Travel Smart With Jodie

Archive for the ‘Chicago’ Category

Fold the newspaper. Buy a cup of coffee. Clamber aboard.

I’m about to head to downtown Chicago again surrounded by commuters if it is early morning and concert and theater goers if it is late afternoon.

We all opt for a window seat if available. But how many of us really look out the window?

Heads bury in sports or business sections. Other travelers pull out their Blackberries, Smart Phones, iPads, lap tops. What good is the window seat except for shoulder support?

Once they reach downtown, commuters head to their offices with rapid strides or jostle for space on a bus. In the afternoon, show goers walk or hail a cab.

Did any of them know they passed a stunning art deco entryway or architecturally important building?

After returning from a publishing seminar on a recent windy (of course, it is Chicago) but sunny late afternoon, I was lucky enough to be sitting near a gaggle of youngsters and parents returning to Wisconsin after a day in Chicago.

“Wow.” “I lovvved Chicago.”  “It’s so clean.” “I saw…..” And so the conversation went.

The comments continued as the commuter train whipped past warehouses, condos, cemeteries, parks, busy streets and churches in the city and changed to spacious yards, larger homes, shopping strips and more open areas in the suburbs.

“Did you see…?  “Look.”

I put away the Sudoku and crossword puzzles and looked.

Yes, I love Chicago and its buildings, but am I really looking?

Sometimes, I walk instead of taking a bus from the train to the museums, meetings, shows and restaurants I cover. But rarely do I slow my pace to admire or snap an art deco doorway or sculpture just inside an office building.

Visitors don’t have that familiarity breeds blindness disease. They snap away with phones and serious camera equipment.

I also love the suburbs and taking  scenic drives or visiting the Chicago Botanic Garden in Glencoe. But when on a local train traveling through very familiar (I think) suburbs, my thoughts wander to grocery shopping, articles to do and event schedules.

Wait, was that a new sculpture in that suburb’s downtown? Hmm, I don’t think I knew that coffee shop was there, close to the train station. If I hadn’t heard that “look” earlier during the ride I would have missed seeing the sculpture and shop.

Driving around my area proves to be little better. The next day is for within-five miles errands. Armed with water bottle, I buckle up and start down the driveway.

A mild winter and early spring has encouraged early blooms and early construction.  Both distract from quick errands.

The slower pace means more time to recall and look for what my granddaughter sees when she sits in the back seat peering out the window.

“Look. Archways,” she often says.

Yes, today I actually look for branches reaching over streets to form bowers.

“Weeee,” she says as we crest a street. Yes, I notice our neighborhood does have some rolling roads.

As I park the car at a frequented grocery, I sit and wonder:  Is the road or train ride oft taken really less of a travel trip then a journey through less familiar surroundings?

Chicago is a perfect spring break  destination whether living out of town or in the city.

Take in a show, a museum, an interesting tour, some shopping and admire the sculptures in Millennium Park. They are all downtown Chicago.

Shows

Jersey Boys returns to the Bank of America theatre April 5 Fela will be at the Oriental Theatre March 27-April 8

Museums

The Museum Campus,  sticking out into Lake Michigan from Lake Shore Drive between 12^th and 14^th Streets, is among the best places to snap photos of the city’s skyline. But be sure to save time for at least one of its museums: The Field, Shedd Aquarium or Adler Planetarium.

They reward visitors with fascinating exhibits year round. However, they are gearing up for Spring vacationers with either new exhibits or extended hours to see all their special exhibits.

At the Adler, Undiscovered Worlds, a show about finding real planets and stars beyond the Earth’s solar system, opens early March in time for Spring vacation.

Because the Shedd, situated between the Adler and the Field, draws crowds during school holidays, the museum has extended hours from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. March 26-March 30 and April 1-April 6. Longer hours mean fitting in Jellies, Wild Reef and an Oceanarium show.

Families visiting Chicago often head to the Field to see dinosaurs. But Spring break time means also fitting in two temporary exhibits that just opened: Opening the Vaults: Mummies and Genghis Khan.

