Chicago has a lot of things to do and see if you are going there to visit. Here are 10 unusual things to do in Chicago and details about each one.
Chicago has a bus ride called the Weird Chicago tour, which goes through the city and is with ghosts, mystery, history and some weirdness. This will give you a lot of information on local legends and folklore. Next, you will go to their legendary Graceland Cemetery. This is a final resting place for Chicago shakers and movers, so taking pictures of headstones is great. The tour is every Friday and Saturday night and price is $30 a person and $20 for a child 10-12 years old. You can also check out tours by the Chicago Architectural Foundation.
The Museum of Science and Industry has an authentic German U-boat from WWII. American Naval Troops captured it in 1944 and kept it in Bermuda for almost 10 years before it was given to this museum.
If you want to see some history of Chicago you can see the Leaning Tower of Niles. Which is a half size replica of the Leaning Tower of Pisa that is in Rome. It also makes a good picture to take on the way to see other sights.
If you’re interested in seeing some religious sites you can visit Chicago’s houses of worship. They have a Chicago Architectural church tour. You can head to Barrington suburbs to Willow Creek, which is an evangelical church that is huge. Also, stop at the Operation Push headquarters which was built a century ago in a vintage Jewish synagogue.
If you are interested in shopping at some unusual shops you can walk along the Navy Pier. You can find different shirts and t-shirts at different stores. There are also hats and different jewelry stores to look at. There is also a store with bits of humor and for the fridge. Remember your visit by having your caricature drawn by visiting the Faces in Focus.
For something different you can rent a segway to ride around the city. This non-motorozied vehicle you can take on a Art and Architecture tour or go through the Lake Michigan museum campus. You can create your own itinerary as long as it is within 40 miles of the Segway.
There is also a different nightlife in Chicago. You can walk through trendy bar sections, the Clark Street Scene, dance at the dance club and blues bars. Also, check out the Baton Show Lounge which is a Chicago institution for over 40 years. The Baton shopping spot is a favorite of tourists, bachelorette parties and visiting celebrities.
If you aren’t afraid of heights you might want to go to the Willis Tower and visit “The Ledge”, which is a plexiglass room that has a clear view of everything even straight down. This is on the 103rd floor of the building and you can see as far as 50 miles on a good day. The view straight down is 1,450 feet down which is what attracts people.
Chicago is also full of stories of gangs and violence. You can go to the alley where John Dillinger died. It is located off of Lincoln Avenue close to Victory Gardens Bio graph theaters. Between Webster Avenue and Dickens Street, which is now an empty lot where a mechanic’s garage was the place of the “St. Valentine’s Day Massacre.”
If you visit on Saint Patrick’s Day you can sail the Green Chicago River. Members of Chicago’s Journeymen Local Plumbers Union #10 use safe dye they spill from boats between Michigan Avenue and Columbus Drive. The water is turned into a great shade of shamrock green. The best view of this is around the Tribune Tower.
Sources
Gail Cohen, “Unusual Things To Do In Chicago”, www.livestrong.com
Tom Nari, “Strange Things To Do In Chicago”, www.livestrong.com
Weird Chicago, Fun Things to do-Cool Places to Go”, thingsyoushoulddo.com
“Unusual Things To Do In Chicago”, thingstodotoday.org
