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swamp

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Well only 6 weeks before our 5 leg 8-9 thousand mile trip. My wife and I are laying over in Chicago for 3 days. Does anyone have any 'must see' suggestions. I have looked at all the regular suggestions on chicago web sites (ie sear towers and various parks/museums); but was wondering if any chicagoites out there may have a place to see that isnt in the standard tourist sites. We are going to spend a day in the Polish area and have a Polish dinner (I am not polish, but enjoy ethnic cultures). Thanks for any help

swamp
 
if the Cubbies are in town, Wrigley is a MUST.

Oh, and while at the train station, you must go upstairs and get a Gold Coast dog
 
Here are a few tips based on my visits to Chi-town:

-A good place to eat before/after/in-between trains is the White Palace Restaurant, about 6 blocks directly south of Union Station. It is a classic diner full of Chicago memorabilia, good food, and a few booths have a view of the tracks leading to the station.

-Definitely do the museums. Of special interest to train fans is the Museum of Science and Industry, with several exhibits, a model layout, and full size trains plus lots of other neat stuff. (Be sure to go on the coal mine ride!)

-Take a walk or bike ride in the park that runs all along the lake shore.

-If it is a weekend, buy a $5 unlimited rides Metra pass and ride the commuter trains to different shopping/eating/entertainment areas in the surrounding communities.

-Cubs tickets are tough to get this year, but worth the investment. Even if not actually going to the game it is fun to go to the bars in the neighborhood around Wrigley Field on game days.

-Take the Metra to Joliet for a minor league baseball game or to the casino.

-If you are interested in architecture, take a cruise downtown that has a guided tour of interesting sites, or check out the Frank Lloyd Wright homes in the western suburbs.

-Half price tickets to shows are available the day of performances.

-Take a day train trip to Milwaukee on the Hiawatha Service or to South Bend, IN on the electrified Northern Indiana Commuter Route.

-The Zoos are good- Lincoln Park is Free, Brookfield is pay.

-Just ask around once you get into town- Chicagoans are generally a very friendly sort and proud of their town and would be happy to offer their own suggestions. Have a great trip and be sure to report back upon return!
 
The Field Museum is terrific and the Science Museum is great with an actual U-Boat from WW2. If you like baseball and the Cubs are not in town try the White Sox in Comisky Park. I went there a few years ago and the fans are friendly. In fact acouple we met took us out after the game to a restaurant,a great time was had by all!

Enjoy your trip!!!! :rolleyes: B)
 
Thanks for the many good suggestions. And thanks coachseats for taking the time for your recommendations. I already checked out the cubs, but they are away the 3 days I am there. I copied the replies and put them in my Amtrak trip folder.

Gold coast Dogs??? okay, will do!

Thanks again.

swamp

PS. If you all are interested, I will report on my trip afterwards, including

possibly Chicago. Will be on CZ,LSL,EB and Starlight
 
These are a few of my favorite spots:

Museum of Science and Industry

Adler Planitarium

Art Institute of Chicago

Navy Peir (great place to hang out in the evening)

John Hancock Tower (great place to watch the sunset)

The Magnificant Mile and Water Tower District

Frank Loyd Right District (a quick trip on the CTA Green Line to Oak Park)

Chicago Architectural River Cruise

Gino's Original Deep Dish Pizza

You can read about my stay in Chicago last year

here, including many photos. I wouldn't waste your time with the Sears Tower, because it's a bit more tourist tacky and the views are not as great as the John Hancock Tower. Otherwise Chicago's an awesome city, the people are mostly freindly and willing to help with directions and places to visit.
 
swamp said:
PS.  If you all are interested, I will report on my trip afterwards, including       possibly Chicago.  Will be on CZ,LSL,EB and Starlight
Click to expand...
Please do tell us about your trip. A lot of us enjoy reading about the adventures others have had while travelling.
 
