<p>I would not miss the Seminary Bookstore, myself, and Powells. Why not have brunch at Medici, a Hyde Park tradition. Those things embody the U of C experience. (Unfortunately, my favorite Chinatown restaurant, Hong Minh, burned down a number of years ago. Sigh.)
Although I like the Field Museum and the Aquarium, the Art Institute is MUCH more worth seeing, IMHO. As a second choice–or maybe a first, depending on who is in your party–The Museum of Science and Industry is not only more of the Hyde Park experience, but comparatively unique.</p>
<p>I will defend Chicago pizza as an experience-just not something to eat all the time. I also recommend getting a Chicago Dog and Italian Beef. I would go to Giordano’s over Gino’s though. Perogi’s are also very Chicago.</p>
<p>The CAF tour doesn’t leave from Navy Pier but maybe other boat tours do. I would skip the Navy Pier. Topolobampo is great but don’t get the tasting menu unless you have skipped several meals! You have a pretty ambitious itinerary - won’t there be on campus events to go to?</p>
<p>So much good advice and help - thank you! To be clear - the “Museum Campus” is where the museums are … and the Navy Pier is 3 miles away, and can be missed. Right? </p>
<p>A couple questions … </p>
<p>If we grab lunch Friday, and hit one museum - by cab - thinking dinner at the Navy Pier would still work? </p>
<p>We are interested in campus activities on SAturday, but I’ve seen nothing on the website about anything. </p>
<p>Also - are you saying if there is a football game at UC - traffic will be horrible going there? </p>
<p>Yes, I did post on another thread, but frankly folks toss out so many names, places, etc - it’s hard to know where you can get, in what time frame and how to do it! We are there for a very short visit. Hancock brunch is only $20 - sounded OK price-wise, and thought we could tie in the “view” to the meal. </p>
<p>Thanks.</p>
<p>This is all the website has … and the links just take you in circles.
Family Weekend 2011</p>
<p>Mark your calendars for Family Weekend 2011 – October 21 – 23! Family Weekend is a campus-wide celebration in honor of parents, grandparents, and all extended family. This year’s Family Weekend will also feature the University’s Humanities Day festival and Homecoming activities. Please visit the Family Weekend website for information and registration details.</p>
<p>Ok - I reread the thread and answered one of my questions - Soldier field at Museum campus can get crowded, not the UC campus because of a game … :)</p>
<p>Jrpar - there are definitely architectural boat tours (on the Chicago River) that leave from maybe a block away from the entrance to Navy Pier. </p>
<p>How about a Segway tour along the lakefront? That could be fun, and a splurge worth spending on. </p>
<p>Turbo - this family clearly isn’t spending 3-4 days - it’s just a weekend, and parts of it are already filled with U of C events, so I think we were all trying to avoid things off the beaten path, like Brookfield, or Ravinia, or Oak Park, or the Bahai Temple, and keep them centered in downtown when they aren’t in Hyde Park.</p>
<p>Medici sounds fun - thanks. Zoo is probably too far, and we have been to some great zoo’s. So I will let the fam pick a museum and we will try for that on Friday afternoon. Then maybe the Pier for Dinner, unless we come up with a better restaurant … and some time try to walk Michigan Avenue and or Millenium Park if we have time. Not a clue on where everything is - so hard to know. No hop and go pass - but check into the airport pass. (Will this pass also get us to the campus?) Or just forgo and catch cabs?</p>
<p>I don’t think you miss out by missing out on our zoos. They are not really world class.</p>
<p>Lincoln Park is a nice walk, but mainly just as a walk. If you know what I mean?</p>
<p>I don’t care about chicago style pizza. It’s one of those things where if you eat it, you might not be able to eat anything else for a week you’ll be so full. Now, the Chicago Hot Dog is a whole other story and not to be missed.</p>
<p>Good luck on your trip. Obviously you will be back. Let us know what you choose to do, and don’t forget, layers. The weather is a little quixotic that time of year.</p>
<p>Have fun.</p>
<p>Millennium Park is on Michigan Avenue.</p>
<p>You’ll want to look at a map to orient yourself - find Lake Shore Drive, and find Michigan Avenue, which basically runs parallel a few blocks west of LSD. Orient yourself with these two.</p>
<p>Going from north to south, find some of the places that have been mentioned-
Lincoln Park
North Michigan Avenue (upscale shopping)
Navy Pier
Millennium Park and the Art Museum (both on Mich Ave, but south of the fancier shopping district)
