jaygee
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Post by jaygee on Jun 6, 2024 10:23:08 GMT -6
Traveling with tweens…fun and challenging…am I right?
We will be in Chicago for a few days in June. Main point of the trip is two games at Wrigley but looking for other things to fill our time and wow the tween. I’ve never been either so I’m fully in to see what the Windy City has to offer (fun fact - I almost moved there sight unseen about 14 years ago).
We like active and outdoors stuff, all food, nothing with heights. Staying in a central location on Michigan Ave.
Things I’ve seen but need to know if they are tween approved:
Fire boat river tour
Field Museum (definitely going there for H)
Chicago sports museum
Maggie Daly Park Mini Golf
Color Factory
Navy Pier
Dylan’s Candy Bar
Chinatown
Also must go tos for food, please.
Thank you!!
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Bookshelves
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Post by Bookshelves on Jun 6, 2024 10:25:14 GMT -6
I tried to go to the Chicago Sports Museum a few weeks ago because I was in the area and killing time, and it was closed for a private event. Just FYI that it might be worth checking before going out of the way to see it (but there’s a lot in that area).
I have loved every boat tour that I’ve done in Chicago over the years.
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Bookshelves
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Post by Bookshelves on Jun 6, 2024 10:27:32 GMT -6
Garrett Popcorn is probably overhyped, but such a good easy treat if you are out and about and snacky. The one in Water Tower Place (near the sports museum) is not as busy IME as the Michigan Ave. location. (And it’s also in the airport.)
There will undoubtedly be an argument in this thread about pizza; I like Pequod’s.
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Bookshelves
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Post by Bookshelves on Jun 6, 2024 10:29:12 GMT -6
Truly the Art Institute of Chicago is an amazing museum. I assume your tweens would be underwhelmed or just whelmed, but I think it’s world class and always worth visiting. (But not on T/W, when it’s randomly closed.)
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jaygee
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Post by jaygee on Jun 6, 2024 10:30:52 GMT -6
Truly the Art Institute of Chicago is an amazing museum. I assume your tweens would be underwhelmed or just whelmed, but I think it’s world class and always worth visiting. (But not on T/W, when it’s randomly closed.) We might try to go and just do a speed tour which I’ve seen recommended with kids/tweens/reluctant art viewers. Basically just hit the highlights. Also recreate the Ferris Bueller scenes. lol. |
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Bookshelves
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Post by Bookshelves on Jun 6, 2024 10:38:40 GMT -6
Truly the Art Institute of Chicago is an amazing museum. I assume your tweens would be underwhelmed or just whelmed, but I think it’s world class and always worth visiting. (But not on T/W, when it’s randomly closed.) We might try to go and just do a speed tour which I’ve seen recommended with kids/tweens/reluctant art viewers. Basically just hit the highlights. Also recreate the Ferris Bueller scenes. lol. I think kids are free to a teen age (14?) so at least you wouldn’t waste money on them.  |
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loony
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Post by loony on Jun 6, 2024 10:38:47 GMT -6
I would skip Navy Pier - but the Museum of Science and Industry would probably be more exciting than Art. www.msichicago.org/ |
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jaygee
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Post by jaygee on Jun 6, 2024 10:42:45 GMT -6
I would skip Navy Pier - but the Museum of Science and Industry would probably be more exciting than Art. www.msichicago.org/I glossed over that thinking it was similar to the Exploratorium here but it actually looks different. Adding to the list. |
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pobre
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Post by pobre on Jun 6, 2024 10:44:05 GMT -6
I would skip Navy Pier - but the Museum of Science and Industry would probably be more exciting than Art. www.msichicago.org/This. It has a u boat you can walk through. It’s so cool. |
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jaygee
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Post by jaygee on Jun 6, 2024 10:48:28 GMT -6
I would skip Navy Pier - but the Museum of Science and Industry would probably be more exciting than Art. www.msichicago.org/This. It has a u boat you can walk through. It’s so cool. Sold! |
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loony
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Post by loony on Jun 6, 2024 11:07:30 GMT -6
I would skip Navy Pier - but the Museum of Science and Industry would probably be more exciting than Art. www.msichicago.org/I glossed over that thinking it was similar to the Exploratorium here but it actually looks different. Adding to the list. I didn't look at the dates, but there's a James Bond tech exhibit right now too. |
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overboard
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Post by overboard on Jun 6, 2024 11:29:29 GMT -6
The Chinatown area there was a little disappointing with how small it is, but it’s still worth seeing. There’s a really good bakery there but I forget the name. I’ll look it up. We took the train.
