Div's Chicago Adventure

“I'm soooo excited ...going there in July....any advice???”

“I hear the hot dogs are good.”

“Shedd Aquarium and Field House Museum are musts!

The pizza is better than the hotdogs, although a Chicago dog is darn good.”

“where will you be?”

“When and where in Chicago? This place is pretty spread out.”

“what are in interested in seeing? there is lots of stuff in the windy city.”

“forget chicago. come to portage where the politicians aren't so corrupted!...plus, we have dunes.”

“Navy Pier, Sears Tower (whatever it's now called), Hancock Tower/observation deck, Magnificent Mile for shopping, Cubs game, the theatre that has Blue Man Group (if still there), Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, observatory, Chicago Institute of Art... I used to plan motorcoach tours (like in 2002, so double check on things). These are places we went witih high school students.

Hey, bug those Chi-town TTers. Maybe they'll hold a dinner for you~”

“Let us know when you will be here.”

“July 9-13th ( my daughter thinks) and we are staying at the Intercontinetal Hotel...( my son-in-law- has a conference...)...wooo hooo....I have been to Chicago YEARS ago( in the 70's)...I LOVED IT... ( went to Field Museum, Shedd, Adler Planitarium, Science Museum, John Hancock building)
...I plan on spending a WHOLE day at the Field Museum...
...I want to go to the aquarium again....not big on planetariums....John Hancock...
...I have a Chicago guide book :)...going to do some research....and of course listen to you guys!!!...lol...thanks!!”

“The Art Institute just opened a new modern wing.

Can we take you out for dinner?”

“Good time to be on the water in Chicago...

http://www.wendellaboats.com/chicago.htm

http://www.spiritofchicago.com/ch/index.jsp

http://www.odysseycruises.com/chicago/index.cfm
last edited: 5/26/09 7:51:30 AM”

“Wounded Knee...that would be awesome!!!”

“ChicagolandRon.....those look GREAT!”

“http://www.msichicago.org/

Look what is at the science museum...wooooo hoooooooooo!!!!!

Harry Potter!!!!
last edited: 5/27/09 7:38:15 AM”

“...and in Indiana...
http://www.kingtut.org/home”

“...ok...silly question...I will be trekking around Chicago with a 10 yr old....and I want to know which would be best.....
...I will have my camera, water bottle, wallet, some snacks, map, sunglasses, and a few other silly things like a hairbrush, chapstick...
...what should I carry them in??....backpack...purse....what is the safest??? what is the easiest to cart around???
...what do YOU prefer and why?????”

“I'd carry a small daypack. But - I don't own a purse, so there's really no decision.”

“NO PURSE?????...why????...lol.....

I found this
http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10355832
at Walmart ( all we have in town besides Kmart)
it will hold a water bottle on the side...just right for my camera & wallet...and a shoulder strap.....”

“http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=10965892

it has wheels!!!!!”

“dang..wish I had brought my small backpack....I have a day pack with me but it seems so big....”

“A hydration pack is pretty small and will be about the right size for that stuff.”

“we use a small backpack on our outings in the city with the kids... i keep calling them kids but they aren't kids anymore. crazy. you will have a great time!

when are you going to be here again and what are you planning on doing?”

“yep..some sort of a smallish backpack/daypack/hydration pack...”

“The Camelback M.U.L.E. is the perfect pack for tht sort of stuff.”

“ok...sounds like a plan.....I went to the zoo yesterday and took my daypack...toooo big...a hydration pack will be perfect!!!!
...thanks for the help!!!!”

“I went with my girlfriend to Meijers in Lima, and I found a smaller backpack....for $8...wooo hoo...it will do.....

google has where ya can put in where ya want to go and it tells you what bus to take...wooo hooo.....I was getting overwhelmed before my daughter told me about that!!!...

...I need to pack tomorrow...wooo hooo!!!

..we are staying @ the Intercontinental...not sure what we are doing Friday cause it is a free day for Jami & Jason...but Leah & I have Sat. Sun. & Monday to plan...I want to spend a day at the Field Museum...a day at the Pier...and throw in Shedd Aquarium, Sears Tower, shopping on the Magnificent Mile, and the Harry Potter Exhibit....
...I don't care to go to the Science Museum...or the zoo....we just went to both here....

...any suggestions where I can take Leah ( 10yrs) and get a "wow" out of her?
..and what about cool food??...she likes Indian & such ( she hates fast food!!!)”

“Hey Div, it's not called Sears Tower anymore. It's now named after some businessman.”

“lol..ok...what is it called???”

“Can't remember the guy's name. Guess I should google it or something...back in a minute.


