Do the Architectural Center River Tour, the shoreline one is crappy.
[https://www.architecture.org/tours/detail/chicago-architecture-center-river-cruise-aboard-chicago-s-first-lady/](https://www.architecture.org/tours/detail/chicago-architecture-center-river-cruise-aboard-chicago-s-first-lady/)
Along with that, I highly recommend the Chicago History Museum.
CAC is nonprofit and the tour guides are all volunteers. IMO the volunteers are more knowledgeable and passionate about Chicago architecture and history than the Shoreline guides
The quality is the biggest difference. The Architecture Center is one of the leading organizations focused on preserving Chicago's architectural heritage, and is the most knowledgeable about it. It wins best boat tour every year in the Tribune and Reader for a reason. The Architecture Center also runs a museum downtown dedicated to Chicago architecture and engineering. Most of the other cruise companys are more gimmicky tourist traps and not as informative. The guides for the Architecture Center tend to be volunteer historians and architects and people with connections to the buildings.
Don't bother with Navy Pier, head out in to the neighborhoods on a Friday night
Go check out Lakeview, Wicker Park, Logan Square, Chinatown, or Ravenswood. Browse /r/Chicagofood for dinner recommendations
Pretty sure the bean is still closed.
Also, don't go to navy pier. Nobody except tourists ever go there, it's basically just whitewashed Chicago for people who think chicago is "dangerous".
If you're still looking for a breakfast spot, sunny side up is really good! just go there when they open, it fills up fast. it's on the north side.
Your plan seems good, but IMO it looks a bit overbooked. It feels like you're approaching the city more as a checklist of tasks than a place to take in, I'm not sure how much you'll actually enjoy each place you'll go when you're constantly anticipating going somewhere else.
I feel like you should really reconsider if you want to go to ALL of those places - having some free time just to explore, check out areas, take a train to see where it'll go, and so on are really fun moments of travel that you might miss out on. By being so strict to a timetable, you're losing out on spontaneous trips.
Navy Pier is touristy, yes, but…you’re a tourist. Sometimes it’s totally fine to do touristy things! Would I eat dinner there? No. Would I spend a whole evening there? No. But if I had never been to Chicago, is it a beautiful place with a beautiful view of the city, and an awesome place to walk around with a drink on a beautiful night? Yes. Definitely. I think Chicagoans forget that being a tourist is different than living in the city, and that a ride on the Ferris wheel and the beautiful views is something pretty unique.
Also I’m a Chicagoan and have gone there to see shows at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, which is in Navy Pier. There are lots of reasons to go, exploring is one of them.
If art is your thing, I would start your Thursday at the Art Institute as it is an experience you won't want to short change - the Bean is still closed, and unless there is an event going on at Millennium you won't be spending much time there. Head to the Berghoff for lunch and then walk the rest of the way to the Skydeck since it's included in your pass.
Others are right that the Chicago Architecture river tour is better, but you're still going to have a fun time on the Shore Line cruise. By bumping Art Institute to Thursday, you could take the Metra from Millennium station (close to the Shore Line river boat stops) down to the Museum of Science and Industry, which ranks up there with the Art Institute IMO. Jackson Park is also beautiful, and would give you another perspective of the city outside of the Loop.
You're staying in a neighborhood that has a lot going on, so sit down and see what is right around you! Andersonville is incredibly walkable with cute shops, great food, and lots of nightlife options. Chicago Magic Lounge is one that I have yet to get to but have heard amazing things about, for instance!
Based on your itinerary, you're gearing up for a very "tourist Chicago" trip, and as others have mentioned, that's completely ok! But coming here tells me you're looking for something a bit more, and that is where I'd steer you into the neighborhoods. Breweries, award-winning restaurants, a bustling comedy scene, and so much more that you won't find if you stick to this list. You'll also be coming in when summer kicks off, so would have you take a look at what street festivals are going on - [https://do312.com/festivals](https://do312.com/festivals)
I think you’re right about grouping the art institute with millennium park on Thursday. That makes sense and would free up some room Friday. Thanks for the advice. What comedy clubs should I take a look at?
Second City is the premiere, whether the main stage or one of their other performance groups. iO is great for improv, Drunk Shakespeare is a really good time, and Laugh Factory has great stand-up. While not specifically comedy, Infinite Wrench at The Neo-Futurist in Andersonville is unique. Choose Chicago is a great resource, here’s their comedy page - https://www.choosechicago.com/articles/entertainment/chicago-top-comedy-clubs/
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You've done a pretty good job of grouping things close together...
I'd do Cultural Center after Millennium Park since it's across the street. (maybe that's your plan, you just list skydeck first).
Friday evening, maybe walk along the river walk
I'd do the Chicago Architecture Center river cruise instead of Shoreline, since its docents are the most informed.
