut Steakhouse on North LaSalle was phenomenal. Of all the steak houses I've eaten at in Chicago, it was the best.

We have been having spectacular weather for this time of year here in Chicago and with any luck it will hold.

Here is some info on bike rentals:

http://www.bikechicago.com/locations

The bikepath runs for miles and miles along the lakefront.

The Magnificent Mile is the shopping district of Michigan Avenue from the Chicago River north to Oak Street. However, creative marketers stretch the boundaries several blocks east and west.;-)

The Loop is the area just south of the river bounded by the L track on Lake, Wabash, Wells and Van Buren. Again, the term is subject to interpretation. The farthest points in the two areas are only about two miles apart, so you can easily walk anywhere within them.

The Magnificent Mile (and River North) have a larger concentration of restaurants and tourist attractions while The Loop has more offices, the live theatres and museums.

Depending what you want to do and where you meeting will be, almost any hotel in either area would be fine.

If you'll be relying on public transit, you can purchase passes at the O'Hare rail station. A 1-day pass is $5.75 and allows unlimited rides on all CTA trains and buses. Three and seven day passes are also available. A "day" is 24-hours. For complete transportation info, check the CTA site at www.transitchicago.com. You'll find maps, a trip planner and how to track trains and buses with your smart phone.

For restaurants, pubs and other happenings, check www.chicagoreader.com or www.chicagomag.com. You can search for restaurants on both sites by neighborhood, price or cuisine.

Instead of the Sears Tower (which is actually now the Willis Tower), you could visit the lounge on 96th floor the John Hancock Center. The cost of a cocktail would be comprable to just visiting one of the observatories. You could have a drink around dusk, then head elsewhere for dinner.

I stayed at The River Hotel on Wacker just east of Michigan Ave when I went for a few days alone. It is more of a business hotel than luxury. The staff was wonderful and the room was very clean and comfortable. Small but big enough for one. It is only about 2 blocks from Millenium Park. The restaurant had great pizza.

I love Chicago and try to get there every other month or so. I've tried a LOT of pizza there, and the best is "Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder" Located at 2121 N Clark. Hope you go, and if you do I know you will love it!

Club Quarters has cheap but nice rooms. Bobbies Bikes has better bikes and is a few feet from the bike trail. Walk around Millennium Park and get the bike later. Bike south if you want smaller crowds and great city views. Northerly Island is a great place to ride. Go north to see the beaches or walk through the zoo.
If you truly love dessert and have a suit with you try to get a dessert only reservation at Tru. It is $30 but you get several amazing desserts.

http://chicagovisitor.net/

I think you are assuming a lot of things which aren't necessarily true.

First, biking. Although Chicago is very bike-friendly, I do hope that you are familiar with biking in a major metropolitan area. It's not like biking in the 'burbs or small towns. You have to use the designated bike ways in Chicago (either the off-road ones, such as the Lakefront Trail, or bike in the street), and the latter is usually sharing the road with vehicular traffic including city busses and taxicabs. There are very few protected bike paths on city streets. You cannot bike on sidewalks.

I suggest that you take a look at the City of Chicago's website first which has maps of the bike paths. It also has photos of what to expect when using the city streets for biking as well as all the rules of biking there.

BTW, the Lakefront Trail is not just for biking - walkers, runners, in-line skaters, etc. all use the trail. You have to be extra careful in some areas where a lot of congestion takes place, particularly north from the Museum Campus up to Fullerton, the area between Navy Pier and Fullerton usually being the worst.

Keep in mind that the whole lakefront of Chicago is a series of parks, harbors and beaches (not yet open until Memorial Day weekend) which some museums (Museum Campus). The only area which has a number of restaurants and businesses along this area is Navy Pier, and we usually recommend dining elsewhere, as there are better choices.

What you could also do is bike through Lincoln Park - I'm speaking of the park itself, not particularly the neighborhood. Again, remember that you have to remain on the bike paths, not use the sidewalks.

Jazz show = cover charge (and usually a set amount of drinks). The amount of the cover charge usually depends on the level of the talent.

IMHO, if you are looking for something which the locals generally eat, it wouldn't be deep-dish pizza. However, if you still are desirous of trying it, as most first timers are, remember that it usually takes 40-45 minutes once you place the order to be served the pizza. There are many options around the most touristy area of the city where you can try them, though.

Chicago Pizza and Oven Grinder doesn't serve deep-dish pizza. They are more like pizza pot-pies. IMHO, they are just OK. Nothing for which I would necessarily go out of my way (and I used to live in this area for 20+ years).

Thanks for the advice!

Currently, my plan is to stop at Big Star in Wicker Park for some cheap lunch on my way from the airport to my hotel(Public Hotel Chicago at $120 off thanks to Priceline). I was told that there may also be a new donut place in that area that I might try as well.

Then, I'll drop off my bag and rent a bike(either Bobby's Bike Hike or Chicago Bike and Roll) and head up to Lincoln Park to bike around and maybe stop by the zoo. Then, I'll head down to Millenium Park to coast through and enjoy the architecture. I'll then stop by Dose Market and/or Germania on the Pier before heading back up to drop off the bike.

Not sure what to do for dinner yet though. ExiledPrincess, you said that the locals don't eat deep dish? What should I try that Chicago has the best of?

And fingers crossed that there isn't any rain!

If you wish to partake of deep-dish pizza to find out what it's about, please do so (keeping in mind that there's a difference between deep-dish and stuffed pizzas). But if you are expecting that's where the locals hang out, you will be sorely disappointed.

