Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
3
Suggested Chicago
Itineraries
Chicago's sprawling nature means
that reaching outlying neighborhoods and
suburbs r equires a fair amount of trav el,
but these itineraries aim to keep the walk-
ing and E l- or taxi-riding to a minimum
by keeping y ou near the city center—the
Loop. When touring on your own, remem-
ber to bear in mind the trael time between
sights or neighborhoods. The tours below
seek to balance monumental ar chitectural
highlights with visits to the city 's best
museums and z oo. Along the way , y ou'll
get intimate glimpses into what life as a
Chicagoan might be and what makes Chi-
cago run.
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THE BEST OF CHICAGO IN 1 DAY
Capturing Chicago in 1 day means sur veying the scene in the most efficient way possi-
ble—via our inland ocean, Lake M ichigan, and its tributar y, the Chicago Riv er—and
branching out fr om there to experience what I feel is Chicago 's best museum for kids.
Bring good walking shoes and as much energy as you can muster. This itinerary takes you
on a tour boat (always a kid-pleaser), into the depths of the M useum of Science and
Industry, and leav es you to explor e the M agnificent Mile at leisur e, with its glittering
shops and r estaurants and highly enter taining people-watching.
Start:
B us 151 to
Michigan Avenue Bridge or Red Line to Grand/State, then head to the boat tour stop of y our
choice. Two of the most popular ar e Wendella Boats (on the nor thwest corner of the bridge)
and the Chicago Architectural Foundation tours (on the southeast cor ner).
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Boat Tours
Start the day with a boat tour of the Chi-
cago Riv er and Lake M ichigan. E ven if
your kids ar e small, they 'll love being on
the water, while y ou mar vel at our spec-
tacular ar chitecture. (Chicago is a sho w-
case of modern ar chitecture; for mor e on
our best buildings, pick up
Frommer's
Chicago.
) S ome tours take y ou up and
down the Chicago Riv er, then thr ough
locks that r elease the boat into Lake
as “Northwestern Station”) to N avy P ier,
with stops at Wabash Street and Michigan
Avenue, and mor e. A t $2 a ride, it 's the
best deal on the river. See p. 204.
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Museum of Science and
Industry
Back on land, head to the Museum of Sci-
ence and I ndustry, the classic Chicago
kids' attraction that never fails to enthrall.
Don't miss seeing two of the all-time
favorite exhibits—the
U-505
and
Coal M ine
. B est for older kids (the
preschool set might be frightened b y the
darkness and cramped spaces), the
U-505
is a German submarine that was captur ed
Michigan. If you just want to get out on
the water and don 't car e about a guided
tour, hop on one of the water taxis that
cruise from Ogilvy Transportation Center
(many locals will refer to this train station