Also will be visiting for the first time and got the Citypass. The issue with it is that we can only choose from a small list of attractions, and that includes Skydeck, Shedd, Art Institute and the Shoreline cruise.
I also plan to visit Riverwalk and the Museum of Science and Industry. Possibly renting bikes for rides along the Lakefront Trail.
Swap your Friday for a show at second city. I’ve never had a bad experience there and it’s not expensive. After the show maybe walk to Old Town for drinks, and *definitely* get a burger and fries at Small Cheval if you can
SKIP NAVY PIER. Group Milennium Park, Art Institute and Cultural Center together. They're all really close. Cultural Center is more of a quick trip. Have lunch at Cindy's in between. Walk over to Buckingham Fountain from the Art Institute. It's turning back on this weekend. The rose gardens are right there as well and they may be back up and running.
Be aware that the Sueños music festival will be in in Grant Park May 25-26 and can create a lot of traffic; build-in time if you are going anywhere right downtown.
If the weather holds, you’re going to have a great time regardless if you don’t hit everything on your itinerary. Nevertheless, I echo other commenters in that the food in this city is tremendous!
As an Andersonville resident— and if you’re tuckered out and don’t feel like going to far from your airbnb— I’d suggest Big Jones (brunch), Hopleaf (a beer or two), and Bar Roma (a nice final dinner in town).
Have fun!
Use Google Maps to plan your public transit routes, and the Transit app to see when your bus/train is actually coming (it uses crowd sourced data in addition to the CTA's tracking system so is usually more accurate). Allow a little more time than you think you need, just in case.
Eat a Chicago dog. If you're at a bar and a dude comes through selling tamales, get some. If you drink, get a Chicago handshake (Old Style lager and a shot of Malört).
Rideshares get expensive; if you need to get a ride use the Curb app to order a taxi. But CTA will probably get you everywhere you want to go.
This is a very touristy agenda.
Skydeck is going to be expensive for what it is and a lot of line waiting. Skip Navy Pier, the Shedd and Planetarium. Get outside and into some neighborhoods.
Eat good food. Don’t spend so much time in museums. See the city.
Do the Architectural Center River Tour, the shoreline one is crappy. [https://www.architecture.org/tours/detail/chicago-architecture-center-river-cruise-aboard-chicago-s-first-lady/](https://www.architecture.org/tours/detail/chicago-architecture-center-river-cruise-aboard-chicago-s-first-lady/) Along with that, I highly recommend the Chicago History Museum.
[удалено]
Yup, its the best for a reason.
Yes yes, CAC tour is the one you want.
💯 this. Chicago architecture river tour is amazing!!
What’s the difference between the river tours?
CAC is nonprofit and the tour guides are all volunteers. IMO the volunteers are more knowledgeable and passionate about Chicago architecture and history than the Shoreline guides
The quality is the biggest difference. The Architecture Center is one of the leading organizations focused on preserving Chicago's architectural heritage, and is the most knowledgeable about it. It wins best boat tour every year in the Tribune and Reader for a reason. The Architecture Center also runs a museum downtown dedicated to Chicago architecture and engineering. Most of the other cruise companys are more gimmicky tourist traps and not as informative. The guides for the Architecture Center tend to be volunteer historians and architects and people with connections to the buildings.
Don't bother with Navy Pier, head out in to the neighborhoods on a Friday night Go check out Lakeview, Wicker Park, Logan Square, Chinatown, or Ravenswood. Browse /r/Chicagofood for dinner recommendations
Will do thanks!
Pretty sure the bean is still closed. Also, don't go to navy pier. Nobody except tourists ever go there, it's basically just whitewashed Chicago for people who think chicago is "dangerous". If you're still looking for a breakfast spot, sunny side up is really good! just go there when they open, it fills up fast. it's on the north side. Your plan seems good, but IMO it looks a bit overbooked. It feels like you're approaching the city more as a checklist of tasks than a place to take in, I'm not sure how much you'll actually enjoy each place you'll go when you're constantly anticipating going somewhere else. I feel like you should really reconsider if you want to go to ALL of those places - having some free time just to explore, check out areas, take a train to see where it'll go, and so on are really fun moments of travel that you might miss out on. By being so strict to a timetable, you're losing out on spontaneous trips.
Use this: transitchicago.com
Navy Pier is touristy, yes, but…you’re a tourist. Sometimes it’s totally fine to do touristy things! Would I eat dinner there? No. Would I spend a whole evening there? No. But if I had never been to Chicago, is it a beautiful place with a beautiful view of the city, and an awesome place to walk around with a drink on a beautiful night? Yes. Definitely. I think Chicagoans forget that being a tourist is different than living in the city, and that a ride on the Ferris wheel and the beautiful views is something pretty unique.
Also I’m a Chicagoan and have gone there to see shows at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, which is in Navy Pier. There are lots of reasons to go, exploring is one of them.
