Several friends have asked me to compile a list of my Chicago favorites since it is the location of the upcoming NAD Teachers' Convention. Travel and food are two of my favorite hobbies, so I am more than happy to oblige! Even more than that, I love love love Chicago.
For those of you who don't know, I am a native Chicagoan. I was born in Chicago to immigrant parents. In fact, I was the first from both sides of my family to be born an American citizen. I wear that title proudly. I lived in the Chicagoland area my whole entire life until 2012 when God called my family down to Florida. My husband is also a native Chicagoan. He lived in the city until we got engaged. All three of our kids were born in the western suburb of Hinsdale. They were actually born in the same hospital where my mom first worked here in America back in the 60s! We visit Chicago once or twice a year - that's how much we love our city as well as the family and friends we left behind! (FYI: Chicagoans refer to Chicago as "the city.")
*IMPORTANT THINGS TO NOTE:
If you are viewing this on your mobile device, please scroll all the way down to the bottom of this post and click on "View web version" or else your mobile version will be wonky.
I tried my best to link up every detail possible - websites, reviews, history, and whatever else.
I have also included photos - they don't belong to me!
Also, I apologize for any and all typos. I'll edit as I find them. :o)
I hope you find this list helpful. Most of all, I hope that you have an enjoyable time exploring and experiencing my city!
-----------
TRANSPORTATION
The city of Chicago is huge so everything is spread out. In fact, there are 77 community areas (each with their own names). Most of these communities are broken down further into neighborhoods.
IF YOU HAVE A CAR
Keep in mind that if you are driving, it is extremely difficult to find street parking (which you will have to pay for). If you do find street parking, it will be parallel parking. Not an easy feat in the city!
Another thing to consider, you will have to pay a ridiculous amount of money to park in a garage whether it's underground or several hundred feet above street level in one of the skyscrapers. Be prepared!
PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION: BUS/TRAIN
There is plenty of public transportation (CTA = Chicago Transit Authority), but there are soooooooo many bus routes/lines that it gets ridiculously confusing.
As for the "L" (the city's elevated train system), those routes are even more confusing! I wouldn't recommend either one. Unless you are super brave and are way past Pathfinders' Master Guide level with directions and a compass. If you are, I wish you the best.
MY ADVICE
If you don't have a car, stick with
Uber
Lyft
Taxis
BICYCLES
There are baby blue bicycles for rent that you can pick up and drop off in multiple locations in the city. The company is called Divvy and for convenience you can download their app to your phone. They have this whole system for renting and returning that seems pretty user friendly.
As far as cost is concerned, some customers on Trip Advisor felt ripped off. Now, I live in the land of Disney World where you pay for every. little. thing. So take that with a grain of salt.
For more information about Divvy click HERE. If you decide to rent with Divvy, keep in mind that drivers in the city are crazy, but not as crazy as NYC or Boston or as scary as the snowbirds in Zephyrhills, FL. (I speak from experience having lived and survived on the roads in that area for three years.)
FREE TROLLEY
There is a free Navy Pier trolley that loops around a section of the city with multiple stops including the Art Institute of Chicago. Information HERE.
TOURS
Architectural Boat Tour - This is my favorite tour of the city as Chicago is known for its extremely diverse architecture.
This is a shout out to my former 2nd grade student, Kelly. I taught her 20 years ago! (I can't believe I'm old enough to type that. I can't believe I am admitting that I am old.) Anyhow, Miss Kelly worked for Wendella and always had glowing things to say about the company and her coworkers.
They got great reviews on Trip Advisor so that doesn't hurt either.
Boarding is right next to the Wrigley Building so you get to see the architectural grandeur of the Wrigley Building and the Tribune Tower across the street!
On a clear day you can see four states: Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Indiana!
The Ledge experience - does not cost extra; included in general admission
The Ledge’s glass boxes extend out more than 4 feet from the skyscraper’s Skydeck on the 103rd floor.
Each glass box is made of three layers of 1/2inch thick glass laminated and tempered for durability.
