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Chicago with kids
Posted on 7/5/17 at 9:24 am
Posted on 7/5/17 at 9:24 am
We are heading to Chicago later this month with kids. What are some must see things to do/eat? The cubs are not in town btw. TIA
4
Posted on 7/5/17 at 9:45 am to Burlee
The Science & Industry Museum is great, as is Shedd Aquarium. Go to top of Sears Tower.
It gets a lot of hate, but I really like deep dish Chicago style pizza. It is more like a casserole though. I don't know which is considered best, but I like Lou Malnati's.
It gets a lot of hate, but I really like deep dish Chicago style pizza. It is more like a casserole though. I don't know which is considered best, but I like Lou Malnati's.
Posted on 7/5/17 at 9:53 am to Burlee
Depending on the kids' ages, they might also enjoy the Architectural boat tour. I think it lasts about an hour, and if you get a good guide, it can be really interesting.
Posted on 7/5/17 at 10:05 am to Burlee
Just got back from there with just the wife. However, I'd recommend these:
1) Science and Industry Museum
2) Chicago 360 (observation deck at the Sears Tower)
3) The Art Institute
4) The Navy Pier
5) The architectural cruise
6) The River Walk
7) The Miracle Mile
They might get a kick out of the History Museum, but I wouldn't recommend it unless they were really interested in it. I wasn't blown away by it. It also had a very liberal slant on events.
Hit one of the Chicago Pizza places. They are all good and it's a good argument to ask someone which is best. Portillos is a must for Chicago style hot dogs.
The public transit system is fantastic. We never got an Uber anywhere. Just like any large city, there is a lot of homeless people there. Be prepared to get approached.
There are water taxis on the River Walk that will take you places. Not sure where all they go, but it might be fun. We didn't get a chance to do that.
1) Science and Industry Museum
2) Chicago 360 (observation deck at the Sears Tower)
3) The Art Institute
4) The Navy Pier
5) The architectural cruise
6) The River Walk
7) The Miracle Mile
They might get a kick out of the History Museum, but I wouldn't recommend it unless they were really interested in it. I wasn't blown away by it. It also had a very liberal slant on events.
Hit one of the Chicago Pizza places. They are all good and it's a good argument to ask someone which is best. Portillos is a must for Chicago style hot dogs.
The public transit system is fantastic. We never got an Uber anywhere. Just like any large city, there is a lot of homeless people there. Be prepared to get approached.
There are water taxis on the River Walk that will take you places. Not sure where all they go, but it might be fun. We didn't get a chance to do that.
Posted on 7/5/17 at 10:31 am to Burlee
It can get pretty hot in Chicago during the summer months, so long-distance walking may not be great with kids.
How old are your kids? If they're young enough, I would recommend Maggie Daley Park. I'm in my 20s and don't have kids, but I would imagine letting your kids play after breakfast while you sip coffee could be nice for everyone.
The Bean is a tourist trap, but everyone seems pretty enamored by their distorted faces/bodies reflecting off of it.
Crown Fountain attracts a lot of crowds and kids that like to run through the water.
Navy Pier is family-friendly and you can grab some ice cream.
Architectural Boat tour is easy on the legs and will keep your kids from tiring.
Shedd Aquarium is great for everyone of all ages.
Keep it simple on the pizza and eat at Lou Malnati's or Giordano's since you're likely staying downtown. Otherwise, there are always kids at Little Goat in West Loop.
Lincoln Park Zoo.
Top of the Willis.
If you want to venture into any of Chicago's neighborhoods, I might recommend the Southport Corridor in Lakeview. There are families all over the place.
How old are your kids? If they're young enough, I would recommend Maggie Daley Park. I'm in my 20s and don't have kids, but I would imagine letting your kids play after breakfast while you sip coffee could be nice for everyone.
The Bean is a tourist trap, but everyone seems pretty enamored by their distorted faces/bodies reflecting off of it.
Crown Fountain attracts a lot of crowds and kids that like to run through the water.
Navy Pier is family-friendly and you can grab some ice cream.
Architectural Boat tour is easy on the legs and will keep your kids from tiring.
Shedd Aquarium is great for everyone of all ages.
Keep it simple on the pizza and eat at Lou Malnati's or Giordano's since you're likely staying downtown. Otherwise, there are always kids at Little Goat in West Loop.
Lincoln Park Zoo.
Top of the Willis.
If you want to venture into any of Chicago's neighborhoods, I might recommend the Southport Corridor in Lakeview. There are families all over the place.
Posted on 7/5/17 at 11:34 am to hoopsgalore
Thanks all for the recs - my kids ages range from 11 - 15
Posted on 7/5/17 at 11:36 am to hoopsgalore
Hold up- you want to rip on the bean for being a tourist trap, yet one of your recs is Navy Pier? Navy Pier is a pain to get to, and it is a huge tourist trap with essentially zero redeeming features outside of a ferris wheel. You get a nice view of the city but I can name 5 other places to do that. SMH.
If the Cubs are not in town, I highly recommend coming up this way and doing a tour of Wrigley Field. The non-game day tours are actually better because you get to go in the visitor locker room, press box, and dugout.
