My stepson and his family from Tulsa came into town on a Thursday. They bought Explorer passes - these are passes that can be loaded with the venues and events that you specifically want to see. Available on line, they offer a discount off the regular admission price. You may visit each of the venues once in a 30-day time period - it's a great bargain. www.smartdestinations.com/chicago
The four of them were off and running to see the Art Institute, Shedd Aquarium, Legoland, Museum of Science and Industry and the Skydeck at Sears/Willis Tower. They also had a wedding to attend on one of the days, so they fit all of that in along with a Cubs game (the Sunday game that they lost to St Louis), a trip to the beach and a trip to Centennial Beach in Naperville where they also had lunch with family.
We had charge of the kids the day of the wedding - ages 12 and 10. We met the group downtown and had a hot dog at Millenium Park while we watched the kids run and jump with glee in the fountain. We then took our charges to see 'The Emperor's New Clothes' at Shakespeare Theatre on Navy Pier. It is a delightful show - the theatre itself does not have a bad seat and everyone of all ages can enjoy this lively and vibrant performance.
Upon exiting the show, we discovered the USS Hollyhock, a Coast Guard buoy tender ship that was resting at Navy Pier. The crew were giving on-board tours, so we climbed aboard for a tour of a real Great Lakes ship - then onto another Chicago icon, Uno's for pizza. At 4:30 the wait was still a half hour and when asked if we wanted outside or inside, we promptly responded with 'inside' as it was that terrible hot day of the big rain - the temperature humidity index hit 104.
They left on Wednesday morning and on the ride back to Tulsa, stopped in Springfield to see the Lincoln Museum. It was a great trip!
On Wednesday night, my husband's son and his family came for a 4-day visit. The tour started with a trip to Twin Anchors for the best ribs in the world.
We purchased Go Cards on line (www.smartdestinations.com/chicago) and found that they include absolutely everything you would want to do in Chicago. You can purchase either a one-day or multiple day pass. Included was the trolley and/or double decker tour bus. After spending the first afternoon at the Shedd, we jumped on a double decker and we all learned a lot about our city that we didn't know before that ride. The end of the tour is Sears/Willis and we went up to the skydeck.
Through Goldstar.com (http://www.goldstar.com/) I was able to get half price tickets to the Chicago White Sox. The Sox had Mullet night and Kid Rock joined some other Mullet Heads in a tour around the park before the game. We were hoping he would sing the national anthem, but he had to get to Soldier Field to open for Bon Jovi.
Prior to the game, we went to the Museum of Science and Industry and took the on-board tour of the submarine. It is truly a sight to see. The U-505 has undergone a 37 million dollar restoration and looks beautiful. Though the tour costs an additional $8, it is well worth it. There are retired Navy personnel who serve as docents making the experience all the more authentic. Having toured the sub many times as a kid when it was outside the museum, I asked about the hatches, as it was easy to climb through them. The guide told me that as soon as the donor members could not climb thru the old circular hatches, they opened them up.
They left Sunday - now we can honestly say that we have had a vacation - in our own fair city, Chicago.
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