The glass panels weigh 1,500 pounds.
Honestly, this is not my favorite observatory above the city. Don't get me wrong. It's an amazing experience in such a historical building. I've been visiting the building since I was only one year old! However, Sears Tower is away from everything else. I prefer the next option because it's in the heart of The Magnificent Mile and a stone's throw away from the historic Old Water Tower.
Don't want to pay the observation deck fee or the cost of a full service meal? Take the elevator up to the 96th floor. Purchase a pop (soda) and enjoy the view! I've never done it, but I know friends/family who have.
Built in 1922 for the Chicago Tribune's (newspaper) downtown headquarters.
The creatures and figures tucked into the tracery above the Tribune Tower's entrance represent animals from Aesop's fables.
Famous quotations from Benjamin Franklin, Voltaire, Thomas Jefferson and James Madison are carved into the walls of the lobby praising and exalting freedom of the press.
Please note: if you have a membership to a science museum in another state, there is usually reciprocity. Check to see if your local museum is part of this program. Because admission to Chicago museums is so expensive, we purchase memberships in Florida. That has gotten us general admission to the following museums: Adler Planetarium, Field Museum, and Museum of Science and Industry. Just make sure you bring your membership ID with you.
The convention center is practically next door to Museum Campus which houses the following museums:
A lot of people don't realize that there is an observatory behind the planetarium. It is home to the largest aperture telescope available to the public in the Chicagoland area!
For observing opportunities at the Doane click HERE.
Keep in mind that the view of the city skyline is in my humble opinion, the best in between the Planetarium and Aquarium.
Just south of the Planetarium you will find 12th Street Beach. Typically not as crowded as Chicago's more popular Oak Street Beach (located in the Gold Coast just minutes from the the most north point of Michigan Ave) or North Avenue Beach (located in Lincoln Park by the zoo).
The building was built for the joint purpose of accommodating the 1893 World's Colombian Exposition (also known as the Chicago World's Fair) and subsequently the Art Institute.
The Thorne Miniature Rooms are a family favorite, especially with the kids. Fans of dollhouses or anything miniature will have a delightful time here as well.
Right next door to McCormick Place (home of NAD Teachers' Convention)
For you hardcore NFL fans, tours of Solider Field are available HERE.
Soldier Field used to be listed in the National Register of Historic Places but was stripped of that honor in 2006 after a "spaceship" was added to the old colonnades during a major renovation in 2003.
Most people visit to take a picture with the Michael Jordan statue
NBA/NFL fans, no tours are available. Sorry!
If you visit the United Center, you *must* stop by Black Dog Gelato! It's 1.2 miles north of the stadium. Parking is hard and they take cash only. Their Goat Cheese Cashew Caramel and Blood Orange Sorbet are deeeelish! You can thank me later.
Wrigleyville rooftops of adjacent residential buildings have been used to view Cubs baseball games or other major events at historic Wrigley Field since 1914. My husband has sat on one of the rooftops for games and claims that it's an excellent view.
If you're a "Northsider" you cheer for the Cubs. My husband and I were both born on the Northside. In fact we named our first son Clark after Clark Street, the street where Wrigley Field's main entrance is located. "Go, Cubs, Go!"
The Cubs will not be playing at home during NAD Teachers' Convention.
MLB fans and anyone who loves American history, tours are available HERE. I've done the tour twice and loved it both times.
What's the big deal about the Magnificent Mile? This stretch of North Michigan between the Chicago River and the Drake Hotel has been known to be a global retail destination.
South end of Magnificent Mile: both buildings are known from their architecture and are located across from each other immediately North of the Chicago River
Part of the Historic Hotels of America®, the Drake hosted important VIPs such as Winston Churchill, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip, Paul Newman, Oprah Winfrey, and Princess Diana.
An ideal setting for Afternoon Tea, Palm Court has been serving tea for nearly a century in the Gold Coast neighborhood of Chicago and is the quintessential Magnificent Mile afternoon tea experience.
Princess Diana, Queen Elizabeth II, and the Empress of Japan have all been seen in the Palm Court.