If the Cubs are not in town, I highly recommend coming up this way and doing a tour of Wrigley Field. The non-game day tours are actually better because you get to go in the visitor locker room, press box, and dugout.
Posted on 7/5/17 at 11:36 am to hoopsgalore
quote:
Lincoln Park Zoo.
I was told the zoo was free BTW. Not sure if that's true because we never went. The History Museum is close to the zoo if you decide to go there.
Chicago was hot while we were there, but it's not Alabama/Louisiana hot.
Posted on 7/5/17 at 1:50 pm to Aubie Spr96
There's some great big city Libs people watching. I'd check that out it can be as good as the zoo sometimes.
In all seriousness, I think there are some Mob tours. I don't know how good they are though but those age kids may enjoy it.
Definitely do a boat tour, its usually a nice thing on a hot afternoon as the breeze off the water if you are in the shade is nice.
Deep dish pizza takes 45 minutes to make generally, so its usually a 1.5 hour meal. Not like NY style where you can be in an out and don't really have to plan around that.
In all seriousness, I think there are some Mob tours. I don't know how good they are though but those age kids may enjoy it.
Definitely do a boat tour, its usually a nice thing on a hot afternoon as the breeze off the water if you are in the shade is nice.
Deep dish pizza takes 45 minutes to make generally, so its usually a 1.5 hour meal. Not like NY style where you can be in an out and don't really have to plan around that.
Posted on 7/5/17 at 2:22 pm to foreverLSU
quote:
Hold up- you want to rip on the bean for being a tourist trap, yet one of your recs is Navy Pier?
Lol. Relax. I live here and am well-aware that Navy Pier is a tourst trap... Don't think I claimed otherwise? He's there with kids and I doubt they need to do much outside of what most visitors do.
This post was edited on 7/5/17 at 2:27 pm
Posted on 7/5/17 at 2:24 pm to Aubie Spr96
quote:
I was told the zoo was free BTW.
It is. It's also nice to walk around the north and south ponds + Diversey Harbor. You can get some nice views of River North.
quote:
Chicago was hot while we were there, but it's not Alabama/Louisiana hot.
It's certainly not as hot, but it can be uncomfortable when you're spending a lot of time walking and trying to fit everything into just a few days.
This post was edited on 7/5/17 at 2:26 pm
Posted on 7/5/17 at 3:44 pm to hoopsgalore
Also, any casual lunch and dinner spots in the river walk, navy pier, millennium park area recommendations are appreciated. TIA
Posted on 10/12/17 at 4:39 pm to Burlee
Just got back from a trip this past weekend with kids ranging in age from 1 to 10. Had a great time and so did the kids. Wish we would have had a couple more days to really explore other areas, but it wasn't in the cards.
We enjoyed Maggie Daley Park and the Science and Industry Museum the most. Spent about 5 hours in the museum and easily could have done a full day. Highly recommend this to anyone traveling with kids. It was great.
The weather was great for most of the weekend so we walked almost everywhere within the downtown/Navy Pier/Millenium Park areas without much of a problem at all and that included a stroller. Spent a few hours at Navy Pier strolling around having a few drinks while the kids played around that area. Did the Children's Museum, but I thought the one in New Orleans is better.
Not many food recommendations. We tried a few places, but did not have luck getting reservations and with an infant, we weren't waiting over an hour for a seat for most of the good restaurants. Went to Ginos though for pizza and was really disappointed in the pizza and the service. Would not recommend it.
Wasn't able to do a ton, but we all had a great time with what we were able to do and I highly recommend Chicago as a family destination.
We enjoyed Maggie Daley Park and the Science and Industry Museum the most. Spent about 5 hours in the museum and easily could have done a full day. Highly recommend this to anyone traveling with kids. It was great.
The weather was great for most of the weekend so we walked almost everywhere within the downtown/Navy Pier/Millenium Park areas without much of a problem at all and that included a stroller. Spent a few hours at Navy Pier strolling around having a few drinks while the kids played around that area. Did the Children's Museum, but I thought the one in New Orleans is better.
Not many food recommendations. We tried a few places, but did not have luck getting reservations and with an infant, we weren't waiting over an hour for a seat for most of the good restaurants. Went to Ginos though for pizza and was really disappointed in the pizza and the service. Would not recommend it.
Wasn't able to do a ton, but we all had a great time with what we were able to do and I highly recommend Chicago as a family destination.
Posted on 10/14/17 at 6:42 am to nolabuilder
quote:
Went to Ginos though for pizza and was really disappointed in the pizza and the service. Would not recommend it.
Definitely near the bottom of my pizza choices. If going deep dish, much prefer Lou Malnati's, Pequod's, Art of Pizza, and Giordano's.
Posted on 10/14/17 at 9:15 am to hoopsgalore
Genos/Gino’s whatever sucked. Giardanos was good, and lou malnatis was amazing.
Posted on 10/14/17 at 10:20 am to foreverLSU
quote:
The non-game day tours are actually better because you get to go in the visitor locker room, press box, and dugout.
I can't recommend this enough... the tour is like 20 bucks or something but absolutely worth it. Probably the highlight of my trip to Chicago in June.
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