I'm considering a fly in-and-out visit of Chicago this summer. I would get in between seven and eight in the morning and leave about five in the afternoon (for a seven PM flight). Any suggestions for how to spend my day?

Here's the parameters:
*I'd probably be flying into O'Hare since they have the earliest in and latest out scheduled flights of the day via AA. I would be open to flying into Midway via NWA if someone has a really good reason to do so.
*To save time, I don't want to bother with a rental car. Taking the El and/or buses is not a problem, nor is walking.
*I will be either alone or possibly with one other adult.
*I'm an art, architecture, and history lover (The only must-do on my mind is to see the Art Institute.)
*I do not want to spend any time shopping or with significant numbers of children.
*Food is not a priority. Yes, I know that they have good pizza in Chicago but I don't really care about it. I'd rather spend my time seeing the sights than sitting around a restaurant. Packed sandwiches and McDonald's type meals would be the extent of what I'd need.
*If you think that the view is worth it, should I visit the Sears Tower or the Hancock Observatory?

TIA!

1. Fly to ORD

2. Blue Line El to the city

3. Art Institute, where they have a nice cafeteria and restaurant.

4. Your choice of "King Tut" at the Field Museum or "Leonardo da Vinci" at the Museum of Science and Industry, which can be reached via commuter train in about 15 minutes.

5. Maybe could squeeze in the Architectural River Cruise.

6. Back to ORD on the El.

I'd skip the Hancock/Sears Tower-type stuff in favor of the above.

Check the hours for these things. Tut will be opening as early as 8 am I've been told, so if that's your choice, maybe do it first.

If your only "must do" is the Art Institute, depending upon what you are interested in seeing, you can easily spend the entire day there.

Everyone talks about the Architecture Foundation boat tour, but there are many other tours that are cheaper and probably just about as interesting, although not as beautiful. The Architecture Foundation office and shop are almost right across the street from the Art Insitute in the Santa Fe Building. I believe they offer the historic architecture (Chicago School, Beaux-Arts and Art Deco) and modern architecture tours several times per week.

There are plenty of fast food alternatives within a block or two of both of these places, as well as a cafeteria in the AI.

A block away is also Millenium Park, which is quickly becoming the most popular tourist attraction in the city. An architecture fan is not going to want to miss the Frank Gehry band shell and bridge, among other things. Take your sandwich there and enjoy one of the greatest new downtown attractions in any city.

Just did the MSP-MDW day trip on Saturday. I think you'd like Milennium Park. I found it very interesting. I have been to both Sears and Hancock observatories, and I like Hancock better. The line there was shorter and the was no obligatory "Chicago 101" movie to watch either. Have fun.

Take the Blue Line from the airport downtown. If it's nice out exit at Clark/Lake and walk to the Art Institute at Adams and Michigan. If it's not nice out use the free transfer to the Orange or Purple line trains and ride to Adams/Wabash and walk one block east. The blue line ride is 45 minutes to and from the airport at Clark and Lake (less than 5 minutes extra from any other loop station). Be sure to purchase a CTA transit card at O'Hare with enough to cover your day. One way fares are $1.75, plus $.25 for the first transfer. Second transfer is free. The machine does not make change (the CTA is rather short on money at the moment). You can't pay cash for the train anymore and cash bus fares are higher and have no $.25 transfer possibility.

Millenium Park is right there next to the Art Institute (you can cover it first if you choose to walk form Clark and Lake). It doesn't take that long to gawk at the bean, check out the bandshell, and the video walls.

The aquarium has the Komodo Dragon special exhibit opening soon or already which is supposed to be cool

The Field Museum has King Tut

Science and Industry has something someone else mentioned, don't know anything about it.

If you just want to do architecture, there's more than enough to see in the loop - just wander around. The blue line subway runs down Dearborn - thats your ride to O'Hare.

IMHO Sears Tower/Hancock are nothing to get excited over - only worth it if the weather isn't bad and it's not mobbed.

