My D will be attending the admitted students open house in April. While she will be staying in the dorm with her host, I will be at a hotel. I have booked two nights at the Sophy in HP, and two nights at the Hilton downtown. Both hotels are recommended by the university. Thoughts? Also, any recommendations on where to eat, or what to see? We’ve been to Chicago a few times before, so Navy Pier, baseball games, The Field Museum, Frank Lloyd Wright tours are out. We will be using Uber and public transportation. Thanks!
You can browse through some of the older (and closed ) threads in April last year and the year before. They cover the questions you have in mind. Here are two of them:
http://talk.qa.collegeconfidential.com/university-chicago/1985790-why-we-chose-uchicago-p1.html
Sophy is new and it looks nice inside. It is on 53rd and Dorchester and is around 1 mile away from Main Quad. Both Sophy and Hyatt Place provide shuttle service to the main campus.
The Oriental Museum on campus is worth a couple of hours, if museums are your thing.
Also the Art Institute of Chicago, which I think has the second largest collection of impressionists in the world (after Paris). Also, just my opinion, I am from the east coast, and you can’t beat the steak in the midwest…so any steak joint.
You must visit Art Institute as many times as you can.
The area around UC is urban with a lot of old homes. The lake is close (closer to Sophy) and there are some large parks. Nice to walk around. The street that Sophy is on is has a bunch of good little restaurants. Saucy Porka is little hole in the wall with an interesting menu. Shinju Sushi is my little spot. The Museum of Science and Industry is an absolute must if you haven’t been as well as the aquarium.
During family Orientation, we went and saw Hamilton. But during that time a ball game would be good. I find Navy pier ok, but not too much of a draw for me and my wife.
I agree with the Art Institute comments, and I like just walking around the campus and doing the on campus galleries.
Field Museum, Art Institute, and Oriental Institute . . . that should satisfy any major museum craving.
BB the huge ferris wheel at NP is kind of fun.
Also, Museum of Science and Industry is a lot of fun.
Architecture Foundation boat tour. https://www.architecture.org/tours/detail/chicago-architecture-foundation-center-river-cruise-aboard-chicagos-first-lady/ The #1 tourist thing to do in Chicago (other than going to the Art Institute and walking through Millennium Park). Both fun and really informative. Also check out Maggie Daley Park, which is practically adjacent to Millennium Park. It’s the best kids’ playground ever.
There are so many great restaurants in Chicago, it’s ridiculous (and even more ridiculous that none of them are in Hyde Park). Look at some descriptions on Yelp or wherever and check them out. In or near the Loop, I have really enjoyed meals at avec, Mercat, and The Gage (which is more standard pub fare, but high quality). You can find great ethnic restaurants of all types in their corresponding neighborhoods, and world-class restaurants in various tony neighborhoods.
You will probably want to try deep dish pizza at some point – it’s an abomination, but you shouldn’t take my word for it. Honestly, a number of people seem to like it, some of them without any valid excuse. Big names are Lou Malnati’s, Gino’s East, Pizzeria Uno, and Giordano’s. They all have multiple locations; Giordano’s has two in Hyde Park.
In Hyde Park, if you want the student experience, you can try The Medici, Valois, Harold’s Fried Chicken, the Thai places on 57th, Rajun Cajun, or Giordano’s. Finer dining options I have never tried (and therefore can’t honestly tell you not to bother with) include Piccolo Mondo and The Promontory.
Museum of Science and Industry is super cool. Just go early as it can get crowded and be prepared that there are lots of “add ons” for the specific exhibits. Their website is great for pre-planning.
The Chicago Architecture Society also does some super walking tours. They have an “art deco building” tour is really great.
Another way to explore the river area is by kayak. If you land on warm weather, it’s great fun. I would recommend doing a tour vs just renting them on your own as their is lots of river traffic which can be a bit overwhelming.
There are amazing restaurants in the west Loop. More than can possibly be listed.
Have a great time!
Thanks for the great suggestions. We will definitely look into several of them. And I love numero uno pizza. We used to have a few in CA, but not nearly the same as in Chicago.
I’m a Giordanos gal myself. The spinach stuffed pizza is to die for. There’s a restaurant in Hyde Park, one near the mag mile… Several locations throughout Chicago.
Lou Mal’s for deep dish!
I second @momofsenior1 choice. I enjoy Lou Malnati’s deep dish pizza most. @PepperJoe, there is one Lou Malnati’s only a couple block from Hilton Chicago.
Ditka’s
The best pizza in the world is in Chicago, but more Nee York style than Chicago style, and that is Home Run Inn. This opinion from a Chicago boy (me), and not from a tourist which is what most of the other pizza places mentioned are catered towards. Also, nothing like Chicago hot dogs. You’ll find stands everywhere. Don’t wander too far from campus, it’s not the greatest of areas in any direction.
You can wander as far as you want to the east, provided you stop when you come to Lake Michigan. (This week, you could probably keep going on Lake Michigan for a bit, but why would you want to?) Also, if you are walking north from the central part of campus or east of there, you will probably get tired before you come to someplace you may not want to be.
@ProfessorPlum168 - save the NY-style for NY. Chicago style is what they should get while in Chicago. I’d stick to those chains that aren’t seen outside of Chicago much. Totally agree on the hot dogs.
One Chicago tradition that is, unfortunately, dying out is Blues music. Most of us have seen The Blues Brothers (worth re-watching if not just as a tribute to Aretha). But here’s a shorter, very worthy, and educational video that reveals how the youth of today might well be able to revive the genre:
@JBStillFlying I grew up on Home Run Inn so I have to give it its props. I think most Chicagoans from the South Side would agree with me. Most of the other places mentioned has its roots on the Northside.