Things to do outside of chicago

[roomonthatbroomforme]

We're off to Chicago next year. Hoping to spend 5 days there then do a bit of travelling round. Anyone have any recommendations of things to see/do?

We spent 2 nights there this summer. Hired bikes and cycled up the lakefront. That was great. Went to a baseball match. Saw the coffee bean. It's a great city, would go back in a heartbeat.

Catch a baseball game at Wrigley field, take a river boat trip, go to Navy Pier and the lakeshore. The Field Museum is excellent. Eat proper Chicago pizza at Pizza Uno or Gino's. Shop for bargains at Nordstrom Rack on State Street. Visit Millennium Park and the giant bean. Have a drink and enjoy the view from the Top of the Rock. Go shopping on the Magnificent Mile. Eat wings at Jake Melnick's Corner Tap. Check out the Vintage Stores and Record shops in Wicker Park. I love Chicago!

Wisconsin's lake shore is not far, you could hear to Madison, Racine or even Milwaukee. Indiana has Amish country which may be of interest. Have a look at roadtrippers.com for some inspiration. It will tell you driving distances and also give you ideas for attractions etc near your route.

In Chicago, the Architectural Boat Tour is nice (leaves opposite the Wrigley Building). Marshall Fields is the store with the clock, and the tourist hop-on-hop-off bus is handy to get around on. There's an aquarium near the park too. Might not want to go in some parts of the loop!

Outside Chicago - we have driven to Indianapolis, along a bit of Route 66 to St Louis, there's a shopping mall (outlet, I think) on the way from Chicago to Indy. Are you hiring a car?

To be honest, I think there is loads to do in Chicago for five days (try one of the free walking tours - you tip at the end - to get a feel for the downtown): art gallery, Millennium park, river, great shops, aquarium, lots of beaches on the lake if you are there in summer, get drinks on the 96th floor of what was the John Hancock building (can't remember what it's called now but you can't miss it). Just outside of Chicago, there is a really nice botanical garden to the north but I don't think you will run out of things to do in the city itself.

I have to say, Rusholme, I really wouldn't recommend Chicago pizza, I thought it was closes to inedible .

Oh and visit the Frank Lloyd Wright buildings in the Oak Park suburb west of the city (be warned, the El takes you out there and you pass through a virtual slum to get there, it's horrifying that places like that exist in the States).

We were in Chicago this summer and I love it there but I have to admit that there is a massive homelessness/begging problem in the downtown, it's really noticeable. I don't remember it from the last time we were there a few years ago and certainly there isnothing like it in New York, for example.

Not outside of Chicago a and possibly a leeetle niche but visit the International Museum Of Surgical Science. Beautiful building, great exhibits and hardly anyone there so you have the place to yourself. Perfect for medical science nerds me.

I visited Chicago last summer with my (non medic or science nerd) DH and our science nerd DD. All of us loved it.

Food tours (Godess & the Baker - OMG).

We loved the amount of public art in Chicago - Sculpture everywhere. Plus, the gorgeous greenery. The enormous and beautiful planters on the pavement/sidewalks throughout the city made the world of difference. The architecture is beautiful too, like a mini NYC.

*Goddess & the Baker

I didn't like Chicago pizza either, lala. I'm a thin crust NY style girl.

Oh Chicago is amazing. So much to do. Do you have DCs? The museum of science and industry is brilliant. There are great parks with splashpads so basically never go out without a towel if you're going in summer. The Chicago Children's Museum on Navy pier isn't a museum, it's a cool play place with all sorts of different rooms, for role play, water play etc. We found it very useful on day 2 when jet lag kicked in a bit for ds and it was incredibly hot - just a nice few hours where he could play in just sort his head out a bit.

Outside Chicago we went to Lake Geneva for a couple of days, very pretty. We stayed in a motel which wasn't luxurious but had a great water park. Was a nice change of pace.

The Art Institute's modern collection is absolutely world class, I had an utterly joyful day there on my own.

My family loves the Volo Museum! They have a Jurassic Gardens mini-golf course and interactive exhibit that's super fun for dino-lovers. It's also really affordable and great for all ages!

As others have said there’s a lot to do in Chicago already but if you want tk go outside Chicago you can get a train or drive out to smaller towns like Lake Geneva for day trips.

You can also get a train to St Louis where they have an amazing children’s museum (depending on the age of your kids). You can literally spend all day there and kids will have so much fun.

https://www.allaroundstl.com/reviews/places/city-museum/

i like how they have children’s museums in the US along normal museums and some of them are so big with so much to do. We’ve also been to the children’s museum in Indianapolis which was amazing.

Depending on how much driving you want to do you can drive up to a Michigan, there are a lot of pretty small beach towns along Lake Michigan. Holland Michigan is a pretty town with a Dutch heritage and has a fun Dutch village: https://www.dutchvillage.com/

You can drive up north to Wisconsin where there are many places to visit and if your kids like water parks Wisconsin Dells is supposedly the water parks capital of the world.

Having said all that make sure you Orlando properly to avoid spending too much time driving since you only have 5 days.

For example we’re planning a trip to drive around Lake Michigan soon with stops at towns like Holland, Traverse City etc in Michigan ending at Mackinac Island and then drive back the other way but spread over a week so make sure you leave enough time to enjoy your trip rather than spend too much time driving.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQkz-mDmURs&pp=ygUPTWFja2luYWMgaXNsYW5k

if you’re an outdoorsy family you can go to the state parks like starved rock for hiking or cave tours in Indiana the next state to the south.

Have fun, we love Chicago.

Also when next year are you coming as that will determine what you can and cannot do. If it is summer make sure you go on family bike rides along the lake, so beautiful. Segway tours are nice as well and the architectural boat tours. The museums are nice, spend time at Millenium park especially if you can watch a free movie or show: https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/millennium_park7.html