Tours

Trolley tours are fine for getting around because you get background info from tour guides. However, if looking for something special consider an architectural Chicago River boat cruise and a movie site tour.

The Chicago Architecture Foundation boat tours typically do not start until the end of April. But you should be able to book a cruise on Wendella and Chicago Tours.

The Wendella cruises start at the base of the Wrigley Building below the Michigan Avenue Bridge. Chicago Tour cruises start at Navy Pier.

The Chicago Film Tour is a fun way to see parts of Chicago you might not get to such as Wrigley Field in the Wrigleyville neighborhood. The tours start and end on Clark Street between Ontario and Ohio, a perfect spot for people who love Portillo’s Chicago Dogs and their Italian beef.

Shopping

Out-of-towners enjoy browsing the shops along North Michigan Avenue between the Chicago River and Lincoln Park. Visit Magnificent Mile the Greater North Michigan Avenue Association’s website to pick out some specific shopping and dining destinations.

Whatever other places you choose, you should  stop in Garrett’s Popcorn Store in the 600 block of Michigan Ave. If shopping at Macy’s at State and Randolph (Marshall Field’s former flagship store) follow the nose across the street to Garrett’s next to the Oriental Theatre.

Speaking of food (similar to chocolate, in Chicago popcorn is considered a food), families coming to town typically want to try a pizza parlor. Everyone has a favorite so arguments abound. but two places that make many lists for the good deep dish stuff that Chicago is known for are Gino’s East and Lou Malnati’s.

Millennium Park

Bordering Michigan Avenue and Randolph Street, Millennium Park draws thousand of tourists who want to see “Cloud Gate,” better known as “The Bean.” They also check out the Frank Gehry sculpture top to the Jay Pritzker Pavilion and the Crown Fountains which spit water late spring and summer.

Insider Tips

• If staying in town  for a few days, it may pay to obtain a CityPASS. You will be paying about half what you would to individually visit the Shedd, Field, Skydeck at Willis Tower (formerly Sears), the Adler or Art Institute of Chicago and either the Museum of Science and Industry or the John Hancock Observatory. In addition, the pass means not having to stand in line to purchase tickets.
• If tired when walking the “Mag Mile” take a bus back south on Michigan Avenue. Most buses you see go downtown. You can also catch a bus on State Street south to the Museum Campus. Bus drivers do not have change so have some singles and quarters handy.
• You don’t have to leave town without trying Garrett’s because the company has stands at the Metra trains’ Ogilvie Center and O’Hare Airport.

Photos by Jodie Jacobs

If looking for a fun and interesting winter break, head to Chicago.

The city is about all shopping the Magnificent Mile of North Michigan Avenue and seeing public sculptures around almost every downtown corner.

It is music in the clubs, musicals in its Broadway in Chicago theaters and music at Chicago Symphony Center.

It is about exploring centuries of fine art at the Art Institute of Chicago and centuries of natural history at the Field Museum.

It is about enjoying the seascape of Lake Michigan and creatures of the sea at the Shedd Aquarium.

However, Chicago is best enjoyed when you know how to get around the town.

Here are five tips to doing Chicago like a travel pro:

• If flying in to O’Hare International Airport, you can take the subway system downtown. The Chicago Transit Authority, popularly called the CTA, has a station downstairs of O’Hare’s baggage claim area. Its Blue Line will take you from O’Hare to Randolph Street near theaters and hotels. Visit CTA and go to Trip Planner. The Trip Planner extimates travel time at about 45 minutes but driving the Kennedy Highway from the airport can take an hour when backed up and then driving into the downtown area from the highway can take a good 15 minutes more.
  

  Chicago is also known for its architecture. The Marina Towers on the left and Trump Tower, far right, are on the north side of the Chicago River just west of Michigan Avenue

• If taking an Amtrak train to Chicago’s Union Station, you have a choice of buses to take from Union Station’s cross streets to the city’s main shopping areas and attractions. Go to CTA Trip Planner for options.