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jaygee
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Post by jaygee on Jun 6, 2024 11:32:52 GMT -6
The Chinatown area there was a little disappointing with how small it is, but it’s still worth seeing. There’s a really good bakery there but I forget the name. I’ll look it up. We took the train. That’s what I was wondering. Especially compared to the robust Chinatown we have here. This might be a skip for us. |
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overboard
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Post by overboard on Jun 6, 2024 11:36:21 GMT -6
The Chinatown area there was a little disappointing with how small it is, but it’s still worth seeing. There’s a really good bakery there but I forget the name. I’ll look it up. We took the train. That’s what I was wondering. Especially compared to the robust Chinatown we have here. This might be a skip for us. Yeah, compared to SF I think you’d be disappointed. There’s a downtown location of minghin that you could probably walk to for dim sum. It was pretty good. |
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gimmeaQ
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Post by gimmeaQ on Jun 6, 2024 12:17:36 GMT -6
Garrett Popcorn is probably overhyped, but such a good easy treat if you are out and about and snacky. The one in Water Tower Place (near the sports museum) is not as busy IME as the Michigan Ave. location. (And it’s also in the airport.) There will undoubtedly be an argument in this thread about pizza; I like Pequod’s. peaquods is one of the things i miss the most about living in Chicago |
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brux
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Post by brux on Jun 6, 2024 13:35:30 GMT -6
I just love Chicago vacations.
The best part about Chicago is all the neighborhoods. I like Fulton Market and Lakeview for tons of great places to walk and eat.
I would always skip Chicago Pizza And Oven Grinder Co., it's a sloppy gooey mess more like a too-cheesy lasagna than pizza. |
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brux
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Post by brux on Jun 6, 2024 13:37:41 GMT -6
I was hoping to get to Chicago this summer for a Cubs game, but instead we're going to Iowa to see the AAA Iowa Cubs.
It feels like a little bit of a letdown lol
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pixie
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Post by pixie on Jun 6, 2024 16:13:25 GMT -6
Skip little goat - its new location is small and the menu shrank drastically.
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pixie
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Post by pixie on Jun 6, 2024 16:14:23 GMT -6
The Chinatown area there was a little disappointing with how small it is, but it’s still worth seeing. There’s a really good bakery there but I forget the name. I’ll look it up. We took the train. That’s what I was wondering. Especially compared to the robust Chinatown we have here. This might be a skip for us. Yes, skip. We love a trip there but having been to Chinatown in SF it’ll be underwhelming. |
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STP
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Post by STP on Jun 6, 2024 16:52:58 GMT -6
The Chinatown area there was a little disappointing with how small it is, but it’s still worth seeing. There’s a really good bakery there but I forget the name. I’ll look it up. We took the train. That’s what I was wondering. Especially compared to the robust Chinatown we have here. This might be a skip for us. I love it but if you have easy access to a Chinatown elsewhere maybe opt for Greek instead. I will say it’s crazy busy with tourists during summer. Be sure to book things like museums, mini golf, etc early as you can. |
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STP
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Post by STP on Jun 6, 2024 16:53:51 GMT -6
I would skip Navy Pier - but the Museum of Science and Industry would probably be more exciting than Art. www.msichicago.org/I glossed over that thinking it was similar to the Exploratorium here but it actually looks different. Adding to the list. It’s nothing like anything anywhere. It’s amazing. The u boat are separate tix/reservation but worth it. |
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sudsy
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Post by sudsy on Jun 6, 2024 17:38:38 GMT -6
Eat tavern-style pizza, no deep dish.
