Leaving for Chi-town in 7 days :)
 

Any last minute suggestions? Any brand new restaurants? Any recent must see additions to the schedule you guys have helped me plan?

We don't know where you are coming from, if you've been there before or where you are staying, but be sure to hit lake shore drive and walk along the lake or go to the beach. The weather in chicago has been absolutely gorgeous the past couple of weeks. This is the only time of the year that you really get to enjoy the water in Chicago and alot of people don't realize that Lake Michigan is so big!

I suggest that:

YOU DON'T FORGET YOUR TRIP REPORT WHEN YOU GET BACK!!!


Have a wonderful time, I am headed up there in October.

Chicago is one of my favorite cities! I'm not sure what your interests are, but here are some things I enjoy when I'm there:

--Cubs game (Wrigley Field definitely has an "old time" feel), Wrigleyville (bars and restaurants near ballpark, great atmosphere).

--Architecture tour by boat...not sure what the tour group is called, but the hotel will probably be able to recommend something.

--Chicago Art Institute

--Several good Thai restaurants. Aron's is the best.

Have a great time! :)

I almost forgot: Vong's Thai Kitchen is good too. Less expensive than Arun's.

:)

Jewels-02,
Why don't you post your up-to-date schedule? Maybe people can see something you've left out.

Also, please post your TR when you get back! We're going late September and love to read the Trip Reports.

Have a great trip!

I'm pretty sure this was covered in your earlier post, jewels, but the group that does the boat tours is the Chicago Architecture Foundation. www.architecture.org

My son and I did the tour for the first time the week before last. It's wonderful! Even though I've lived in this area for 25 years, I learned a lot.

CAPH52,

Do I need reservations for the river tour or can I just get the tickets once we arrive in Chicago?? Am I right in assuming you went on the First Lady?

jewels, they have more than one boat (the tour lasts 90 minutes and, at some points during the day, one leaves every 30 minutes). My son says we were on the Fair Lady.

We went on a Thursday and the only time that really worked for us was 3:00. We probably would have been fine buying our tickets just before the tour. But we didn't want to take any chances. So we ordered them online the night before. There is a Ticket Master fee when you buy them ahead. And, unless your time is very tight, I wouldn't suggest ordering too far ahead because you never know how the weather might be.

Our tour was full but there were definitely people buying the tickets pretty much right up to departure time. They said boarding would start 15 minutes before departure. I think it was closer to 10. We'd been in line 15 to 20 minutes by then. And I'd say there were maybe about 20 people in front of us. We'd been seated a fairly short time before we saw people starting to have a hard time finding seats together.

My guess is that, if you're taking the tour during the week and are flexible about your time (willing to take the next tour if that one is full), you can buy your tickets when you get there. Or, if you're doing other stuff in the area, you could go down and buy the tickets for later in the day.

I can't remember whether you're traveling with someone. If not, you won't have any trouble getting a seat. Otherwise, I'd suggest getting in line early (around half an hour before departure) to be assured of seats together.

Virtual 360 doesn't seem like a very user friendly, informative website. All it did was give a general description of Chicago with search results provided by google. Not sure about the relevance of your post...

Come on Jewels!

You don't know the relevance of the post???? Just click on the author's name and see all his/her posts. They are all advertising for that silly website.

Jewels, judging by the posters screen name and the fact that all of his/her posts are from today, I'd say it's an ad.

I figured that out, AFTER I posted my reply. :)