The Travel Insider team checks in from Chicago – our top picks, your tweets + more.
Loved: Chicago Architecture Foundation river cruises, Millennium Park, Uno’s Pizza (29 East Ohio, +1 312 321 1000), 312 beer, shopping outlets on State Street (south of the river), the Art Institute (111 South Michigan Avenue +1 312 443-3600), Hubbard Street, Wicker Park and Bucktown, and the skyline (especially when viewed from the top of the John Hancock Center).
Loved: Mural of Chicago’s lesser-known musicians on a Milwaukee Street building.
: Navy Pier (unless you are overdue for a Ferris wheel ride) and Michigan Avenue/the Magnificent Mile (very pretty and shiny with some good shops, but can get tiring really quickly).
Sleep: Hotel Monaco (
225 North Wabash). Just south of the river, all rooms have fantastic bay windows with large cushioned seats (some with river views) and a pet gold fish to call your own for the duration of your stay – don’t worry, the housekeeping staff will feed it for you.
One piece of advice we’re glad we listened to: Be prepared for many different types of weather – in one day.
One piece of advice we’re glad we didn’t listen to: Taking a taxi in from the airport; in traffic it will take you forever and cost you a small fortune. The Blue Line train departs from inside the airport terminal and takes you into downtown Chicago in 45 minutes for US$2.25. For more info:
WebsiteNext time: We’ll save more time for Bucktown and Wicker Park and check out the South Loop.
Good guide: Luxe’s Chicago Guide was very helpful – and easy to carry around.
WebsiteGood websites:
Flavorpill Chicago;
BlackBook Magazine Chicago – both good for up-to-date information on what's on in the city.
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Your Tweets
We asked for your advice, and you answered. Here are some Chicago suggestions from the Twitter community:
Eat & Drink
@tzurriz where in Chicago are you? Hot Doug's has the best dogs, and pizza, Uno's, Due's, Lou Malnotti's, or Giordano's...
...(near Michigan Avenue) then your best dogs will probably be Portillo's. :) If you really want the Chi exp. get an Italian Beef Sandwich
@aaronpeasley Hot Doug's for an edgier take.... Wiener's Circle is fun too...
...A margarita at Frontera Grill is also a must (The Obamas are known to knock back a few from time to time)
@jimmyaus For Chicago deep dish pizza check out Giordano's and go hungry :)
@Skyring Signature Room in Hancock Building. Free lift to top, unlike Sears Tower. But drinks are expensive. They do a great brunch!
See & Do
@kelpenhagen - I LOVE Chicago! Go to the observatory @ John Hancock & go to Wicker Park for look around - have some eggs at bongo room...
...and walk around the Gold Coast res area for some beautiful old buildings...
... The Chicago Architecture Foundation also does some great tours - their river tour is fantastic.
Our Tweets
We road-tested some of your ideas, and had a few of our own:
Stay
http://twitpic.com/ekyl0 - #hothotel - our room at the hotel monaco has a pet goldfish. We name him windy :)
Eat & Drink
http://twitpic.com/emdcd - Tackling the deep dish cheese pizza at giordano's
@jimmyaus enjoyed giordanos very much, thnks. Had no clue that deep dish pizza had so much cheese! Didn't eat for rest of day :)
See & Do
http://twitpic.com/eli2h All aboard for a Chicago architecture tour - good way to see the city while it's raining :)
http://twitpic.com/exbu7 - A sunny day at millennium park's unique crown fountain
http://twitpic.com/eo5n5 - Dusk at the John hancock centre - great place to take in the chicago cityscape
http://twitpic.com/et3xq - Taking in a live gig at the house of blues
Next stops...
Tokyo, Tasmania and a little pre-Winter Olympics Canada tour.
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