EmpireBuilderFan said:
swamp said:
PS.  If you all are interested, I will report on my trip afterwards, including       possibly Chicago.  Will be on CZ,LSL,EB and Starlight
Click to expand...
Please do tell us about your trip. A lot of us enjoy reading about the adventures others have had while travelling.
Click to expand...
Also, it would be a good reference to tell us about non-touristy places as our future trips to Chicago.
 
Aloha

When I was there 2 years ago I enjoyed the Wendella Boat tour. We passed the train station and a lift bridge on the tour.

Navy Pier was fun, had a great meal there... all meals in Chicago were great.

The isn't any Museams beter than Science and Industry, cover lots of RR subjects Plus.

:p
 
Amfleet said:
These are a few of my favorite spots:

John Hancock Tower (great place to watch the sunset)

You can read about my stay in Chicago last year

here, including many photos. I wouldn't waste your time with the Sears Tower, because it's a bit more tourist tacky and the views are not as great as the John Hancock Tower. Otherwise Chicago's an awesome city, the people are mostly freindly and willing to help with directions and places to visit.
Click to expand...
A suggestion about the Hancock building....

I beleave we paid $9 or $9.50 per person with a AAA discount to go to the observatory deck in April. The night view of the city is awesome from the Hancock, but make sure you have a nice clear night without low clouds or fog. Now what you can do is one of two things to help save a couple bucks. Both of them involve the restaurant on the 95th floor called the Signature Room On The 95th. They have a spactacular lunch buffet that starts at 11:00 M-SA. The cost is $14.95, a very reasonable price for the great food that is offered on the buffet. They offered a nice salad and soup selection and main dishes such as chicken ala king, lake perch, and flank steak. All the buffet food was excellent. However the selections for the buffet changes daily, but at least that will give you a good idea. Now if you go there for the lunch buffet, it only cost about $5.50 more then a ticket to the observatory and you get a great meal. Second, apply the same idea if you want to go at night, but the dinner menu is more expensive then the lunch buffet. I beleave most meals were in the $20 - $35 range. The website is www.signaturelounge.com

If you want the best steak dinner around try the Chicago Chop House. (www.chicagochophouse.com) I live about 250 miles from Chicago, but I call the Chop House my favorite restaurant. I always eat there anytime I go to Chicago which is quite a few times. :p The prices may seem to be a little on the high side for the first time patron. But you won't think that on your way out the door. The quality of food and service, plus the quanity of food you get will make you think it was reasonable. Try the NY strip ot T-bone. Both are excellent choices. And if your not a big eater, go for the smaller of the 2 size steaks, most steaks are offered in 16 or 24 oz. I think they are generous with the scale :D
 
One of the best things we did in the evening was to go to the link below: it's a dinner "theatre" where the waiters/waitresses are gangsters. They sing, dance, do comedy. Some audience participation. They like to find some older folks to bring up on stage. Honestly, one of the best things I did in Chicgo. Got the feel for the roaring twenties. Good food. I think around forty bucks covered dinner AND the show!

http://www.tommygunsgarage.com/
 
DO NOT go to the Science and Industry Museum JUST to visit the WWII captured German U-boat. It will be closed until the spring of 2005. They are moving it to a completely new facility that will be great. There are plenty of other great things and this museum, but not the submarine.

I am going to the Field Museum tomorrow. Lots of nature and culture. The two things I want to see are the maneating lions display which includes the famous maneaters of Savo immortalized in the movie, The Ghost and the Darkness and Sue the largest complete T-Rex skeleton.

By the Way, the Ghost and the darkness and a neat train and the most ultimate train ride ever: A bench strapped to the front of the locomotive where Val Kilmer sat while they made their way across Africa. Awesome.
 
Wow! Cant believe all the great responses. Thanks again. I am heading to Best Buys to get more paper for my printer :) I will definitely do many of the suggestions, but time constraints prevent doing them all. Sounds like an excuse to take another train trip to Chicago (from emeryville). Probably next trip will be via the Chief, as I want to take as many different trains as I can. Means going to LA first (or last). Will report in, post trip.

Again, many thanks to everyone.

Swamp
 
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