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Things to do and see in Chicago for an anniversary day(ish) trip.

michaelskis

michaelskis

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As I posted in another thread, I decided to take my wife to Chicago for our anniversary at the end of September. Two weeks after we got married, we were going to go to a U of M homecoming game, but realized at 5:00 am the day of the game, that the tickets ended up in a pile of papers that went through the shredder and into the garbage. So we improvised and did a spontaneous trip to Chicago instead. We got off the South Shore line before noon and did not leave until after midnight.

I decided that it would be fun to go back to Chicago, but to actually stay the night this time. I spoke with someone who recently stayed at the Congress Plaza Hotel, and they said that there is a 20% chance that we would end up with a nice restored room, but an 80% chance it would be a dump. He suggested that I stay out at one of the hotels by the airport as the cost will be 1/3 to 1/5 what it would in downtown, and the Blue Line runs right up to several of them. So I booked a room out there. But we will be spending most of our time in downtown. We plan on getting into town very early in the day, and leaving the next morning.

Contrary to what some people have stated, I love food. I don't care what country it comes from. I especially like spicy food, but my wife doesn't. We do both love history and went to the Chicago History Museum 6 years ago when we were there, and ate at a rain forest cafe type of restaurant, visited Navy Pier, walked along the Gold Coast, took photos in Millennium Park and did not get back to GR until 4am. I think we at at an Irish Pub for lunch that day too.

What suggestions would you have for places to go and things to see for a couple on their anniversary in Chicago? We will not have a car but will have day passes for the L, so any suggestions are hopefully within walking distance of a stop. I am also not a big spender, so $300 dinners are not likely to happen.
 
I have done the staying near the airport and taking the train into the loop on multiple occasions and always found it to be a good deal if you don't absolutely need to be downtown (it's also nice that many of the hotels by the airports have free parking!). I don't think it will be much of an inconvenience. We are trying to get free tickets to the Michigan/Northwestern game in Evanston in November and if we do, we'll probably stay out near one of the airports as well.

I haven't been out there in a few years so many of my suggestions are probably irrelevant by now but I know the Museum of Science and Industry is pretty good for all ages.

My favorite thing to do when I am there is to take the trains out to some of the northern neighborhoods like Lake View or Lincoln Park and just walk around. No real destination beyond that.
 
To do Science and Industry right, it takes several days. With limited amount of time, do Michigan Ave, hit Giordanos for for the best pizza in town. Shedd aquarium is always one of my favorites. Go see Buckingham Fountain.
 
Do you know rough dates? We'll be in Chicago 9/20 - 9/25, departing 9/25 for Toledo, then back in Chicago 9/28 to catch a red-eye 9/29 back to Texas. We're staying in a short-term rental near the Clark/Lake station.
 
Suburb Repairman said:
Do you know rough dates? We'll be in Chicago 9/20 - 9/25, departing 9/25 for Toledo, then back in Chicago 9/28 to catch a red-eye 9/29 back to Texas. We're staying in a short-term rental near the Clark/Lake station.
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We will just miss you. We will be getting into the City on the Morning of Saturday the 27th and leaving to come home the 28th.

I looked into the AirBnB option too, and most of them wanted a 2 night minimum or they were no longer available. Finally it came down to amenities... the hotel I booked by the airport has a pool.
 
Post your pictures in front of a :redstar:. They have nice bathrooms on Michigan Avenue.



Actually, you should fly to San Francisco. There's a place to spend an anniversary. ...or Williston, Dakotas.
 
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I posted a lengthy list of things to do in a thread Burb Fixer started last month: http://www.cyburbia.org/forums/showthread.php?t=51000&highlight=Chicago

Since you're going to be out by the airport, I would ordinarily suggest exploring some of the nearby suburbs like Des Plaines, Park Ridge, Mount Prospect, and Arlington Heights, as well as the Woodfield Mall area in Schaumburg. There are a ton of great restaurants in the area too and the northwest suburbs have become one of the more ethnically diverse regions of Chicagoland while also one of the more prosperous regions as well. Rosemont has become a big entertainment hub too. However, since you won't be here for that long, you should probably try to take in more of what the city has to offer. Take a look at that other thread for some ideas.
 
Edge city!

illinoisplanner said:
.... the Woodfield Mall area in Schaumburg. .....
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...because no planner can get enough of the suburban mall-sprawl scene!

My favorite part: the parking garage is decorated to look like a traditional DT. (Or it was back when I worked at one of the wireless companies in the Aughts.)
 
Veloise said:
...because no planner can get enough of the suburban mall-sprawl scene!

My favorite part: the parking garage is decorated to look like a traditional DT. (Or it was back when I worked at one of the wireless companies in the Aughts.)
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There is the Woodfield Mall and then a newer development The Streets of Woodfield. Its the Streets of Woodfield that has a garage that sort of looks like a downtown streetscape. Of course there aren't alone in this. I've seen a few Meijer stores that do this too. I suppose it will be kitschy in a few decades...
 
Veloise said:
...because no planner can get enough of the suburban mall-sprawl scene!

My favorite part: the parking garage is decorated to look like a traditional DT. (Or it was back when I worked at one of the wireless companies in the Aughts.)
Click to expand...

That was my first thought too. The last time I was in the the Mall was to go to the Apple Store. Beyond that, I don't go. Besides, we are parking in Indiana and taking the train the rest of the way. We are going to rely only on public transportation.
 
michaelskis said:
That was my first thought too. The last time I was in the the Mall was to go to the Apple Store. Beyond that, I don't go. Besides, we are parking in Indiana and taking the train the rest of the way. We are going to rely only on public transportation.
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I was just throwing it out there as an option. I know some people are really into malls and edge cities, so you never know. But yeah, since you won't be here that long and also don't have a car, probably best to stick to the city. Some great neighborhoods on the Blue Line...maybe check out Logan Square. And of course, there's tons to see and do along the Red Line.
 
There is a new outlet mall near O'Hare and is accessible via the L Blue Line. You can take the Blue Line down to the loop and walk around State Street- shopping, restaurants, historical buildings, etc. Once you're downtown you can take any L line virtually anywhere in the city. There are also Divvy bike sharing stations all around the city. If you want a nice park go to Bridgeport to the Palmisano Park. It's gorgeous, peaceful and very nice for a picnic or just a nice walk. Bridgeport also has a few nicer restaurants (Nana, Oliver's Cafe, etc). but not as pricey as you'd see in the Loop or River North area. My boyfriend and I love taking Divvy bikes out along the Lakefront Path and riding up to Lincoln Park as well. The Lincoln Park Zoo is free and there is also a nature museum near the zoo. Hope you have fun!
 
jsk1983 said:
There is the Woodfield Mall and then a newer development The Streets of Woodfield. Its the Streets of Woodfield that has a garage that sort of looks like a downtown streetscape. Of course there aren't alone in this. I've seen a few Meijer stores that do this too. I suppose it will be kitschy in a few decades...
Click to expand...

I remember when the streets of Woodfield was an indoor mall with a Monkey Wards (What was so monkey about that place anyways?). Go to 28th Street at home instead, it is the same thing.
 
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