Adventure Chicago: Experience a summer Saturday in the Windy City

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Looking for a great stay away from the Loop and tucked into a Chicago neighborhood? Days Inn Chicago is just a few blocks from Lake Michigan, within walking distance of Wrigley Field, and in near great shopping and restaurants in the popular and bustling neighborhoods of Lakeview and Lincoln Park. The rooms are simple and clean, perfect for those who are looking to spend most of their time exploring the city. The staff is extremely friendly and helpful, and always available to answer questions about the neighborhoods. This is a great choice for travelers looking to experience a neighborhood feel, while still feeling in the middle of it all.

Our Local Expert Says:

If you are an independent traveler, the bike tours are the way to go. Explore Chicago at your own pace, making all kinds of discoveries along the way!

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Grab a friend, rent a bike or in-line skates and sweat your way though Chicago. You may trek the 18-mile lakefront or choose any of the other scenic bike paths. Mountain bikes, kids bikes and quadricycles available. Bike Chicago has three other locations at these popular tourist spots: Oak Street Beach, Lincoln Park Zoo and Buckingham Fountain, and you may pick up your bike or skates at one location and drop them off at another.

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Built during World War I, this 3,000-foot-long pier was a Navy training center for pilots during World War II. Now, the military aura is long gone, replaced with a combination of carnival attractions, a food court, and boat dock, making it a bustling tourist destination (whether or not that's a good thing depends on your tolerance for crowds). If you do make it all the way to the end of the pier, though, you'll be rewarded with great views of the city.

Midway down the pier are the Crystal Gardens, with 70 full-size palm trees, dancing fountains, and other flora in a glass-enclosed atrium; a carousel and kiddie carnival rides; and a 15-story Ferris wheel, a replica of the original that made its debut at Chicago's 1893 World's Fair. The pier is also home to the Chicago Children's Museum, a 3-D IMAX theater (tel. 312/595-5629), a small ice-skating rink, and the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre. The shops tend to be bland and touristy, and dining options include a food court, an outpost of Lincoln Park's popular Charlie's Ale House, and the white-tablecloth seafood restaurant Riva. You'll also find a beer garden with live music; Joe's Be-Bop Cafe & Jazz Emporium, a Southern-style barbecue restaurant with live music; and Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. & Market, a casual family seafood joint. Summer is one long party at the pier, with fireworks on Wednesday and Saturday evenings.

The Smith Museum of Stained Glass Windows may sound dull, but decorative-art aficionados shouldn't miss this remarkable installation of more than 150 stained-glass windows set in illuminated display cases. Occupying an 800-foot-long expanse on the ground floor of Navy Pier, the free museum features works by Frank Lloyd Wright, Louis Sullivan, John LaFarge, and Louis Comfort Tiffany.

If the noise and commercialism get overwhelming, take the half-mile stroll to the end of the pier, where you can enjoy the wind, the waves, and the city view, which is the real delight of a place like this. Or, unwind in Olive Park, a small sylvan haven with a sliver of beach just north of Navy Pier.

You'll find more than half a dozen sailing vessels moored at the south dock, including a couple of dinner-cruise ships, the pristine white-masted tall ship Windy, and the 70-foot speedboats Seadog I, II, and III. In the summer months, water taxis speed between Navy Pier and other Chicago sights. Allow 1 hour.

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Chicago is renowned for its stunning and original architecture – and the most relaxing way to see it is on a cruise on the Chicago River! You'll learn all about Chicago's history and landmarks before the tour's grand finale, a thrilling speedboat ride on Lake Michigan.

From the land, you'll see and hear about the dozens of skyscrapers lining the Chicago River, including the Sears Tower and the Tribune Tower.

Then, for a spectacular view of the Chicago skyline from Lake Michigan, you'll take a thrilling 30-minute speedboat ride along the lake. From the water, you'll see Buckingham Fountain, Grant Park, beautiful Chicago Harbor and Chicago's Museum Campus.

Your best choice for experiencing Chicago, this tour combines coach and boat travel. It's the only tour that takes you from the lakefront, through the locks and along the river.

Along the way, you'll:

• Learn when and why the flow of the Chicago River was reversed
• Learn how Chicago architects pioneered skyscraper construction
• Learn why the beautiful Chicago lakefront is almost all parkland
• Learn about an $80 million dollar skyscraper construction mistake
• Travel through the historic Chicago River Locks and up the Chicago River to Sears Tower

Our Local Expert Says:

If you are in the mood for a relaxing day, Millennium Park is the perfect place for a afternoon picnic, where you can take in the art and architecture. In the summer catch a performance at Pritzker Pavilion, while enjoying a bottle of wine with friends from the Great Lawn.

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Chicago is full of must-see attractions, but at the top of the Can't Miss list is Millennium Park. It debuted in 2004, several years overdue, but it was worth the wait. It is a true gem, right downtown between Michigan Avenue and the lake. One can easily spend an afternoon just sitting on the benches at the perimeter of the Pritzker Pavilion, stare at their warped reflection in Cloud Gate ("The Bean" to locals), and watch the rotating faces in Crown Fountain spew water every five minutes or so. Immediately to the south of Millennium Park lie the Art Institute and Grant Park, which all together would make for a wonderfully relaxing day. If you only have time for one of the three, though, do not pass go, do not collect $200- without going to Millennium Park.

