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Question Hi, my fiance and i
are going to Chicago for a few days for spring break we're spending most
of the money we have on the car ride and the lodging. I was
wondering if anyone could give me some insight on the nooks and
crannies of Chicago- I know the zoo is free but I wanted to know if there
were any other places that were free to visit or if there were
some nice places outdoors for picnics or hiking or some things
only a resident would know. thanks
Answer: Before I go any
further I'd like to suggest, depending on when exactly you're coming to
Chicago, to get in touch with Chicago Greeter. It's a FREE
program that has residents give visitors a tour of Chicago thst lasts
from 2-4 hours. You're provided with free transit passes.
The address is: www.chicagogreeter.com Generally you
need to do this 2 weeks before you arrive so they can pair you up
with someone who will show you what you're interested in. If you're unable
to do a Greeter Visit, if you go to the Cultural Center at
Michigan Avenue and Randolph you can get tourist information, bus passes and any other information you might want.
You said
you're coming during spring break and if that's anytime soon, it'll be too
cold to do any picnics. The zoo is a wonderful place.
They have a brand new ape house and an African Safari.
And you can walk through our new Millennium Park
which is across from the Cultural Center.
Navy Pier is a fun
place to visit. The have a free stained glass museum at the east end
of the Pier. Our museums are wonderful. The Shedd Aquarium
is my favorite. Depending on what day you're here, most museums have a free day. You can most likely get that
information from a web site.
If you go up to the lounge on
the 96th floor of the John Hancock building you can get fabulous views
of the city. If you do that make sure you check out the Women's
bathroom. It's really special.
And if you make it to the
Hancock building, walk north 2 blocks (remember the lake is east) across
Oak Street and under Lake Shore Drive and you'll be at one of our
beaches. You can walk north or south along the
lake.
Hope this is helpful. Enjoy your visit to
Chicago. ----------------------------------------
Question: I
am coming to Chicago for the weekend, do you have any suggestions for some
good Italian restaurants in the area?
Answer: We have
dozens of great Italian restaurants. If you're in the Loop
(downtown) area there's Trottoria 10 or the Italian Village. In
the Michigan Avenue area there's Rosebud on Rush, Volare or if you want
a very special (but expensive) dinner, there's
Spiaga ---------------------------
Question: Hi, I'm coming
to Chicago for only a couple of nights. Can you give me some suggestions
on things to do? I like shopping so anything with shopping,
restaurants, parks, city views etc. Also, can you tell me the
best area for hotels? I would like to be near the main shopping
area. Thank You Very Much
Answer: If you enjoy
shopping, then the 'River North, Magnificent Mile' is what you're looking
for. That is the area around Michigan Avenue. There are many
hotels in that area (can be a bit pricey though), with many just a few
blocks from Michigan Avenue. For city views try the Hancock Tower
(which is on Michigan) or the Sears Tower which is further south
in the 'Loop'. Personally, I like the Hancock better as that gives you
the better view of the Lakeshore. They also have a nice
Bar/Restaurant overlooking Chcago. Another nice thing to do is visit
the Navy Pier. At the Navy Pier, you can take a ride on a huge Ferris Wheel for a view of Chicago's skyline. There is also a
stained glass window museum, boat tours, an IMAX theater,
restaurants/food court and more.
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