First time in Chicago
 

My boyfriend and I will be traveling to Chicago for Valentine's Day weekend. Since this is my first time going to C-Town, what can anyone recommend as far as where to stay, where to eat, and what to do? I doubt we'll do much shopping, but would rather tour and site see.

You're cutting it awful close to find a hotel room in downtown Chicago, aren't you? Even given a cold winter, the hotels can fill up quickly.

My first preference for hotel location in Chicago, no question, is the Magnificent Mile-- Michigan Avenue north of the river through the area around Water Tower Place.

Chicago is a large city with lots and lots of things to do, so it's hard to give specific recommendations-- however, a trip to the Art Institute of Chicago, with its world-class Impressionist collection, is soul-enriching. What kinds of things do you like to do/see? What kinds of food do you like? You have to narrow the possibilities a bit....

For a first trip stay near Michigan Avenue/Gold Coast area to be close to shopping and Navy Pier. If you want to be closer to museums, you can stay near the Loop. The weather will be cold so dress for it. As far as restaurants, what do you like to eat? For ideas, check out metromix. As for what to do, give us some ideas of what you like to do...

That's the last weekend of the Chicago Auto Show (which is one of my favorite activities but not one of my husband's). Many hotels are offering good rates. I checked hotrooms.com and, for example, the Inter-Continental is offering a rate of $159 for Friday and Saturday night. That's a nice hotel in a good location. A good way to find out what restaurants still have availability without calling every restaurant is to go to opentable.com and search for the time & location you want. Not all restaurants participate but it may give you some ideas. Metromix.com also lists what is going on for Valentine's Day.

Hotwire is a great resource for cheap (but nice) hotels, especially last-minute. I'd recommend searching for hotels in the N. Michigan Ave. and Gold Coast areas. The Loop is ok if you want to be close to the major museums, as someone else pointed out, but it wouldn't be my choice. Although the Loop is getting more visitor-friendly, it's still mostly a business area.

Give us some more ideas of what kind of restaurants you like and what you want to do, and we can offer more specific recommendations.

The Hard Rock Hotel just opened in a classic skyscraper at 230 N. Michigan (one block south of the river). Call 312-345-1000 for reservations. This is a convenient location for Michigan Avenue and downtown sights.

Actually, PatG is right, the HArdrock is in a perfect location and I heard they are giving great deals right now.

I apologize for not giving more detail. Type of restaurant would definitely be Italian. Things to do - I'm not sure, really. We won't do much shopping, and I doubt we'll hit any museums. What are the "must-sees" for Chicago?

Eliminating shopping and museums makes for a lot less offerings! What do you typically do when you visit cities?

The Chicago River Architectural tours are great, but I don't know if they offer any enclosed boats. It would be way too cold to do in February if not.

I personally think Navy Pier is a waste of time and space, but many like it. Still, it will be bitterly cold out there this time of year.

There is a planetarium and an aquarium - both very nice. Not sure if those would be considered museums, and therefore you wouldn't want to go, though.

I love going to the top of the Hancock building for the view. And of course, just walking around and feeling the city. But again, it's going to be very cold, so you may not want to walk much.

Here's alink on the Hard Rock Hotel:
http://metromix.chicagotribune.com/v...-visiting_heds
There are dozens of other good hotels; try 877chicago or hotrooms for deals.

Italian restaurants are plentiful - Tuscany and Rosebud are reliably good, but there are many more to choose from. Make a reservation for Valentine's Day, or you'll be waiting quite a while for a table.

There are several jazz and blues clubs near downtown; check metromix.com or chireader.com to see who's playing. Second City has two good comedy reviews playing - Pants on Fire and Doors Open on the Right. Hairspray is a popular, though expensive, show packing them in downtown. With a foot of snow and temps barely in the twenties this week, (who knows next week?) outdoor activities are in short supply. There are several skating rinks throughout the downtown, including Grant Park and Navy Pier.

Try the El Train.. red line to Wrigley Field, some nice bars and of course the ball park. Tremendous breakfast at a little place called the palace on Washington out by united center. Also Oprah's studios are near by.

I'd reccomend seeing the Blue Man Group at the Briar Street Theatre. Friday and Saturday are probably tough tickets, you might have to get Sunday. Also, if you get a clear evening, drinks at the top of the Hancock as it starts to get dark.