Our Local Expert Says:

No trip to Chicago is complete without a trip to Cloud Gate, or "The Bean" as locals call it. Soon after its unveiling in 2004, it was closed off in portions so that the rivets could be buffed out. Now it is a seamless sculpture, reminiscent of one giant fun-house mirror. When you're finished here, head over to the Crown Fountain in the spring and summer months to take in the walls of smiling faces.

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This popular sculpture in Millennium Park has become a landmark of Chicago's cityscape. Ever since the public first glimpsed the then-unfinished structure in 2004, its unique appearance has drawn a great deal of both criticism and praise. Designed by British artist Anish Kapoor and forged from steel plates that have been polished to a mirror-like finish, Cloud Gate has been affectionately named "The Bean" by city residents because of its legume-like shape. At 66 feet long, 42 feet wide, and 33 feet high, this is one mighty bean, weighing in at 110 tons. The highly reflective surface and curved shape create an effect similar to that of a funhouse-mirror, distorting the shape of curious onlookers and making it a popular attraction for children of all ages. The sculpture often takes on a life of its own as its surface reflects Chicago's skyscrapers and the blue sky.

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First Sears sold the building and moved to cheaper suburban offices in 1992. Then the skyscraper got an ego blow when the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, went up and laid claim to the title of world's tallest building. (The Sears Tower has since put up a 22-ft. antenna in an attempt to win back the title.) Tallest-building posturing aside, this is still a great place to orient yourself to the city, but I wouldn't put it on the top of must-see sights for anyone with limited time (and limited patience for crowds).

The view from the 103rd-floor Skydeck is everything you'd expect it to be -- once you get there. Unfortunately, you're often stuck in a very long, very noisy line, so by the time you make it to the top, your patience could be as thin as the atmosphere up there. (Come in the late afternoon or early evening to avoid most of the crowds.) On a clear day, visibility extends up to 50 miles, and you can catch glimpses of four surrounding states. Despite the fact that it's called a "skydeck," you can't actually walk outside. Multimedia exhibits on Chicago history and Knee High Chicago, an exhibit for kids, are additional attractions. The 70-second, high-speed elevator trip will feel like a thrill ride for some, but it's a nightmare for anyone with even mild claustrophobia. Allow 1 hour, more if there's a long line.

Our Local Expert Says:

If you are visiting in the summer, you must spend a day at the beach and take a dip in Lake Michigan. It is clean, there is food on the beach, and even palm trees. You will be wondering if you are actually in the big city!

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With so many beaches to choose from in Chicago, make sure to put this one at the top of your list. There is plenty of room for lounging, playing volleyball, and running with the kids, all while you take in great views of Lake Michigan, Lake Shore Drive, and the Hancock building. Plus, enjoy food from Avenue, the adorable cafe right on the beach. The beach is also within walking distance of Gold Coast museums, restaurants, and fantastic shopping. This beach is also never quite as crowded as the North Avenue beach just 1/2 a mile away.

Our Local Expert Says:

Hop Leaf is a welcome change to your run-of-the-mill bar in Chicago. Beer snobs flock here, and if beer's not your thing, there are lots of other options that are different than standard mixed drinks. Don't miss the mussels or frites.

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If you don't know your Farmhouse from your Trappist or your Abbey-style ales, or perhaps, more importantly, if you do, then Hopleaf should be your next destination for a goblet or two. In addition to an extensive list of Belgian beers available on tap (over 15) or by the bottle (over 100), this tavern also features beers from all over North America and Europe. If beer isn't your thing (gasp!) then check out the wine list; Hopleaf features a number of wines available by the glass or bottle. Of course, with all this drinking you'll probably want to do a little eating. A few standout features on the menu include the mussels (white-wine steamed or white-ale steamed, your choice) and the frites with aioli.

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A fixture on Chicago's late-night theater scene, the Neo-Futurists have been doing their hit Too Much Light Makes the Baby Go Blind since 1988 (it's now the longest-running show in Chicago). The setting -- a cramped room above a funeral home -- isn't much, but the gimmick is irresistible: Every night the performers stage a new collection of "30 plays in 60 minutes." The "plays" vary from a 3-minute comedy sketch to a lightning-quick wordless tableau; the mood veers from laugh-out-loud silly to emotionally touching. The show starts at 11:30pm on weekends; get there about an hour ahead, because seats are first-come, first-served, and they do sell out. The late-night curtain attracts a younger crowd, but I've taken 60-something relatives who have had a great time (unlike many improv comedy troupes, the Neo-Futurists don't rely on raunchy or gross-out humor). Admission is random: Theatergoers pay $9 plus the roll of a six-sided die. If you want to feel that you've experienced edgy, low-budget theater -- but still want to be entertained -- this is the place to go.