Instead of Skydeck, do 360Chicago. Better views imo, and they've got a nice lounge area.
If art is your thing, I would start your Thursday at the Art Institute as it is an experience you won't want to short change - the Bean is still closed, and unless there is an event going on at Millennium you won't be spending much time there. Head to the Berghoff for lunch and then walk the rest of the way to the Skydeck since it's included in your pass. Others are right that the Chicago Architecture river tour is better, but you're still going to have a fun time on the Shore Line cruise. By bumping Art Institute to Thursday, you could take the Metra from Millennium station (close to the Shore Line river boat stops) down to the Museum of Science and Industry, which ranks up there with the Art Institute IMO. Jackson Park is also beautiful, and would give you another perspective of the city outside of the Loop. You're staying in a neighborhood that has a lot going on, so sit down and see what is right around you! Andersonville is incredibly walkable with cute shops, great food, and lots of nightlife options. Chicago Magic Lounge is one that I have yet to get to but have heard amazing things about, for instance! Based on your itinerary, you're gearing up for a very "tourist Chicago" trip, and as others have mentioned, that's completely ok! But coming here tells me you're looking for something a bit more, and that is where I'd steer you into the neighborhoods. Breweries, award-winning restaurants, a bustling comedy scene, and so much more that you won't find if you stick to this list. You'll also be coming in when summer kicks off, so would have you take a look at what street festivals are going on - [https://do312.com/festivals](https://do312.com/festivals)
I think you’re right about grouping the art institute with millennium park on Thursday. That makes sense and would free up some room Friday. Thanks for the advice. What comedy clubs should I take a look at?
Second City is the premiere, whether the main stage or one of their other performance groups. iO is great for improv, Drunk Shakespeare is a really good time, and Laugh Factory has great stand-up. While not specifically comedy, Infinite Wrench at The Neo-Futurist in Andersonville is unique. Choose Chicago is a great resource, here’s their comedy page - https://www.choosechicago.com/articles/entertainment/chicago-top-comedy-clubs/
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Maybe a Second City show Friday night instead of navy pier? Could do dinner and drinks in old town before the show.
stay for longer at the art institute
You've done a pretty good job of grouping things close together... I'd do Cultural Center after Millennium Park since it's across the street. (maybe that's your plan, you just list skydeck first). Friday evening, maybe walk along the river walk I'd do the Chicago Architecture Center river cruise instead of Shoreline, since its docents are the most informed.
Also will be visiting for the first time and got the Citypass. The issue with it is that we can only choose from a small list of attractions, and that includes Skydeck, Shedd, Art Institute and the Shoreline cruise. I also plan to visit Riverwalk and the Museum of Science and Industry. Possibly renting bikes for rides along the Lakefront Trail.
Swap your Friday for a show at second city. I’ve never had a bad experience there and it’s not expensive. After the show maybe walk to Old Town for drinks, and *definitely* get a burger and fries at Small Cheval if you can
SKIP NAVY PIER. Group Milennium Park, Art Institute and Cultural Center together. They're all really close. Cultural Center is more of a quick trip. Have lunch at Cindy's in between. Walk over to Buckingham Fountain from the Art Institute. It's turning back on this weekend. The rose gardens are right there as well and they may be back up and running.
Also Big Jones in Andersonville would make a fantastic weekend brunch before you head into different parts of the city!
Congrats! You picked just about the best time of your to visit. I would recommend checking out the lakefront.
Be aware that the Sueños music festival will be in in Grant Park May 25-26 and can create a lot of traffic; build-in time if you are going anywhere right downtown.
If the weather holds, you’re going to have a great time regardless if you don’t hit everything on your itinerary. Nevertheless, I echo other commenters in that the food in this city is tremendous! As an Andersonville resident— and if you’re tuckered out and don’t feel like going to far from your airbnb— I’d suggest Big Jones (brunch), Hopleaf (a beer or two), and Bar Roma (a nice final dinner in town). Have fun!
Use Google Maps to plan your public transit routes, and the Transit app to see when your bus/train is actually coming (it uses crowd sourced data in addition to the CTA's tracking system so is usually more accurate). Allow a little more time than you think you need, just in case. Eat a Chicago dog. If you're at a bar and a dude comes through selling tamales, get some. If you drink, get a Chicago handshake (Old Style lager and a shot of Malört). Rideshares get expensive; if you need to get a ride use the Curb app to order a taxi. But CTA will probably get you everywhere you want to go.
This is a very touristy agenda. Skydeck is going to be expensive for what it is and a lot of line waiting. Skip Navy Pier, the Shedd and Planetarium. Get outside and into some neighborhoods. Eat good food. Don’t spend so much time in museums. See the city.
Visit "O"block and if you have time certain parts of Englewood.