Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire A few hours in Chicago

I'm flying into O'Hare Friday to take my son to visit a few colleges in Iowa and I'll have a few hours to blow before we have to head west.

Is it worth trying to see something for a few hours or should we just put the Windy city in the rear-view mirror?

Looks like the weather's gonna suck. Windy and rain.

You have until Friday to practice dropping and laying flat on the ground.

Please do good at it.

You could go to the West Side and watch the gunfights. Just don't get caught in a cross-fire.

When I lived in Chicagoland 25 years ago the gunfights were mostly on the south side, not the west. What's up with that?

I don't know if you can get it done in the time you have, but the U boat display at the Museum of History and Industry is definitely worth it. Will give you a perspective on what the WWII sailors went through.

Historically that's been the case, with the South Side having one of the highest murder rates in the country. Recently I read an article about the murders moving toward the West side. I'm wondering if that's now the more lucrative drug territory? Drug dealers trying to go upscale and the murders following?

Museum of Science and Industry, Shedd Aquarium, Museum of Natural History, and the Art Institute are all worth seeing. A trip to the top of the Hancock Building is cool - I was told it's better than the Sears tower. There's a a restaurant at 2121 Clark Street which is across the street from where the St. Valentine's massacre took place.

It's been 17 years since I've been there, but I think it was lakeshore drive that everyone raced on. Could rent a car and try it.

Skip Museum of Science and Industry and the Aquarium unless you have kids Jr. High and younger with you.

I'd hit the Art Institute or the Field Museum. Then I'd get some Chicago deep dish at Uno's or Giordano's (or if you want to get outta town hit the Giordano's in Rockford on your way west if you're going to Galena). I'd try and hit Galena, IL on my way west if you can make it. Google it. Neat old town with a bunch of shops and historical POIs, Grant's birthplace.

My sister and her husband live in Iowa City and the BIL works at the University of Iowa. Sis is a graduate there. If you have trouble getting any questions answered about University of Iowa let me know and I'll get them answered.

Also, IMO, I'd just head west direct from O'Hare and skip the museums. You're going 30-45 minutes in the wrong direction from IA to get downtown. Once you cross the Mississippi it's pretty much corn and soybeans until you hit a big town.

If you do go that route then get your tickets for the U-boat in advance. Last time I was there (a year ago) they were sold out day-of.

Oh, and if you're visiting Iowa City there's 2 stops you need to make for food:

-Pizza at the Wig and Pen tavern- get the Flying Tomato pizza
-Burgers and Beers @ Red's Alehouse

If you only have just a few hours between flights it probably wouldn't be worth the effort and risk to try doing anything much other than maybe eating at a restaurant or something real close to O'Hare.

Counting travel time to and from O'Hare you really wouldn't have the time to do any of the more interesting sights justice.

Get tied up in Chicago traffic or lost or whatever you could miss your next flight out.

As always, YMMV.

Many things to see - but the Museum of Science and Industry will shoot a day or three.
The Shedd Aquarium is good for at least a full day.

Both well worth the time, in my experience.

Hmmm... hadn't thought of that joken.

Wyo, you flying west to an IA airport or driving?

We're flying from Denver to Chicago then driving to two schools in Iowa and one in western Illinois before we fly back out. All small colleges.. Cornell, Luther and Knox.

Luther. All I'll say is I knew a chick from Luther for a while. Good times. I grew up in Freeport, Illinausea.

If you drive through Freeport, IL on your way in or out of state I highly Suggest Cannova's Italian Restaurant. Pizza fair to middling but their pastas are excellent and their red sauce I have learned to mimic thanks to Linda (half-owner). Cannova's is closed on Monday nights but the only other good sit-down place that isn't a bar is Fieldstone and it's next door- get a burger or steak.

If you get stuck in Freeport and want pizza hit Joe's on Stephenson or Maria's on business 20.

Near Galena there'a a western style firewatch tower. You can head up and look over the "driftless" part of NW Illinois where the glaciers didn't flatten it to a seemingly infinite plateau.

Fugitaboutit..not enough time. Bring a puzzle book go to the bathroom ..load up on snacks.. then watch the TSA slowasses (work?)..people watch..count the muzzies you see in the airterminal and report back

West End Ioway has the Heebert Hoober presidential library..
the outhouse in back was my choice for the Obongo crypt and presidential library..go see it...its on the way

They tore down many of the "projects" in Chicago, relocating the fine upstanding citizens around the city.

Interpretation; they left the inmates out and they scattered with the wind.

This same plan has been replayed across the country. Now, instead of havin concentrated bad areas, whole regions get to experience the "Hood".

I'd rather schitt my britches every hour on the hour than even think about going to Chicago! New Orleans the same way!!