I figured I like you guys a lot better than some yankees, so I'll post this here.

I will be going to Chicago with the family in June to see a family member perform at the oriental theatre.  Any suggestions on things to do/see around Chicago?  I will have my 5 and 2 year olds with me, so keep that in mind. Restaurants??


And, most importantly, what should be my boundaries of travel?  Their laws are obviously not conducive to riding around the way we do down here, and I don't want to end up where I'm not supposed to be!


As always, thanks in advance for the ideas, suggestions, and smart ass responses.

Hopefully someone can clarify this, but I've always assumed IL is a full commie state (and have read enough horror stories about what's happened to folks who have protected themselves there) and have separated my CCW from my ammo when driving thru to WI.  WI has reciprocity, so you're GTG there.  

That's my 2 bits about IL.  The only time I was in Chicago was at the airport. I try to avoid it when driving.  

I was stationed there 5 years (Ft. Shakey by the lakey).  In June - take light jackets.  When I got married on Memorial Day, we were borrowing heavy jackets and parkers for my family that came up from SOWEGA.  Think of it as ATL.  If you stay in the tourist areas, you will be fine. If you find yourself in an oh-shit area, lock the doors, make a U turn and GTFO. You WILL know when you are entering a bad neighborhood.  Make sure you go downtown to the Sears/Willis Tower and walk on the glass ledge.

AND, never forget:
the South side of Chicago
Is the baddest part of town
And if you go down there
You better just beware of a man named Leroy Brown
He got a custom Continental
He got an Eldorado too
He got a .32 gun in his pocket for fun
He got a razor in his shoe

Stay north of 37th street and east of LaSalle, there is nothing but trouble beyond those boundaries. I go to Chicago for business quite a bit and have learned which areas to avoid at all costs and which ones I will venture into if there is just reward like a good place to eat. Inside the Loop area it is generally safe, a lot of people and police presence, same for North Michigan Avenue aka the Magnificent Mile. You will see a lot of sketchy people and plenty of street hustlers that want to clean your shoes or something for a buck, politely decline and keep moving; these guys are everywhere you just need to be aware of your surroundings at all times.

There are many good to great restaurants in Chicago that I enjoy but I have never traveled with small children so my recommendations probably aren't the best, I tend to avoid the family places. Take them to Navy Pier and ride the Ferris wheel, the museum of Science and Industry has several kid oriented exhibits, same for Fields Museum. A day at Wrigley Field is also a blast. One of the river cruises might be fun for the kids as well.

I'm in the process of moving to Georgia but I've lived in Chicago my whole life.  Since you're going to the Oriental I'm assuming that you'll be staying somewhere downtown.  Hotels are pricey in the City but driving in and out from the suburbs is awful.

There is a lot to do in the downtown lakefront area, which is quite extensive.  The area is anchored by Grant Park which extends down to the Museum Campus to the south (note, this is NOT the south side).  The Campus has the Field Museum of Natural History (Dinosaurs and such), The Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planetarium. You could easily spend two or three days at these museums.

Navy Pier is located a bit North of Grant Park and it's a great family venue.  There are several restaurants, a Kid's Museum, rooftop gardens, Ferris Wheel.  They have fireworks on weekends.

The Magnificent Mile is Michigan Avenue, generally north of the Chicago River.  Lots of restaurants and upscale shopping in this area which is just west of Navy Pier.

Going a little further north to Lincoln Park, there is a small zoo and a conservatory.  The park is very nice.

My favorite museum is the Museum of Science and Industry.  This is on the lakefront at 57th street.   The area around the museum is quite safe but, as others have noted, you don't want to wander around in the south side neighborhoods. Take Lake Shore Drive to the Museum and back downtown and avoid driving though the neighborhoods.

Here's a link for Navy Pier   https://navypier.com/

Navy pier is fun. I remember going to the aquarium as well.  Sears tower was cool too, but I think it was like $20 per person to go to the top.

Pizzeria Uno is good, but the less crowded one is Pizzeria Duo.

Good call on the Pizza.  Uno, Duo and Ginos are Chicago classics.

They are commies up there. You will be reminded at every entrance to each building that has a NO GUNS sign!

Go to Portillo's and get an Italian Beef sandwich! I like it with the hot peppers.

How cute. Just wait till you get here and experience Atlanta traffic. Bonus points if it's raining.

Eats: Lowerys for prime rib, Joe's or Gene & Georgetti's for steaks, Lou Malnati's for pizza, Billy Goat for an Italian beef (my personal favorite) and Superdog for hotdogs.

To do: if you have time go to a Cubs game - Wrigley Field is an experience all by itself. Navy Pier or the Natural History museum are also very good.

Whatever you do stay clear of the south side, unless you want to see what version of socialism the progressives have created looks like up close and personal

Take a look at the neighborhoods to avoid from here .http://heyjackass.com/

I grew up in the south Chicago suburbs (South Chicago Heights).

Chicago is a great city to visit with really nice museums and places to eat.

Lincoln Park zoo should be first on your list as its free and great for kids.  The Museum of Science and Industry is a place I would go to as well especially for the U-505.  

Deep dish pizza places were mentioned and I like Lou Malnati's.

We always here about the murders and bad part of Chicago but you won't be anywhere near that if you visit within the city.

Field Museum of Natural History - has a bunch of dinosaur skeletons for the kids.
Museum of Science and Insdustry - has U505, a captured German sub, a Boeing 727, a coal mine (pretty cool) and a good full sized train display  A moderate amount of hands on stuff for the kiddos.
Navy Pier - already discussed.
while not quite as tall, the John Hancock building has a nice observation deck and is a little cheaper than Willis/Sears Tower.
A ballgame is good,  One at Wrigley is better.
The pizza recommendations are good as well, but nobody mentioned Giordano's deep dish.
Your wife will want to shop Miracle Mile.  Bring money.
If there's someone to watch the kids and you like music, the blues at Blues ETC, Blue Chicago, and Kingston Mines are great.

You're going at a great time of year.

Thanks for all of the great info.  I knew you guys wouldn't let me down!