The great thing about living in the city is that you have a tremendous variety of cuisine available to you. And, IMHO, locals embrace that fact.

So, where do you plan on being in the city? Do you have any preferences in cuisine? Dining budget?

Italian beef sandwich - wet and hot or green peppers or both.

You can't go wrong with few places in or around downtown area.

My preference is Al's #1 Beef Sandwich on Taylor street right next to UIL. It's a dive but they do know how to make the sandwich. Inside you have to stand but there are outside tables. The Italian Ices place across the street is just amazing.

Have a great trip to a wonderful city.

I meant

University of Illinois - Chicago Campus :-)

AA, I think that the OP wants to use the bike as their primary mode of transportation when they are here.

Well, Portillo's Hot Dogs is just about a mile down from the lakefront on Ontario. Al's Beef is just a block further, also on Ontario and Mr. Beef is just 2 block west and 2 blocks north on Orleans and Huron.

From the lakefront we're talking about 1 to Portillo's to 1.5 miles to Mr. Beef, each way. Very much doable on bikes. and it's about 400 North of Madison St.

btw, out of the 3 I would pick Mr. Beef.

The OP asked about a traditional Chicago food, so that's why I posted my suggestions. These are your basic restaurants so I would only do lunch there. More formal dinner is another discussion. :-)

AA, to clarify my response of your suggestion. Here is an URL on which to view the maps of the (downtown) streets which have bike routes - as well as the direction on which you can travel: http://www.cityofchicago.org/cityinf...map/index.html

You'll be looking at the Loop, BTW.

You'll also see on the maps where there are conditions of which to pay particular heed (such as gratings). I would strongly suggest for anyone viewing these to also be sure to READ EVERYTHING CONTAINED THEREON.

AN ESPECIAL NOTE: Anyone who is biking on city streets needs to be particularly aware of the "Door Zone".

Navigating bike routes on city streets, especially in the busiest areas of the downtown areas - with taxis, busses, as well as other vehicular traffic (many of which may be out-of-towners who are unfamiliar with the streets themselves) - is not something I would encourage a novice to do. IMHO, if you aren't experienced at that sort of thing in a major metropolitan area, I urge you not to try it for the first time under those circumstances, especially during a weekend.

We want people to have a SAFE and happy vacation.

I just wanted to say something about Chicago cuisine. Chicago is a world-class dining destination. Many people travel to Chicago solely for dining at its best restaurants.

I think it would be a real shame for anyone to consider deep-dish pizza, Italian beef sandwiches, and Chicago-style hot dogs Chicago's sole contributions to U.S. (and world) cuisine. And, quite frankly, that's the vast majority of comments seen on these threads. Makes me very sad because Chicago is a whole lot more than that.

There's nothing wrong with trying them, especially if you are on a very limited budget - but, please, consider what Chicago is all about.

To the OP: If you mention where you think you might be during close to meal times, I could provide you with some suggestions.

exiledprincess

The OP clearly stated that they want something "Chicago original" and followed up that they are not really interested in high end experience, just some fun places such as deep-dish pizza and that's what I based my reply on.

That said, in my previous post I stated the following:

<i> The OP asked about a traditional Chicago food, so that's why I posted my suggestions. <u> These are your basic restaurants so I would <b> only do lunch there </b>. More formal dinner is another discussion. </u></i>

I lived in Chicago for a long time. We own a downtown condo in which we spend about a month a year in, a week here and a week there. I know my beautiful city, so when I get a feeling of what the OP is looking for, whether correct or not in my analysis of the original question, I don't try to change their mind, I try to steer them towards what I believe is the best for that request, price range and most importantly their request for something specific, NOT what I believe they should be thinking about. It does not mean that anybody else can't post their suggestions, but don't challenge others who reply.

Give the OP some credit and let them decide after reading the replies, what they will go for.

Just remember, not everybody wants and/or likes the same things.

AA, you and I have been on these boards for a considerable time. And I think we both understand that not many people know a whole lot about a location before the first time they visit it.

The reason why I think people post inquiries here is to get useful information to make their travels MEMORABLE. And, sometimes, that means giving them information about items OTHER than what they are specifically asking. In other words, OPTIONS.

The exact reason why I even contribute to these forums is that I myself have received insightful information from thoughtful individuals. That information (of which I would have NEVER known by my own research - and, trust me, I do plenty of it ahead of time) were often the high points of those trips.

IMHO, I also think that if a responder is recommending a chain restaurant (such as Portillo's or Al's Beef) or a pizza place owned by a corporation or bank, frequented by tourists and not locals (especially when the OP requests dining where locals do), they should indicate the same to the OP.

And, sometimes, what an OP wants just cannot be. And we need to tell them that, too.

Now, when I read the above original inquiry, I had the understanding that the OP wants to go where the locals do. Something quintessentially Chicago. That doesn't mean that they have to spend mega-bucks to do it, either.

Quite frankly, the main difficulty might be that the OP will be remaining in the most touristy areas of Chicago and on a bicycle, no less. That's why I have asked a couple of times for them to respond where they think they may be in order to see what I could suggest.

No one can make an informed decision unless they look at all options available to them. Just consider what Chicago is all about.

For breakfast or lunch before 3PM, try Lou Mitchell's on Jackson Blvd. I don't know what percentage of diners are locals but a place that hands out doughnut holes and Milk Duds to people standing in line can't be a bad place to eat.
I don't know what to do with a bicycle when you want to go into a restaurant. I would think there would be a good chance that it would not be there when you came out.