To get to the Field Musem or Aquarium (or Planetarium), board the #146 bus South to Museum Campus on State street. To get to the Museum of Science and Industry, board the #10 South (Science & Industry Express) on State Street. I wouldn't recommend bothering with the South Shore Electric line train.

This map shows public transportation and many atractions downtown and the museum campus. Fortunately they didn't put the dump of a building I'm in although it's an attraction just for being such a dump <g>.
http://www.transitchicago.com/maps/maps/2006D.html

If you're serious about the architecture bent, then you ought to very strongly consider taking one of the Chicago Architecture Foundation tours. The number available is staggering, so you shouldn't have any trouble finding one or two that meet your interests.

http://www.architecture.org/tours.aspx

Well I spent ~6 hours in Chicago last Tuesday and hurried through the the ArchiCenter, AIC, the Museum of Contemporary Photography, and the MCA (Museum of Contemporary Art). The ArchiCenter is cute, free, and across from the AIC (it is part of the Architectural Foundation), so you might want to pop in there. If you like Contemporary Art, I would go up to the MCA.

If you are there on a Saturday, check out the Loop Tour Train. Did that once, and that was decent.

BillJ

Are you interested in Frank Lloyd Wright? If so, a quick hop over to his neighborhood on the Green line could be squeezed into your program.

Thanks for the replies, everyone. They've given me lots of ideas (I really like the Loop tour idea)

A question -- can someone tell me about Millennium Park? I've been surfing around looking for information. Best I can tell is that it's a big open space with public art, theaters, and places to eat. Is there something I'm missing here? I won't have time to see a full fledged theater production and I'm not going to sit down to eat. Other than for the public art, what is there for me to do or see there?

Your take on Millennium Park is pretty accurate. Mostly it's to look at, but there are concerts and such occasionally. It seems overrated to me, but others differ.

Just to clarify, Tut doesn't start at the Field Museum until late May. I was talking to them last week and they had presold 147,000 tickets out of an expected 950,000 for the whole run.

The Metra Electric line to the Museum of Science and Industry is IMO superior to the #10 bus, although it doesn't operate as often (about hourly during the day, every two hours on Sunday, more during rush hours), so check the schedule carefully. Remember that the #10 bus takes Lake Shore Drive (unless their online map is wrong), which is overrun now with people avoiding the new Dan Ryan (I-90/94) construction. The train has only a few stops and takes about 18 minutes.

If you like bookstores, there are a couple good ones less than a block from the 55th-56th-57th Street station, which is the one for the museum. Powell's and O'Gara and Wilson are less than a block from the station, in the opposite direction on 57th from the museum.

Science and Industry has a stunning Omnimax show right now called "Greece: Secrets of the Past."

The only theater productions (there is a dance theatre) or outdoor concerts are at night. Personally, I think the park is amazing (amazingly expensive to construct too). It is certainly one of the top 5 places I would send someone.

Interesting also that no one (unless I missed it) has mentioned the #1 attraction in Chicago, which is Navy Pier. A huge tourist trap IMO but spectacular views of the Chicago skyline.

I think for your purposes, you will want to see:
* The Crown Fountain
* Cloud Gate sculpture

Both are a short walk north of Art Institue along Michigan Avenue.

By doing this you'll also get a decent view of the Frank Gehry bandshell. Then get back to your other adventures. Millineum Park is a great public space to stroll or relax, but you can hit the high points in a very short time.

I agree. For the reasons cited as well as the Hancock is located in a more "bustling" area, especially on weekends. I think you can go to the 95th floor and get the view at the bar, rather than paying for the observation level.

Also check AirTran?

A few other things to consider checking out include the Picasso (in Daley Plaza), the Miro (across from Daley Plaza) and the Chagall Mosaic (the old First National Plaza - Dearborn & Monroe) and the Calder Flamingo (Federal Center Plaza - Dearborn & Adams). Definitely second the suggestions for the architecture tour if you have time. Enjoy your day in Cgo!