Family weekend getaway to Chicago...Things to see/do/eat?
 

Planning a weekend getaway in the Millenium/Grant Park area of downtown Chicago. 2 kids, 7 and 9.

Can anyone recommend a good deep-dish pizza joint, and things to see & do in the area mentioned above? Thanks.

The top thing I would recommend this time of year is Shedd's Aquarium, with a trip to the Oceanarium they have there, it is awesome! :)

The best pizza will be Gino's East, or Giardanno's IMO. Another fun thing to do is the Museum of Science and Industry, it is specifically targeted at children junior high age and younger. :cool:

Ever since I was a kid, I always enjoyed the museum of science and industry. Lots of fun things for the kids to do...

Thanks you guys, I headed over to their website and...wow.
They currently have an out of commission, full size submarine on exhibit that you can board.
My kind of place.

*Puts this and Shedd's down #1 & #2 on my list*

:) cheers.

The Museum of Science and Industry has had that there for decades. :) They just moved it and fixed up the display for it real nice. They also have an old fashioned coal mine type tour, and several interactive displays for kids. :)

A fun place to eat for kids and adults is Ed Debevic's. :D It's like an old 50's style diner where the wait staff get sassy and pretend to be grumpy and you can hurl insults back and forth with them. :p

I was at the Museum of Science and Industry last summer, I hope it's been renovated since, because when Iw as there it was filthy and most of the hands on exhibits were broken... It's got some cool stuff though...

The Field Museum -- right near the Shedd is also pretty cool - a friend of mine is a volunteer in the bug section (she's a spider expert) and that section --if your kids like creepy crawly things is very cool

There isn't a whole lot at the Museum of Science and Industry. There are some hands on things for kids that are kind of cool, but the last time I was there, a good number weren't working, and mal's right, it was looking pretty bad there.

She's right on again when it comes to the Field Museum and the Shedd Aquarium, both great for kids, especially the dolphin show at the Shedd. Make sure to get a look at Soldier's Field next to the Shedd, it's the only structure in Chicago that looks like a giant toilet bowl from the outside.

Unfortunately, they took out the Rock 'n Roll McDonald's and turned into a regular one. That would've been a good place.

I had a good time at the Science museum with my two nephews last year. The sub is a WWII German U-boat. It is interesting to see the difference between that and a US sub from the same era (There is one in San Fran that is worth seeing.). I recomend Gino's East for your deep dish. Remember that it takes almost an hour from the time you order it. I have not been to the Shedd since I was a kid, but I have heard very good things about it. The Art Institute is great. There is a collection of miniatures that is worth seeing if your kids want to see the fanciest "dollhouse" ever.

If you/they've never been, it's worth a trip to the top of the Sears Tower once, just to do it. :) I can imagine kids being in awe of standing up there and looking down at the city.

Isn't that in the Museum of Science and Industry? I know I saw it - I just can't remember where I saw it.. it was in the basement of some museum -- but not the art institute...

In another chicago thread - someone debated me on this one - the consensus seemed to be the hancock tower was the same view, only cheaper or free (though t he high speed elevators in thesears tower are pretty cool)

I have never done the Hancock building personally, though I keep saying I need to take my wife to the restaurant up there. ;)

Either/or, it's a neat experience to do at least once, to view everything on the ground from that level.

there's a disney adventure located in Chicago if I recall correctly.. never been but do want to see it...

Are the children boy or girls? There is an American Girl store downtown that is extremely popular and has a restaurant inside. I think there is a Lego adventure land thing somewhere downtown too?

Never been to lego adventure.. but around the corner from the american girl store (which prepare yourself for a hot overcrowded store with lots of pushy little girls if you go... but they also have every american girl doll imaginable - they have afternoon tea that you need reservations for - -i took a colleagues daughter and she and her doll had a great time ) is water tower place.. over priced shopping but it's pretty- it's got a water feature as you come in - and it's kind of restful - -plus there's a wao bao in the lobby and it's awesome fast food...


That whole area - I think it's called the magnificent mile -- has tons of great shopping - from the over priced chic salons like chanel and La Perla (the expensive underwear store) to more reasonablly priced stuff) if you ditch the kids for an afternoon - Oak Street has even better window shopping

On Michigan, there's a very cool little museum (that's free) that has some neat pieces of artwork in it-- the haystacks by some famous artist were there when I was last there... they also have kids activities on the weekends...

check out cabrini green.

its beautiful this time of year.

also 26th and california has a nice museum. Be sure to yell things like 2 6 !!! AND Down with the Crown... while you are there.

have a pleasant stay.

(i lived there for 3 years only)

That is an awesome area........also just around the corner from the American Girl store is an Italian restaurant called Buca de Beppo.....very good food for a decent price. If you know you are going to be there a certain day/time, call WAY ahead and try to reserve the table in the kitchen. :D