• Chicago is as much a destination for suburbanites and residents of nearby towns as it is for visitors. But public transportation is still a good choice to avoid traffic congestion and highly taxed parking garages. Visit Metra for stations and times and visit the CTA Trip Planner for bus options from the Ogilvie Transportation Center or Union Station.
  

  The Picasso sculpture at Daley Plaza is a Chicago landmark but the city also has sculptures by well-known artists throughout the downtown including Joan Miro's Chicago across from the plaza and Claes Oldenburg's Batcolumn just west of the Metra station

• Chicago is a CityPASS town. The pass saves big bucks and time when trying to fit in more than one attraction.  It allows entry to the Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, Adler Planetarium or Art Institute, the SkyDeck at Willis Tower (formerly Sears) and the Museum of Science and Industry or the John Hancock Observatory. The pass typically means not having to stand in line to for tickets.

• World class museums are certainly a draw but there also are events, neighborhoods, public sculpture, parks and many more sights and activities so check out the city’s official visitor site: Explore Chicago to see what is happening when you plan to come to town.  The site also lists hotel packages. Now wishing you world class fun.

All photos by and copyrighted to Jodie Jacobs

Imagine boarding a square rig warship like the one Commander Oliver Hazard Perry sailed when winning the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812.

Or, picture seeing exciting jockeying for position among boats from five countries in Match Races.

Add in a chance to watch amazing Cirque acrobatics on a 1.5 mile pier that once housed World War I regiments and World War II troops from several countries.

The events happen the second weekend in August at Chicago’s Navy Pier, a historic site that is also home to popular restaurants, a large Ferris wheel and other entertainment venues.

Tall Ships

Six tall ships from as far as Baltimore, Erie and Newport Beach and as close as South Haven and Chicago are sailing to Navy Pier for Taste of Tall Ships Aug. 11-14, 2011.

Two of them – Perry’s Flagship Niagara and the topsail schooner Pride of Baltimore II, will be available for boarding.

Friends Good Will, a square topsail sloop with a South Haven, Mich. port and Lynx, a square topsail schooner from Newport Beach, Calif., plus Chicago-based gaff schooners Windy and Red Witch will take passengers out onto Lake Michigan.

Boarding prices are $9 adults, $6 children. A combo ticket of boarding and three Navy Pier rides are $16 adults and $13 children. Boarding hours are 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Aug. 11-13 and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Aug. 14.

Sail away prices and times vary according to ship and length of sail. Sail-away tickets are also available on “Windy” in combination with boarding “Flagship Niagara” or “Pride of Baltimore II.” More ticket information

Chicago Match Race

At the east end of Navy Pier bleachers will be set up for free viewing of the Chicago Grade 2 Match Race. The competition is America’s Cup style racing to give 10 internationally ranked sailing teams match race practice. Qualifying rounds are Aug. 12 followed by semi-finals Aug. 13 and finals on Aug. 14.

Cirque Shanghai Extreme

Cirque Shanghai Extreme is at the Pier’s Pepsi® Skyline Stage® now until Sept. 5 . Go to the show to see  trapeze artists, aerial acts, motorcycle daredevils and Kung Fu sword fight displays.

About Navy Pier

Navy Pier was part of famed city planner Daniel Burnham’s 1909 “Master Plan of Chicago.” The 1.5 mile pier was built from 1914 to 1916. Originally called the Municipal Pier, it was renamed Navy Pier in 1927 in tribute to World War I Navy personnel. World War II military pilots trained at the pier as did sailors and technicians. After the war, the University of Illinois had a branch at the pier until 1965. However, the Pier was also designed to include entertainment venues.

Today, visitors can go to a Shakespearean theater, dine at famed Harry Caray’s or Billy Goat Tavern and browse a free stained glass window museum.

Getting there

Navy Pier is at Lake Michigan at the east end of both Illinois Street and Grand Avenue. Parking is available however CTA buses do go there from the Ogilvie Transportation Center (Metra) and Union Station.

Photos are courtesy of Navy Pier