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Travel
Aug/Sep 2012 Issue
Table of Contents
Travel Tips
What to Pack
August in Chicago can get warm, with an average high temperature of 83°. September starts to cool, with an average high of 76°. You’ll be doing a lot of walking around town, so don’t forget comfortable walking shoes. In August, bring a sun hat and swimsuit for the shores of Lake Michigan. Since museums and restaurants are air conditioned, pack a light sweater or shawl. In September, the weather is usually pleasant, but it can cool down, especially toward the end of the month. A light jacket is a must. Weather in Chicago can change quickly, proving the old adage, “If you don’t like the weather, wait a minute.” If you’re visiting during the colder months—in Chicago, that’s any time from November to March—bring a warm coat, hat, gloves, scarf, thick socks and boots.
Dining Out
Discount Cards
Bundled cards provide significant discounts if you’re planning to visit many sites in a few days. CityPASS, citypass.com/Chicago, includes admission to five popular attractions, including the Shedd Aquarium and the Field Museum, for a nine-day period. The Go Chicago Card, smartdestinations.com, lets you choose from one-day to seven-day cards, adding in options like the Chicago Children’s Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art.
Your Kind of Town
Day 3
Museum Campus
Spend most of your day at the Museum Campus, home to three world-class museums. Start at the Shedd Aquarium (1200 S. Lake Shore Drive, 312-939-2438, sheddaquarium.org), as it can get very crowded later in the day. The Aquarium is home to many interactive exhibits and the beautiful Oceanarium, which has a popular aquatic show with Pacific white-sided dolphins and beluga whales.
Next, head to the neighboring Field Museum (1400 S. Lake Shore Drive, 312-922-9410, fieldmuseum.org), a top-notch natural history museum with interesting, interactive exhibits sure to engage kids and adults alike. For lunch, pack a sandwich and eat it at the museum, or if you go to the Corner Bakery (312-588-1040, www.cornerbakerycafe.com) inside the Field Museum, ask the manager to see the Bakery’s allergen guide.
Explore space—the final frontier—at Adler Planetarium (1300 S. Lake Shore Drive, 312-922-7827, adlerplanetarium.org), which has sky shows as well as exhibits about the cosmos. The new, ultra-high-tech Deep Space Adventure show takes you aboard a starship’s observation deck with stunning graphics and special effects.
Downtown in the Loop, the Atwood Café (1 W. Washington St., 312-368-1900, atwoodcafe.com) serves contemporary versions of classic American cuisine in an historic Art Deco building. The staff easily accommodates gluten-free and other special-diet requests. Catch a play in the downtown theater district. Big-name touring productions are part of Broadway in Chicago (312-977-1700, broadwayinchicago.com), which stages shows in several grand theaters downtown. The Goodman Theatre (170 N. Dearborn St., 312-443-3800, www.goodmantheatre.org) is a standout Chicago theater with powerful performances.
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