What do I HAVE to do while in Chicago?
 

I'm going to Chicago for the first time in mid-May. What are the sights/attractions/restaurants etc. that I cannot miss while I am there. I will be there just three days, so I'd like to make the most of my time. Thanks!

In no certain order:<BR>Sears Tower and/or John Hancock building, Wrigley field/Cubs,Field Museum, Science Museum, Shed Aquarium, Walk around downtown, Billy Goat Inn (cheese burger-cheese burger, chips, Pepsi/SNL fame), ride the El, Navy Pier. There's a lot more but that ought to keep you busy for a few days.

I would go to the Sears Tower and catch the trolley [$15-$18]You can ride all day and get off and on anytime. At the Navy Pier, you will have to change if you want to go to the zoo or south. That will help you get a location on places and it is narrated.

depends on your interests, fabulous Art Institute, Museum of Science and Industry, shopping, Aquarium and Field Museum (Ntural History). Wonderful pricey restaurants and ethnic ones not so pricey. Don't know if Architectural boat trip is going now, but architectural center on Michigan near Art institute -having walking tours of the loop

Visit the top of Sears Tower. Also see the famous artworks in Art Institute (Wood's American Gothic, Impressionists), and the Field Museum. Eat Chicago pizza.<BR><BR>Don't bother with the Shedd Aquarium. Nothing special compared to the top aquariums in the country. Museum of Science & Industry is good if you have kids.

We visited in 2000 (from the UK) Highlights include:<BR><BR>An evening boat ride, a stroll around Navy Pier, the Science Museum, The natural History Museum (Sue, the T-Rex had just arrived..) and the shopping!<BR><BR>We also enjoyed a visit to a Blues club (sorry - can't remember its actual name - I think it was called "Dave's" or something similar). I loved walking along the lake front (hard not to think of it as the Ocean!) and the view from the Hancock tower was spectacular. <BR><BR>There was also a small museum which had a great coffee shop - I think it was the old power (or maybe water) station -its at the end of Michigan Ave.<BR><BR>Sorry I can't be a little more specific - I've just arrived at work and don't have my travel books with me (!)<BR><BR>Hope you have a great time.

Good suggestions so far. I would add Lincoln Park zoo (if you're a zoo person), shopping at Water Tower Place and along Michigan Avenue, and pizza at Uno's. Enjoy Chicago - it's one of my favorite cities!

If you have any interest in art at all, then the Art Institute should be at the top of your list. It's one of America's great museum's.

One of the things I enjoyed most in Chicago was an archetectural (sp) boat tour.<BR><BR>They take you down the river and talk about all the buildings, and then take you out on the lake and look at the buildings from there.<BR><BR>Be careful...not all the boat tours are archetectural (sp). The guide we had was an archetect.<BR><BR>(To all the folks to design buildings, forgive me for butchering the spelling of your profession)

Check into getting a citypass. It cost about $35 and will get you into most of the top attractions in the city. There is a website (do a search) for more information. I know you can buy them at any of the sites that accept them.

The highlights have been pretty much covered. Let me just suggest the Hancock Building rather than Sears Tower. The Hancock may not be quite as high, but the Sears tower is in a more isolated area that tourists wouldn't have much interest in.<BR>

My husband and I did a one-night.all-you-can-handle tour of piano bars and had a blast!Just kept asking taxi drivers where to go next!

Take the El to Oak Park to see the Frank Lloyd Wright neighbourhood, it is picture perfect. Don't forget to see all the large outdoor pieces of sculpture in the Loop. Take a short boat ride out from Navy pier to get a fabulous view of the skyscrapers.<BR>Have a great time Chicago is awesome!

eat at MOD in Bucktown. Go to the 95th for a drink and get the same view as sears tower for the price of a drink.<BR>Go to Oak Street or North Ave. beach and rent a bike and ride. Go sunday to navy Pier and listen to the musicians at the far end of the pier(east end). Eat at touristy Uno's for deep dish sausage and go at a weird time to avoid a wait. Lastly, eat at Weinercircle in Lincoln park for the best char dogs.<BR>I'm a local and this is local stuff. Lastly take an architectural boat tour the one that leaves from the place near Dick's last resort. It's the best tour around.<BR>good luck and have fun

I'll have to second the Architectural Boat Toue, or a walking tour put on by the Chicago Architactural Foundation. You can visit them online for a detailed schedule, which includes Frank Lloyd Wright tours in Oak Park. You can also see what the events the Chicago Cultural Center has brewing.<BR><BR>If you will have a car take the 'scenic' drive wdown Lake Shore Drive to Sheridan Road, is beautiful (where John Hughes filed most of his movies).<BR><BR>Check out Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park--you can eat somewhere around there, and is not far from the aforementioned Art Institute. <BR><BR>There are great, tho' costly restaurants in the River West aera (@ Randolph & Halstead Streets): Marche, Sushi Wabi (one of the best in Chicago) Most definitely go to the Lounge on the 94th Floor of the Handcock!!

If you like comedy (Saturday Night Live), Second City is a must. This is one of the nation's premier comedy clubs. It is where people like Chris Farley and Dan Aykroid got their start. I highly recommend it.