Looking for Chicago activities with seniors
 

Eight family members ranging in age from mid-20s to mid-80s will be in Chicago for a graduation in mid-May, and we're looking for something to do on a Saturday. Does anybody have any ideas for an activity that does not involve a lot of walking? We've been looking into show options, so that is one option. I'm afraid museums or the aquarium will involve too much walking.

Thanks for any tips!

The architectural boat tours are lovely (and informative)!

Just what I was going to suggest! They are terrific. If you only have the one day together and you have good weather (May can be dicey), that would be my first pick.

If you do the Chicago Architecture Foundation river cruise, make sure you book it early. it is very popular. FYI, there is indoor heated seating if the weather is chilly and/or wet.

http://www.architecture.org/tour_view.aspx?TourID=8

For any of the popular theater options (e.g., Wicked, Jersey Boys), you're going to pay a huge premium as they sell out months in advance.

There is always the Cubs, of course, but for them, as well, you're going to pay. I'd try StubHub. If you want to see the Sox, you don't need to buy in advance.

Thanks for the advice. I will definitely look into the architecture tour river cruise.

Last year, I left work early and was going home on the L - so it was not crowded. I sat next to a family visiting Chicago - about 6 people various ages - and they were just riding the L to see various neighborhoods. This was on the Red Line but I think that taking the Brown Line would be more interesting - at least the ride around the loop. I had never thought of this but this family was having a great time - and it is pretty inexpensive. I had a great time pointing things out for them.

How about baseball? Any fans in the group? That could be fun.

You get some great views on the Brown Line. The Red line can be interesting too (except downtown, when you're in the subway) because it takes you past both ball parks and goes all the way to Evanston and pretty far south, as well.

Here's a printable "tour" itinerary for the Brown Line, which as a bonus is also almost fully accessible now.
http://pn.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/c.../full/37/15/22
(interestingly, I was searching for a similar, if more detailed, itinerary written for another APA: the American [Urban] Planners Association, but this will do.)

There are hundreds of theater choices beyond the Loop; check Reader or Time Out listings for reviews. Indeed, many would be just off the Brown Line in Lakeview.

Chicago Labor Trail
 

This is more complicated than you'll want (unless there are labor history bluffs among you) but I mention it for future readers of this thread: The Labor Trail, a very detailed list, map and description of Chicago sites important to US and local labor history. There's much more than Haymarket Square and the Pullman neighborhood!

The home page for the effort is http://www.labortrail.org/index.html, and there's a lovely interactive map on the site. A hard-copy map can be ordered from http://www.labortrail.org/lt-00-order.html.

Even if you are not headed for Chicago, the map and site are excellent educational tools, recognizing its fundamental pro-collective-bargaining stance.