Field's as in the same Field of the Field Museum of Natural History
Top floor has a mini-museum of sorts, not sure if it's still there (free)
Tiffany Ceiling is comprised of 1.6 million pieces of iridescent glass and is the largest Tiffany mosaic in the world. Get a closer look up on the 5th floor!
Kids will get a kick out of the decor. You can sign your name on the walls.
There's a location on the Magnificent Mile where I experience my first Gino's deep dish more than 30 years ago! Gino's East Mag Mile: 162 E. Superior Street 60611
If you are brave enough to venture into Chinatown, this is the place to go! Just 2.5 SW of the convention center.
Huge menu selection
Personal favorite: Szechwan string beans in garlic sauce
The real reason why I come here is for my favorite Mango Fresh Fruit Freeze with Mini Pearls. If you like boba, this is a must!
If all you want is a boba drink, they have a window and you line up outside to order drinks only. Menu HERE.
Joy Yee is part of Chinatown Square, a two-story outdoor mall. This outdoor mall is the largest Chinese mall in the US east of San Francisco and west of New York City. In the middle of the mall, there are statues of the twelve animals of the Chinese zodiac. Other landmarks in the mall include twin pagodas.
Serious hole in the wall restaurants and more on North Clark Street, within two city blocks of each other! Located in the Lincoln Park neighborhood, just south of Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs. If you decide to visit Wrigley Field, this would be an excellent place to stop for food. You'll definitely need to Uber/Lyft/taxi from the convention center. If you drive, parking is tough. It's only parallel street parking. Consider yourself warned!
Winner of Cupcake Wars Season Finale - Food Network
Voted one of ten best cupcake bakeries by USA Today
Personal favorite: carrot cake with cream cheese frosting - I have tasted cupcakes from sea to shining sea (literally - San Francisco to Boston), and Molly's is hands down, the best!
Others worth trying from their menu: Lemon Meringue, Blueberry Cheesecake, Chocolate Mousse
Across from the Old Water Tower building that survive the great Chicago Fire
IMPORTANT DEAL $$$ - for those interested in visiting the museums and/or having a skyscraper experience
CityPASS - See Chicago's top attractions, handpicked and packaged together at a significant savings.
CityPASS is valid for 9 consecutive days starting with the first day of use, there’s no need to rush through each attraction.
An added perk is skipping the lines which are typically long in the summer due to the increased amount of tourists visiting the city.
For those of you with museum memberships in other states, keep in mind that you may or may not be saving money with CityPASS since you will more than likely have free general admission to a few of the museums.
Book Character Day is one of my favorite days of the whole school year. Book Character Day lets me combine my love of books and dressing up! This year we invited Mrs. Joseph's 3&4 class to join in on the fun.
For this year's Book Character Day I dressed up as Wenda, the sister of Waldo, from the book Where's Waldo?
I was introduced to this book series many years ago while I was in middle school. My little sister collected the books. Waldo books are a grown up version of I Spy books. I introduced the books to my kids this year, and they love the books as much as I do!
Below is a picture of me with my two boys who also dressed up for Book Character Day. The one on the left is Hiccup, the Viking hero from the How to Train Your Dragon book series. The one on the right is Scaredy Squirrel from the book series Scaredy Squirrel. It was my first time to sew a costume together, so that made this Book Character Day even more exciting for me!
Here is a video of the students dressed up as their chosen book character. Each student was required to complete a character analysis of their character. They described what their character looked like on the outside and also described their character's insides - personality traits and/or feelings experienced in the book. Students also made a connection with their character and shared how they were alike.
One of our friends was sick at home on Book Character Day so we FaceTimed with her and she was able to present her book character to the class. She even answered some questions. Modern technology is awesome!
Amelia Bedelia, David from the Bible, Ramona the Pest, and Pinkalicious
Layla the Cotton Fairy, Scaredy Squirrel, Ms. Frizzle, Nancy Drew
Skippyjon Jones, Joash the Boy King, Jesus, Alice in Wonderland