About Sharon Woodhouse Expertise Chicago travel, tourism, neighborhoods, food/entertainment, some history, moving/visiting advice, local culture. I own a company that publsihes books on the Chicago area and its history, and I`ve written 3 editions (latest one, 1999) of an insider`s budget guide to Chicago, titles,
Question what are some things a first time visitor to downtown chicago HAS to see/visit/experience/do?
thanks, tim
Answer Hi, Tim.
There are dozens of things (!), but here are a few to start with.
General touring...
--Take the "L" train around the Loop
--Walk through Grant Park, the new Millennium Park, along the lakefront, to Navy Pier, up Michigan Avenue
--Visit the Chicago Architecture Foundation (224 S. Michigan) and take one of their many walking tours or their river cruise
--Take a water taxi between the Sears Tower and Navy Pier
Food...
--Eat some deep dish pizza at Pizzeria Uno or Pizzeria Due in river North
Attractions...
--Like tall buildings? Sears Tower and John Hancock
--Art? The incomoparable Art Institute of Chicago or the Museum of Contemporary Art
--Museums? The museum campus (with a view of our newly-designed Soldier Field)and its three pillars...the Shedd Aquarium, the Planetarium, and the Field Museum of Natural History. There's also the Chicago Cultural Center on Michigan between Randolph and Washington. It's magnificent and free...with a great permanent photo exhibit of Chicago landmark buildings and several temporary exhibits and ongoing concerts and other public events (plus tons of tourist information).
Events...
--There are always a ton in Chicago, esp. in the summer. Look at the city's website to learn about The Taste of Chicago, fireworks on the lake, neighborodhood fests, and the big, free downtown music fests.
Hope this gives you some starting ideas...If you have specific interests, let me know, and I may be able to suggest more.
Have a good trip!
Sharon Woodhouse
Sharon Woodhouse, Publisher
sharon@lakeclaremont.com
Lake Claremont Press, Celebrating Our 10th Anniversary in 2004
Regional histories and guidebooks by locals
4650 N. Rockwell St.; Chicago, IL 60625
773/583-7800; 773/583-7866 (fax)
www.lakeclaremont.com