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sudsy
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Post by sudsy on Jun 6, 2024 17:39:45 GMT -6
Garrett Popcorn is probably overhyped, but such a good easy treat if you are out and about and snacky. The one in Water Tower Place (near the sports museum) is not as busy IME as the Michigan Ave. location. (And it’s also in the airport.) There will undoubtedly be an argument in this thread about pizza; I like Pequod’s. How DARE you call my Garrett’s overhyped! Shame! SHAAAAME! Get a Chicago mix while it’s still warm. |
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brux
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Post by brux on Jun 6, 2024 18:46:13 GMT -6
Skip little goat - its new location is small and the menu shrank drastically. ooh good to know! I really liked it at the old location. |
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Bookshelves
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Post by Bookshelves on Jun 6, 2024 19:25:15 GMT -6
Garrett Popcorn is probably overhyped, but such a good easy treat if you are out and about and snacky. The one in Water Tower Place (near the sports museum) is not as busy IME as the Michigan Ave. location. (And it’s also in the airport.) There will undoubtedly be an argument in this thread about pizza; I like Pequod’s. How DARE you call my Garrett’s overhyped! Shame! SHAAAAME! Get a Chicago mix while it’s still warm. Not so overhyped that I don’t buy it every time I pass one. 😉 I love it. |
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DGM
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Post by DGM on Jun 6, 2024 20:22:33 GMT -6
I chaperoned a group of California born and bred high schoolers to Chicago many moons ago. We stayed in Wheaton, but I remember they loved the "rude" vibe of Ed Debevics. I don't remember anything special about the food. Others will need to chime in if it's still worth a visit. ETA I wanted to move there as a college student after that one week trip where everything was already planned and I never had to drive so kinda close to sight unseen LOL. I met MH 5 months later, and we're still here in CA.
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adelbert
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Post by adelbert on Jun 6, 2024 23:21:47 GMT -6
I would definitely do a boat tour and anything else that you're excited about. I've got a tween and a teen with a lack of enthusiasm for most family things and I've found that it's better to choose things which I know H and I will enjoy and then let our good attitudes (hopefully) transfer over to the boys then to try and pick things we'll think they like and they don't end up liking it anyway. I mean I don't purposely choose things they'll hate either.
One thing that we've found after doing many city trips with them is for the most part no cell phones during the day (forces them to actually engage with whatever we're doing or talk to each other), and we like to watch YouTube videos of where we'll be visiting and sometimes we end up having fun family insiders/little jokes about the places that carry through during the trip.
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jaygee
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Post by jaygee on Jun 6, 2024 23:25:05 GMT -6
I would definitely do a boat tour and anything else that you're excited about. I've got a tween and a teen with a lack of enthusiasm for most family things and I've found that it's better to choose things which I know H and I will enjoy and then let our good attitudes (hopefully) transfer over to the boys then to try and pick things we'll think they like and they don't end up liking it anyway. I mean I don't purposely choose things they'll hate either. One thing that we've found after doing many city trips with them is for the most part no cell phones during the day (forces them to actually engage with whatever we're doing or talk to each other), and we like to watch YouTube videos of where we'll be visiting and sometimes we end up having fun family insiders/little jokes about the places that carry through during the trip. Great advice! Thank you! He doesn’t have a cell and we don’t let him bring electronics (laptop, switch) on trips so we are good there. But good reminder for us adults. I’ve been better about living in the moment and not taking so many pics or staring at my phone during down times etc but I can always improve. I love the YouTube idea and will definitely do that before we go. |
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pixie
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Post by pixie on Jun 7, 2024 6:39:58 GMT -6
Skip little goat - its new location is small and the menu shrank drastically. ooh good to know! I really liked it at the old location. Same! It was always a place I’d recommend to families. We just went to the new location two weeks ago and it was such a bummer. |
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Bookshelves
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Post by Bookshelves on Jun 7, 2024 8:39:57 GMT -6
I don’t know anything about Little Goat, but you could always take them to the Billy Goat Tavern, if you like eating under bridges and feeling like you’re in an SNL skit.
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