The +1 and I will be in Chicago for the Chicago Half Marathon on Sept 7. Staying at the Sheraton downtown on Water St. Neither one of us has ever been to Chicago, so clue us in to the best sights/restaurants/etc. I can look up reviews, but nicer to have them from some members who know the city well. Thanks!

Ah...I see a visitors guide stickied. I'll look at that, but the last posting was in 2012. My nephew is working at his dream job in Vernon Hills, so we will be catching up with him, also.

 

If weather/time allows, go for a river ride - http://www.wendellaboats.com/experie...cturetour.aspx

We did the lake & river tour a few years back and it was really neat.

 

The city hasn't changed THAT much in 2 years.

I agree with Sam, the Wendella tour is great.

Touristy things are usually Navy Pier (shops, restaurants, lots of boat tours from there, IMax movie theater, music venue, etc.) and Millennium Park. It's also pretty typical to go to the oberservation deck at the either (both) the Sears Tower (they call it Willis tower now, but no one here calls it that.) or the John Handcock building. The Sears tower is taller, but you get better views and more things in the area near the handcock.

For food, Chicago is known for pizza and hot dogs. I personally love Gino's East for pizza, but it's pretty hard to go wrong. Lou Malnatis, Giordano's, etc. You can get thin crust pizza here, and it's good, but we are known for deep dish.
A chicago style hot dog has: onion, mustard, tomato, relish, pickle, hot sport peppers, and celery salt on a steamed poppy seed bun.

 

Thanks!

 

and NO KETCHUP!!!

 

Shopping along Michigan Avenue (generally north of the river) and State street (generally south of the river) is also very popular. As Pete said, though, our food is definitely worth investigating!

 

Don't worry, some restaurants are already on my list! And I hate ketchup on hot dogs. Actually, my favorite dog is the bacon cheese dog at Five Guys. A heart attack on a bun, but it is really yummy! Fortunately, I only have them when we go to Nationals games, which means maybe three or four a year.