Three nights in Chicago without dc's any recommendations ?

[LilyLoo]

Thanks in advance for any tips am really looking forward to it just no idea really what to see ?

thanks to Mamama

Ooo, I live there. It's FAB. What do you need to know? When are you visiting? What do you like to eat? Where are you staying?

Have a look at the link Ivor posted and let me know if you need more info.

(thanks for bumping this Ivor & Califrau)

If it is just a trip with adults, my top things to do would be:

• The Bean & Millenium Park

*Seadog architechture/ speed boat ride from Navy Pier

• Cocktails in the Signature Room at the top of the Hancokc tower at sunset (much better than the Sears tower and nice to get a drink in the bar instead of paying to go to the observation deck)

• Shopping - Michigan Ave & State Street

Thanks Ivor and Califrau looks some great ideas there. Mamama going at end of May what will weather be like ? Staying at Whitehall Hotel 105 East Delaware Place. Do you know where will be worth visiting near here ?Just me and Dp some much needed time on our own away from dc's. Will eat anything and Cocktails in the bar sounds lovely. Def looking at something more adult orientated any recommendations for evening ? Don't want to commit to too much as dreading the jet lag from uk to Chicago and back in four days.

Look here for info about weather.

At the end of May, it will probably be low 20s - nice and warm but not humid. It shouldn't be too rainy - I'd bring spring clothes and a few long sleeves. Last year it was hot at the end of may - I got sunburnt & DS spent most of his time in shorts & T-shirts.

Weather.com does a 10 day forecast which may help nearer the time.

Your hotel is in a really good location - not far from the beach and right by the shops .

Things to do in the evening... If you like Jazz, you could try Andy's - you can eat there.

Blue Chicago is meant to be good for Blues music (obviously) but I've never been.

You could go to Second City Comedy club which is where lots of well known comedians started out (including John Belushi, Bill Murray, Mike Myers)

There is also the Chicago symphony and probably lots of live events around the city. You should try to see the fireworks at Navy Pier on a Saturday or Wednesday night.

Will pop back if I think of anything else.

Any questions?

Thankyou so much Mamama that looks great can't wait now . How far is it from airport to hotel ?

I recommend the hop-on-hop-off bus tour - sounds naff but you really do get a feel for the city and the chance to visit some of the museums and places of interest - I assume there is a closed-top bus in the winter?!

We did one of those in Rome Ali and it was a really good way to see the sights good idea.

I used to live in Chicago, more than 10 years ago though so it has probably changed a lot. But you should definitely try and go to a Blues bar, whatever the cool ones are now (South Side for authentic but I seem to remember some quite touristy ones on the North Side if you are a bit nervous), and a cool neighborhood for funky artsy shopping used to be Wicker Park -- but maybe that's really gentrified now? Oak Street (off Michigan Avenue) very good for posh shopping. Marshall Fields in State Street is the quintessential Chicago Department Store. And the city is full of amazing public art, lots of cool sculptures everywhere which you shouldn't miss.

Thanks Sophy wish i was going for longer now there seems so many fab things to do. Is it quite a safe city ?

Yes it is very safe if you stick to the North Side (as I you are bound to if you are in the main touristy areas) although there is one nasty housing project very near the posh bits of the North Side called Cabrini Green which you will want to avoid I'm sure your hotel will be able to advise you. Like any American city usual rules apply try not to look like an obvious tourist, keep your bag close at all times, don't stop to talk to people e.g if someone asks you the time tell them politely and keep walking. I lived there for 3 years without a problem despite living in a fairly rough Hispanic neignborhood during my last year. It's a great city and I wish I was going back soon.

here is another tip about eating out in Chicago restaurants -- the portions are huge (and you will see a correspondingly high number of extremely obese people.) It is perfectly normal in most restaurants to order a starter or main course to share between two. And if you can't eat it all the waiter will expect you to ask for a doggie bag and take it home with you for lunch the next day. If you don't want to do that you can take the food anyway and leave it in a bin, where a homeless person who will really appreciate it will probably find it.

And about the weather, particularly in Springtime, it can be very variable, very quickly. You could be walking round in shorts and T-shirts one day and it might be snowing the next (altho by end of May snow fairly unlikely!). Chicagoans all put their shorts on as soon as the temperature goes above 50 deg F.

No more advice, but I was there last month with work, didn't have a lot of free time, but saw the Bean and Millennium Park, had drinks at the top of the Hancock Tower (at sunset as mamama says!), a quick look in the Art Institute and ate in the Cheesecake Factory and it was all utterly fabulous. I loved it. It was also -10 degrees C - I want to go back in springtime !

I think our taxi from the airport took about an hour to get to downtown - arrived about lunchtime and roads were pretty busy.

Thanks so much to everyone for advice. And that's work Doggie i want your job

Further to what Sophy said:

• Marshall Fields is now Macy's

• Stick to the downtown area and you should be as safe as in any other city. Everyone looks like a tourist, so you needn't worry about looking obvious! I'd happily walk from restaurants to hotels/ Grant Park at night - along Michigan Avenue is well lit and busy. I wouldn't stray too far from there in the dark though.

Warning: There are lots of homeless people and beggars who may try to sell you dodgy jewellery, shine your shoes or engage in conversation. I'm sure most of them are no trouble at all - I've never had any bother with them, but it's best not to make eye contact or get into a conversation.

Another nice place for lunch/ to pick up some deli things is Fox & Obel. Oprah shops there, apparently! (you can google them)

Doggiesayswoof, come back in the spring/ fall - much nicer then than the winter time!

Wow mamama, so Marshall Field's no longer exists?! What happened to those chocolates they were famous for, I forget what they were called, the chocolate minty ones, do they still make them?

They're Frango Mints, Sophy. You can still get them at the moment.

Macy's took Marshall Fields over last year but promised not to change the name. Chicago was not impressed but relieved that they were keeping the name. This year, they went back on their word and it is now called Macy's

All the dark green is being changed to red but the rest of the store remains the same - they still have the amazing ceiling and the clock outside.

You may be interested to know that Carson Pirie Scott on State Street just closed down (it was not far from Marshall Fields) as has Lord & Taylor on Michigan Ave.

I'm not surprised about Carson's -- it was always a dump. Oh I do miss the Windy City!

I know, Carson's was rubbish!

It is fab city, isn't it?