Buckingham Fountain
Museum Campus (Field, Shedd, Adler, Soldier Field) - now you’ll get a sense that you can’t walk there easily from Navy Pier
Then keep going south on LSD for a bit and you’ll see Hyde Park/U of Chicago</p>
<p>I know this is oversimplified, but if you think of the above as your landmarks going north to south, you can orient yourself and better plan your itinerary. Have fun!</p>
<p>Looking at the map and trying to play tourist, just be aware that even though it looks like you can walk from the Art Institute to the Museum Campus, the MC is set apart across highways, it’s not a scenic approach, and I wouldn’t recommend it for newbies with limited time. I’d splurge for the cab or use public transportation to get there.</p>
<p>All of Michigan Avenue, from the Art Institute area up to where Mich Avenue intersects with LSD, is a pleasant, safe walk. South of the Art Institute, Mich Ave starts to get a little dicey – not horrible, but not as nice.</p>
<p>Your hotel is in a really good location – just go a few blocks east and you’ll be on North Michigan Avenue. I suspect you’ll make more use of just walking with an occasional cab, versus hopping on and off buses.</p>
<p>PG, the CAF (Chicago Architecture Foundation) tour leaves from a dock on the river around East Wacker and Michigan. I know there are other boat tours, but I would recommend the CAF one - less party, more focus on the architecture, knowledgeable docents.</p>
<p>I was just going to say that DS took a class last fall in Chicago architecture and the prof also felt the CAF tours were the best. (They are the ones with the blue awning.)</p>
<p>If you are looking for something to read on the plane (and haven’t read it), you might consider “Devil in the White City.”</p>
<p>I have to tell you to lower your expectations about parents weekend. We arrived late on Friday. My kid’s athletic team had a home meet for most of Saturday and given that she was taking a difficult academic load, she only had a limited amount of time to spend with us. Though it was great to see her totally engaged in university life, managing things as well as she was. and she was gracious about it all and happy to see us and her sister, the whole time we felt as though we were disrupting the flow of her life. She felt kind of bad too. </p>
<p>In hindsight, we should have expected that. It was a nice visit and though it was nice for our two girls to spend time together, my expectations were higher and I was disappointed at the time. I think if we had lower expectations, it would have been better. </p>
<p>FWIW, at the Sunday breakfast, I asked around and I didn’t meet any parents who were there for their “second” parents weekend. LOL!</p>
<p>It’s been universally agreed among all parties that we’re going to skip it this year.</p>
<p>The location of the CAF tour at East Wacker and Michigan sounds better for the OP anyway, so a win win!</p>
<p>“the “Museum Campus” is where the museums are. Right?”</p>
<p>The Aquarium, Field Museum, and Planetarium are on the Museum Campus. The Art Institute is downtown, near Millennium Park, and Science & Industry is down in Hyde Park by U of C.</p>
<p>I actually prefer the main Frontera Grill to Topolabambo. Not only is is cheaper, but the food is better and the menu more interesting. If you really want to go to a place with a “tasting menu” go to Alinea or Charlie Trotters. Also, for a nice lunch, Gibson’s Steak House is a great deal. Londondad.</p>
<p>Actually, PG, you CAN walk from the Art Institute to the Museum Campus. It’s around 1.5-1.6 miles, a nice walk through Grant Park, past the Buckingham fountain. There is a pedestrian tunnel that passes under Lake Shore Drive, so no worries about “highways”.</p>
<p>You can also take the #146 Bus, which runs along Michigan Ave. north of the river, and along State st. south of the river, turns east on Roosevelt, then takes you right to the Museum Campus - see Field Museum’s website (or CTA’s system map on their website) for details.</p>
<p>We’re Chicago weekend people so we see the city more as tourists than do the locals. </p>
<p>I thoroughly dislike Gino’s. It’s a tourist trap. In the same neighborhood try Lou Malnati’s, [Chicago</a> - River North Lou Malnati’s Pizzeria - Chicago-Style Deep Dish Pizza](<a href=“http://www.loumalnatis.com/Locations/Details.aspx?ID=7]Chicago”>River North Restaurants, Deep Dish Chicago Pizza | Lou Malnati's), although you may have trouble being seated. </p>
<p>I wouldn’t waste your time at the Navy Pier unless you are going to a play at the Shakespeare Theater or are taking a boat tour. It’s really for children.</p>
<p>My favorite thing is a boat tour on the Chicago River. The architecture is wonderful.</p>