Our brasilian friends are returning to Sao Paulo on this Saturday evening. Their flight has a 15-hour layover in Chicago on Sunday. They have never visited Chicago before and are anxious to know what they should visit since their layover is so lengthy.

They do have hats and gloves with them...they would also be happy with a shopping center to spend time in. What are key points of interest they should try to see while there? Thank you!

Would appreciate any ideas anyone can share here asap....they are flying, so do not have a car and they are a mother with 3 20-somethings. How best to do a whirl-wind tour of this city? What is the best transportation to use? Is the airport quite far from the City? They all know of Al Capone...is there an historical tour in this vein?

Tell your friends not to waste their limited time on a shopping mall! There is convenient CTA service at the airport that will take them right downtown. It's cheap and they won't have to worry about getting stuck in traffic. The Art Institute, Field Museum of Natural History, and Shedd Aquarium are in or very close to the loop. There is a visitor center in the Water Tower (not to be confused with Water Tower Place). They even have volunteers that will show your friends around through the Chicago Greeter program: www.chicagogreeter.com, but get on that right away because they need some notice. Chicago Pizza & Oven Grinder Company in the Lincoln Park neighborhood has good food and one of its claims to fame is that it's located across the street from where the St. Valentine's massacre occurred. The CTA & Chicago Convention & Visitors Bureau both have comprehensive web sites so when they get here your friends can have everything planned out ahead of time & they can hit the ground running rather than using up their limited time figuring out what to do. I hope they have a great time!

The airport is, indeed, quite far from the airport, but assuming they won't be carrying too much, they can get on the "El" to downtown Chicago, at which point they might want to consider hiring a cab to take them to the Aquarium on the shore in the Loop and/or the Hancock Tower on Mich. Ave in Chicago's "Magnificent Mile" shopping area. A cab from airport to downtown is expensive, but there are shuttle van services to downtown, too.

Why the Aquarium, of all places? Because it has by far the best view of the skyline of the city -- lovely and impressive -- and they might enjoy the exhibits and shows in the "new" part. Sounding Restaurant has a decent lunch with view (there's also a typical, noisy food court -- skip it).

Then downtown, Hancock Tower has a better view of the city than the Sears Tower, imho, and is much less of a hassle to get up and back down again AND you aren't far from Water Tower Place, which is a multi-storey indoor, upscale mall -- stores, restaurants, etc.

Only danger is that they might lose track of time, but at least there will be taxis lined up outside to take them either to the airport, or they could find their way back to the O'Hare line of the EL (that's not so straightforward, so they should make a note of the subway system and the various lines -- they may or may not be able to transfer, depending on where they end up).

Be very careful on sending them to the Shedd Aquarium on Sunday because I do believe that I heard on the local news that the whole shebang is closed totally right now for 2 weeks. Cleaning and innovation. Restaurant also.

The weather should be nice, as we are headed for a warm up. For us it will be balmy, in the 40s at least. Don't have a clue about their interests. Maybe I would hit one great view and then the Art Institute. But maybe they would prefer something else or Cultural Center. I don't think that I would risk any jaunts to Lincoln Park myself.

Hehe, I guess we're not as successful in shaking the Capone image as I thought . I would suggest they check out Millennium Park (that thing cost us so much money, I'm telling everyone about it), unfortunately “The Bean” will be hidden from view as they work out a few more of its kinks. They can even try their hand at ice-skating (I’ve seen and spoken to more than one tourist from warmer locals having a bit of fun with that). I would recommend they stop by the Cultural Center and walk along the river. If they must shop, they should go by Marshall Fields for a local experience. I’ve seen those large upscale Brazilian shopping centers first hand (I’ve been to Sao Paulo, my cousin lived there for a few years), and they are pretty impressive, so I’m not sure how much of a treat ours would be, As such I would recommend the try and take in sites that are unique to Chicago. My cousin’s wife is from Sao Paulo and she loved walking along the river and looking at some of the older architecture when she visited. I asked her of her impressions of the city and she responded “very beautiful and very cold” I wouldn’t be surprised if your friends had a similar reaction.

