Dave & Cat's Chicago guidebook

The best way to get downtown is via the Red Line Train or EL (short for elevated) as we call it. It will take you directly there in approximately 35 minutes. You can access the Red Line Train Station at Jarvis just west of Greenview Ave, which is less than one block away from our apartment. The fare is $2.50 for a single ride or you can purchase multiple rides or passes for the day. Here is a link for additional info on Public Transit Fares https://www.transitchicago.com/fares/

This is Chicago's version of Rodeo Drive. You can spend a whole day wandering up and down the Mag Mile shopping and eating. Best way to get here is to take the 147 Bus which you can catch one block from the apartment on Sheridan Rd. The fare is $2.50 or you can buy a multi-day pass at the Jarvis Red Line station one block away as well.

You can easily get to Wrigley Field (home of the Cubs), The Guaranteed Rate Field, (we call it Sox Park) or Soldier Field (home of "Da Bears" and also the Chicago Fire Soccer by hopping on the Red Line Train. For the Cubs, get off at the Addison St. Station. 15 minutes away For the Sox, get off at 35th Street Station. 45 minutes away For the Bears, get off at the Roosevelt Rd. Station. 40 min. away

Millennium Park has free out door concerts and movies in the park, the "Cloudscape" sculpture or Bean as we call it, the spitting fountains, and much much more. It is walking distance to the Art Museum and Grant Park and many fun things to do and see. The best way to get there is to take the 147 Bus which you can catch one block south of us on Sheridan Rd.

A fun way to see Chicago is from two of our tallest buildings, Sears Tower and The Hancock Building, (yeah... they sold the naming rights to someone else, but we still call them by their old names.) The Sears tower has a great sky deck where you can step out onto a glass platform and look straight down... if you're brave enough to try. The Hancock has pods that tilt out like you're falling out the window... seriously!

This is one of those things that you can't miss! If you do, you'll just have to come back and stay with us again just so you can do this. It is a fun trip, you'll learn a lot about Chicago and it has been rated as a WORLD CLASS thing to do... seriously! If you want a cheaper version of this, you can take the Chicago Water Taxi for a few dollars but you won't get the low down on all the cool stuff

We have a museum for almost everything. From the Grand Palaces of the Field Museum and Museum of Science and Industry to lesser know oddities such as the Surgical museum that features old surgical specimens... really! I recommend checking out the Art Museum and the MCA (Museum of Contemporary Art) and the Shedd Aquarium and Planetarium as well as The Chicago Historical Museum.

Most Chicagoan's think Navy Pier is too touristy, but hey, you're a tourist right? Personally, I think it's a fun place to visit and gives you a great view of the city. Good places to eat and lots to do too!

The Lincoln Park Zoo, located in... where else, Lincoln Park, is a great way to spend a fun, relaxed day for little to no cost! It's generally never crowded and has some great exhibits. While there, don't miss the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum complete with the butterfly room where thousands of butterflies flutter around as you walk through. The kids love this!

If you're looking for a great place to get a photo op of Chicago's amazing skyline, or you just want a great place to have a picnic while looking out over the lake and our city views, check out the following Planetarium Causeway. This is located on Chicago's Museum Campus near Soldier Field and the Field Museum. IMHO I think this is the best view of the city and a great place to nosh on some Chicago Hot Dogs or other yummy stuff. Montrose Harbor Point. This is a great place to drive to. You can get a great view of the North side of the skyline from here.

We're a blue collar kinda town. We love our foods... especially our traditional street fare. When you're here you want to try A Chicago Hot Dog. Just say, "Gimme a hot dog wit fries. Run it tru da garden!" (that means everything on it... but don't dare ask for ketchup on it. You can use ketchup on your fries... that's ok). An Italian Beef Sandwich. Just say, "Gimme a beef wit sweet peppers or hot peppers, dipped", ( that means you want it dipped in the juice (gravy). Trust me... you want it dipped. It's messy, but it's soooo good!