Well, thanks to a perfect storm of early Spring Break, wife's business and expiring airline credits, we find ourselves booked for 5 days in Chicago in early March. Apart from trying to stay warm, what else is worth doing while we are there? Will be looking to entertain 3 kids (ages 8, 11, 12). It looks as though there are a few museums worth checking out, but most of the "outdoor" stuff, lake trips and the like look to be closed until April.

Also, anyone have any recommendations on hotels and restaurants appreciated - particularly some decent pizza places....

Cheers

I lived there for 32 years

The Museum of Science and Industry would be perfect for kids that age. I think it's the best of the lot, but the Aquarium is good too if you are, well, into fish. And they have belugas and whatnot. Museums are not cheap, but there it is. Go right at opening time for either of those to avoid the worst crowds, and preferably get your tickets online ahead of time - there are discount packages available if you want to do several museums and they have those online too.

Lincoln Park Zoo is free, and tolerable if it isn't being bitterly cold. There are inside and outside parts to it.

If you like tall buildings you can go up the Willis (ex Sears) Tower, or the John Hancock. I prefer the Hancock because it's right by the lake.That one is also nice after dark, or right at sunset, and it has a restaurant/bar at the top.

Well if you like Chicago style pizza there's the original Pizzeria Uno, which has been franchised across the country, and Pizzeria Duo, just a couple of blocks away (assuming they haven't changed since I was there in '99.

Steak houses are plentiful, and some of the best I've eaten in. I tried several when I was there on business: Smith & Wolensky was excellent but insanely expensive, Eli's was a bit stuffy, but Ruth's Chris was very good, and quite reasonably priced at the time. After two weeks on a business travel budget I returned home feeling as round as a barrel despite my accumulated meal bills only being almost exactly HALF what my employer allowed!

Also if it's not totally freezing you can get a horse & carriage ride around a bit of Chicago. You can get them at Water Tower. Again, not cheap. Things aren't.

http://www.chicagocarriage.com/info.php?R=CHC&P=Rides

Its considered a joke by people that live there- Like Pizza hut or something- Never go to a chain

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showt...6#post10645586

Which, for the summer admittedly, had quite a few good suggestions when I was asking last year when we were spending a couple days there

But that's the point those two aren't a chain, they're the original concept that got cloned. They're nothing like the franchised restaurants, but still not that great either!

Chicago deep dish is a bit minging anyway....but when in Rome, it's got to be tried...and it's certainly better than frozen

Thanks for all the replies (and the link Bob).

I've never had Chicago deep dish, so got to try it. Seems to be a bit of a love it/hate it, so wanted to find somewhere good to give it a fair crack.

Science museum is on the list, as are the aquarium and the tall things.

Also intending the History museum to get a bit of gangster stuff, unless anyone can suggest anywhere better?

Imagine Dragons are playing while we're there, so that will probably be on the kids' list, and I fancy either stomp or Blue Man Group as they seem to be on everywhere we go and we never make it to see them.

Other than that, still researching, so any more ideas welcome!

Pulled up my list of places on Evernote I made for the road trip and these were some other suggestions from twitter folks. Mostly places to eat though.

If your kids are into Lego, the Lego store in the mall is pretty mental and a lot of fun and if you've got girls/anyone into American Dolls, then the store there is the big one and it is utterly bonkers huge and is next door.

We didn't bother go up the tall buildings because we didn't think it was worth the time sink, massive wait during the summer and we didn't have much time, but it might be better in winter? Anyway, the park is cool and the kids would get a kick out of the Bean and it's a quick walk while you're down town and plenty of decent places to eat in the area.

Maybe look at catching a game, don't know what might be on, but might be able to get some Baseball action which would probably be cheaper than a game of hoops. Well when I say cheap, compared to at Fenway anyway and it was a fun time.

Blue Man Group is definitely worth a see, an excellent show, we saw them a couple of years ago in mousetown and i was more than impressed.

There's a half decent band in the northern suburbs that might be worth checking out

I hear the front man is a lard-ärsed shorty though.

Those are all chains of the worst sort.
Deep Dish Pizza: try Pequod in Lincoln Park. Lou Malnati's is probably thr best chain deep dish.
Thin crust pizza: try CoalFire on the near west side or Piece in Wicker Park.
Steak: try Gibsons or the Chicago Chop House

Other benefits of these places: they will get you out of the touristy areas and into the "real Chicago", but they are not far at all from North Michicgan. Cheap cab rides.

Other advice:

Science and Industry is the best kid's museum, the Shedd is second best. The Art Institute is probably the best overall museum in the city, but kids and art museums may be a tricky sell. They do have a huge collection of minature rooms at the Art Institute that my kids love.

It's still going to be very cold here in early March. Walking outside will be tricky.

Kids might like the Lincoln Park Zoo. It's free.

Get a CityPass to save money on museums, skip lines, get discounts etc. It's awesome.

India Garden on Ontario is right off of Michigan Ave and has a great lunch buffet and a nice small restaurant vibe. Not many tourists go there, their loss.

Avoid Navy Pier. The very definition of a tourist trap.

Despite the cold, walking through Milennium Park is probably worth it.