Okay, it's now "Willis Tower."

Sounds kinda lame. ;P
last edited: 7/07/09 7:44:45 AM”

“omg...it sure does....”

“for a 10 year old i would recommend either the shed aquarium or the field museum. they are right next to each other on the museum campus, but they are each a full day. i would say the field museum is a must do thing for a 10 year old, esp if they are into science, animals, cultures, history, etc. it's an amazing place.

sears tower is cool but it must be a clear day and it's sort of a "wow" ... moment... an elevator ride with a view... the field museum or the aquarium are "wow" all day type things.

the art institute is also brilliant for kids, but i find they get bored in some of the galleries where i would want to spend more time. the artifacts/etc are always a hit, but you have a lot of that at the field museum as well (mummies, etc).”

““I went with my girlfriend to Meijers in Lima, and I found a smaller backpack....for $8...wooo hoo...it will do....."

Lima, OH? If so, you're in my home area. I grew up 20 miles NW of there.

I hope you have a great time in Chicago, Divinity. It's one of my favorite cities, as far as cities are concerned. :)”

“You're in Chicago...so paddle the river er sumthin'.....(paddle sumthin' darlin'...paddle it!)”

“Chicago and a 10 yr old. Staying at the Inter...

Don't know how much time you have...

Field and Shedd. Also, Mellem--Park. Great strolls.

Enjoy.

Best.

Mark”

“my BIG question is can I walk to all those places???

msdoolittle...where???...I grew up near Lima....”

“Ottoville. Straight north of Delphos on SR66.”

“LOL...was in Delphos the other eve...VERY flat huh???lol....I grew up in Beaverdam...just north of Lima (hicktown)..lol...”

“Yep, I'm familiar with Beaverdam.

I used to work at Perry's Pantry when it was still around. I was there from '94-'96? I think? Used to work at the fuel desk 3rd shift (yeah, talk about responsibility. I was 20 at the time).

Holy Hell, that was another lifetime ago.”

“lol...I moved away to Alabama in '89...yes...long ago....”

“Smart move, I say.

I finally got the nerve (and opportunity) to move to CO a year and a half ago. lol
last edited: 7/07/09 3:27:38 PM”

“so...can we walk to all those places???


google maps says there might not be sidewalks etc...”

“anyone???”

“Yogisan???”

“well... if you are starting from the intercontinental hotel in chicago the museum campus (field museum, alder planetarium and shedd aquarium) would be too far to walk. just snag a cab. it's a short cab ride... under 3 miles. once you are on the campus everything is walking distance.

if you cover two of the three things on the campus in a day i will be blown away. the planetarium takes the least time of the three. the aquarium is in the middle. the field museum is EASILY a full day.

the art institute is much closer to the intercontinental... a little more than 1/2 the distance to the museum campus (under 2 miles) ... but still a cab ride away.

sears tower is also a cab ride away from your hotel... about the same distance as to the art institute (under 2 miles).

bring cash for the cabs. i have never used a CC in a cab downtown. most cab rides are fairly cheap. a 2 mile ride + tip is around 7 bucks.

does that help?”

“we also looked at bus routes.....good idea?”

“helped tremendously!!!....thanks....

I am spending a WHOLE day @ the Field Museum..I was there YEARS ago and folks I was with planned the trip & we only stayed a few hours.....NOT enough time...

one day at the Pier...
one day at Shedd.....
..also alot going on @ the parks!!!!

swimming @ the hotel...naps...LUNCH.....DINNER!!!!!

..I can't wait to go to a decent Italian place!!!”

“you could ride the bus or perhaps ride the subway. ask the concierge at the hotel when you check in. i generally just take cabs so i don't know the story here.

i forgot to add, you are like 4 blocks (walking distance) from Navy Pier. it's dead-on due east from your hotel. the ferris wheel is a blast and there is a lot of good food and entertainment there... fun shopping as well. there are boat trips you can take from the pier that go up and down the chicago shoreline. the concierge will know the story.

some other fun things you can do... take a river tour. the architectural tour of the city is great fun and runs along the river. it's been a long time since I have done this, but again the concierge should be able to hook you up.

if you want good italian food visit the Italian Village @ 71 W Monroe St, Chicago, IL‎ - (312) 332-7005‎. it's not too far a walk from the sears tower. i generally eat lunch there, but dinner is great as well.
last edited: 7/08/09 11:59:48 AM”

“oooo....thanks.....I am excited!!!”

“You should be! That is a FINE hotel and it has a great bar. I would come out and buy dinner except I am going to be out of town that weekend.”