<p>We’re heading to family weekend and will have some time to explore Chicago. DH wants to see the Museum of Science and Industry, and then what? I’m thinking about Second City. I would like to park (or return) the rental car and set out on foot if possible. The time frame is Sunday morning to Monday afternoon. Do we need to eat some of that famed pizza?</p>
<p>Get the second city tickets early. If it is not too cold, the water tours are great. I love the pizza, but not everyone agrees. Chicago also does a special Chicago Dog and is famous for Italian Beef sandwiches.
Art museum is great and downtown, so easy to walk to if you do Sears (Willits) tower.</p>
<p>I loved that art museum. Best collection in the U.S. of French Impressionist art. </p>
<p>Remembering a story from our kids’ early years. We lived near Chicago and the only place I could go comfortably for wintry hours with a 2 and 4 year old on a stroller was there. One in the stroller, the other standing on the bar for a free ride. For background it’s important to know we referred to an essential bodily function as “duke.”</p>
<p>I rolled by the Brancusi sculptures, all gold and beautiful, vertical pillars. My 4 year-old admired it, loudly, “It looks like a duke! A grand duke!”</p>
<p>A very elderly lady with British accent overheard. She complimented me on raising “such a precocious child.”</p>
<p>There was an article about spending a weekend in Chicago in the WSJ this morning. Here is the link. (This might be behind a paywall.)</p>
<p>[Chicago</a> Architecture Weekend Travel Guide | Take Monday Off - WSJ.com](<a href=“Chicago Architecture Weekend Travel Guide | Take Monday Off - WSJ”>Chicago Architecture Weekend Travel Guide | Take Monday Off - WSJ)</p>
<p>My all-time favorite in Chicago is the Tribune building, right at the river on Michigan Avenue. There are pieces of famous buildings imbedded into the outside–the Taj Mahal, the Alamo, etc. I found it exciting to see and touch places I’ll probably never see in person. Second favorite is the Tiffany glass second floor of the Chicago Cultural Center. Not sure of the address, but it is almost across the street from the Art Institute. Indescribable. Have fun and eat a pizza at Lou Malgnati’ s for me.</p>
<p>If you have any female fashion lovers in your entourage, Filene’s Basement :-)</p>
<p>Museum of Science and Industry + Art Museum would be my two favorites, and we love Chicago (our home away from home).</p>
<p>Yes if the weather is miserable the Museum of Science & Industry and the Art Museum are great. I also love to walk, even when it’s blustery, the length of Michigan Avenue and pop in and out of places and of course stop and admire the Tribune Tower. That can easily be an entire day. I used to stay alot when I was young in a condo behind the Hancock so I can never go without a quick trip through the Hancock and up for the views touristy as it sounds. The weather might not be great this weekend, but next weekend should be good and the Oak Street area is also a fun place to walk and window shop which is reachable if you are staying somewhere near Michigan Ave. If not cabs are plentiful. Have fun!</p>
<p>Thanks for all the ideas. No Sears, no Hancock, no way. I can’t stand heights. Timely WSJ article! I’ll keep my fingers crossed for a gorgeous fall day.</p>
<p>If the weather cooperates take the architecture boat tour</p>
<p>If you time don’t miss the jewels at the top of the Field.</p>
<p>Lincoln Park Zoo.</p>
<p>I also like walking on Astor Street, seeing the old townhomes.</p>
<p>Also, walk along the lake.</p>
<p>Walk where all the fancy shopping is on N. Michigan Ave.</p>
<p>Go to the Art Museum, even if you don’t like art.</p>
<p>Navy Pier.</p>
<p>Don’t miss the U boat at the Museum of Science and Industry. Really stop and look at the exhibit, watch the videos, etc. It is an amazing story of how it was captured and brought back to the US (I ended up reading a few books about it after seeing the exhibit – for some reason the little shop at the end of the exhibit doesn’t have even ONE decent book on it, but there are some available from the library). One of my favorite museum exhibits ever.</p>
<p>intparent, what book can you recommend about the U Boat incident! Great Xmas present for my son who lives in Chicago!</p>
<p>In Chicago now and loving it! So glad I saw this mention of the cultural center. It blew me away, and I stumbled onto a free chamber music concert in that amazing domed hall, with the windows overlooking the fiery red trees of millennium park. Ended up spending two hours here, so it sort of derailed my itinerary. Will have to leave museum of science and industry for next time --and there will be a next time!</p>
<p>Sorry I missed the question about the U-boat books when it was posted a few weeks ago. I happen to have been in Chicago last weekend (college visits :D), and we went to the Museum of Science and Industry. I stopped to see the U-boat whle in the museum (just to say hi, I only meant to stay a few minutes), and got sucked in for another hour…</p>
<p>I liked a book called “Twenty Million Tons Under the Sea” (I think it was released later in paperback as “U-505”). But even the paperback was published in 1967, and is out of print. Which is why I got it from the library. But you can purchase used on Amazon. I also read a book by the commander who captured the U boat called “Clear the Decks” by Dan Gallery. It was pretty good, but also out of print. A bit “salty” (not sure I would have actually liked Dan Gallery if I had known him), but he was a fascinating and effective leader.</p>