Thanks all! I believe they will be interested in the massacre site, as well, since they all have heard of that. This site is so great for fast advice! If you think of anything else, please pass along...thank you all so much.

soccr - Is Sounding Restaurant that you mentioned within the aquarium? We'll need a spot for lunch when we go w/our kids in March and we're definitely planning some time at the aquarium. Causual? Good food? Thanks!

snowrooster, I was just at Soundings and with little kids also. In fact, high chair grandsons. It's ok and the meal was pleasant. We were a party of five and ate a little past noontime (12:15 maybe). And I was surprised that it was almost totally empty. There was one other table occupied.

Food was good but not fine dining fare, service slow. But what I didn't like about it the most, was that for a white table cloth/ better dining type of place- to me it just didn't have respective food quality value for the $$$. View is what you pay for, I guess.

Keep in mind, that as a Chicago native, I very seldom like any of the places that are tourist centers. I just don't know why. To me there are so many better choices in Chicago, when you know where you are, that to me some of the ones that the tourists seem to like here, make me go, HUH!

Aquarium is a wonderful day. The children will love it. I had a 3-1/2 year old who did not want to leave the indoor "tide" pool wall for over an hour. He was mesmerized by the rush and giggled every time. The entire thing is closed now and so in March you should see some very nice and detailed new displays etc. www.metromix.com will give you ideas of some restaurants in the various areas you may frequent. Remember that often "off" of the beat by one block can make a tremendous difference in both quality of service, waits, and responsiveness to childrens' needs. Actually both times I have gone with the small kids, I find that right around WaterTower Place and in those blocks bisecting Michigan Ave. that I have found good, more reasonable and kid friendly places. I do love Eli's Cheesecake Factory, although very crowded. Lots of innovative lunches that kids and I both appreciate.

Re the Massacre, keep in mind that (as I recall) there's no sign or plaque or anything indicating the site - but the storeowners in the area can probably point out the building to you.

Also, it's not too far away (short cab ride) from the Biograph Theater, which is where John Dillinger was shot. It's on 2433-43 North Lincoln Ave. I found a nice website about it, http://www.ci.chi.il.us/Landmarks/B/...phTheater.html

The Shedd Aquarium is closed Jan 3-13.

The garage where the St. Valentine's Day massacre occured doesn't exist anymore, it was located at 2122 North Clark Street. I would be really disappointed if I were a tourist and made a specific trip to visit it.

I would send a first time visitor on the el from the airport, have them get off at Clark/Lake, head one block over to Randolph where they can stop in at the flagship Marshall Field's, the Cultural Center (a beautiful building which also houses one of the tourist bureaus. They have an insta greeter service there which is a free tour of the loop area.

http://www.chicagogreeter.com/Instagreeter.html

From there, they can head over to Millennium Park which is very close to the Cultural Center, the Art Institute (take a cab if it's chilly), or up to the Hancock and the Michigan Avenue shopping area. If they can stand the cold, there is some really nice architecture on the way from the Cultural Center to Michigan Avenue, the Carbon & Carbide Building, the Wrigley Building, Chicago Tribune Tower, the Intercontinental Hotel.

Oh, and if they are a fan of popcorn, they should stop in the Garrett Popcorn on Randolph, excellent caramel and cheese popcorn!

I've never done this particular tour but a friend of mine who's really into gangsters recommends it highly

http://www.gangstertour.com/

As a native Chicagoan, may I implore you not to send tourists to "gangster" sites. There is so much more to the city that is much more worthwhile. Chicago is NOT just Capone and conventions (or Michael Jordan).

I agree. It's hard for me to nay say whatever you want to do, but believe me you will see nothing and feel like they took your money. One of my kids went on a tour to old gangster sites and came home feeling like he was fleeced.

Chicago is huge and in the time frame you have you will need to stick close to transportation. If nothing else take a walk down State St. and just stand on the cornor of State/Madison under the clock at Marshall Field's ie.

Thank you all so very much for taking some time to share your ideas here...I have printed them all out, including some of the web links you sent. Our friends are very grateful for your gracious help. Happy New Years to you!