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The Friendship Force of Chicago chapter has members throughout the city itself and in our beautiful suburban communities.
Home hosts are drawn from all areas and look forward to showing you not only the major tourist sites of the downtown and
lakefront area but also the many diverse city neighborhoods where we live and the lovely smaller towns and villages in the
surrounding areas, our suburbs.
A
typical exchange will include both a welcome and farewell party and one day of hosted sightseeing in the city for the entire
group. Beyond that home and day hosts are available to help you plan additional touring. But plenty of time is always left
open so that you and your new friends from Chicago and its suburbs can get to know each other in a relaxed setting and to
learn first hand what every day life is like.
The following information might be helpful in considering an exchange. Our
inbound exchange directors will work closely with your outbound directors to plan your time.
We do place our guests
with home hosts throughout the area, including our suburban locations and throughout the city itself.
We are starting to load some information
that should help inbound directors plan a visit to Chicagoland. While Friendship Force is not about sightseeing Chicago does
boast a wide array of world class attractions that you can explore independently or with day hosts, when available. To help
you plan your trip please check out some of this information. Since hours, fees, exhibits,etc. change
all the time, please check with each attraction to be sure you have the latest info. In general, except for Art Institute
no regular free days for museums.
For tons of information, maps, brochures, to meet a Chicago
Greeter, pick up discounts on some attractions, you need to stop by the Chicago Cultural
Center, 78 E. Washington Street right on the corner of Michigan Avenue on the east side of the Loop.
The visitors center is located on the ground floor on the north side entrance, which is actually on Randolph Street.
Hours are Mon. - Thur. 10-7 and Fri. 10-5, Sat. 10-5 and Sunday 11-5. There is no charge and while you are there get
a schedule of all the free exhibits and musical events hosted in this wonderful facility. Ph. 312-744-6630
For lots of good information about Chicago with links to many other useful
sites, visit Global Chicago's web site and go to the Chicago Page. There
you will find information about our history, maps and transportation, etc. That should help you get started. We
are also in the process of loading info on this page.
Click here to get to Global Chicago. Go to Chicago Connections and then Chicago Page for lots of useful information.
Getting Around: Chicago is a great walking town. No hills to climb! But bring very comfortable
shoes especially for daytime activities. The City is laid out on a grid system of blocks and the numbering system is easy
to decipher; everything counts North and South and East and West from the corner of State and Madison in the Loop. Streets
downtown are named after Presidents, in the Mag Mile area after the Great Lakes, north of that after trees and the rest is
whatever. But most natives navigate by asking what hundred north and west or south and west. You don't get too far east
without hitting the Lake. There are a few major diagonal streets that criss cross the city. Pick up a map at the Cultural
Center, remember the Lake is always to the East! and if you get turned around ask anyone. Chicagoans are very friendly and
take pride in our city.
We enjoy an excellent network of public transportation. In the city it is buses and commuter
electric trains that are together called CTA (Chicago Transit Authority). The electric trains are underground and above ground
both and called the L which either refers to elevated or the LOOP depending on who you ask. You can pay with exact cash on
the bus but you will find it useful to get a card from the machines at the L if you are going to ride the bus and the L a
lot. There are always maps at the stops but with 204 routes it can be a little confusing. There is a great Visitor Transit
Map at the Cultural Center. Don't leave home without it. There are also multi day passes good for visitors staying several
days.
In the summer there is vast network of free trolleys that allow you to get around the LOOP, Michigan Ave., Lincoln Park,
Navy Pier. Don't confuse them with the similar looking for profit trolleys.
The suburbs are served by a variety of commuter trains. Metra trains provide 11 lines in all and fares vary depending
on distance. Rush hour runs are frequent but after that less so. Fares one way can be a couple dollars or up to $6.95 but
that would be to someplace really far out. These trains run on a regualr printed schedule and tickets are purchased at the
station. www.metrarail.com. If you are staying with a suburban host they will have all the details about what train, what station, etc.
Cabs are plentiful in Chicago and can be hailed on the street.
You can get to and from the airport from downtown on the L or via shuttles that go to the major downtown hotels or by
limo or cab from anywhere in the city or burbs. FF typically provides airport transport for full week exchanges.
Parking is expensive downtown (up to $25) except for a few city lots. Except in the neighborhoods where street parking
is available at times, valet or garage parking is the norm. Ambassadors should be prepared to cover their own day visit transportation
costs and/ or offer to help hosts with parking costs. Suburban locations don't have parking issues for most sites but cars
are necessary.
All of our suburban hosts and many of our city hosts own cars. Transportation will be provided to and from our Welcome
and Farewell Dinners for full week exchanges.
The Big Museums: Three are located in what is called Museum Campus which is located
along the lakefront just south of loop/ downtown and is accessible by car or city bus, free trolley during summer. Home
to Acquarium, Planetarium and Field (Natural History Museum). Fab views of city. Seasonal
water taxi to Navy Pier. Allow 2 1/2 to 3 hours for each museum. Food service in all three. No regular free
days; senior discounts at 65+. Parking is in lots and $12. Always check sites for times and rates. Peak
times might require advance tix for Acquarium or special exh at Field; otherwise just show up.
Museum of Science and Industry is in Hyde Park, about 20 to 30 minutes by bus south of downtown.
Art Institute is right downtown on the lakefront, easiest access.
Chicago Historical Society is a small museum in Lincoln Park (close to zoo)
that is a great introduction to city history.
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What's special about this attraction
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website, address, phone
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click for links where noted
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Field Museum
Museum Campus
Lakefront south of loop
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typically 9 to 5 last tix sold at 4 but you need a couple hours to get $ worth
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No reg free days, regular adminssion $10 adults, $7 senior; special exh surchage prices vary so check
all in about $25/ 22 sr
w/o exh 19/14
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Sue the dinosaur, currently Jackie Kennedy special exh, wonderful Native American artifacts, check site for more
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1400 South Lake Shore Drive
312-922-0410
www.fieldmuseum.org
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to the site
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Shedd Acquarium
Museum Campus
Lakefront south of loop
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9 to 5 winter weekdays
to 6 weekends
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all access pass $23/ $16 sr. gets you into
shark and reef and dolphins
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Dolphin show (check website for hours), fabulous coral reef exhibit with walk through shart tank, regular exhibits lackluster
so get all access.
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www.sheddacq.org
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To go to website of Shedd Acquarium click here
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Adler Planetarium
Museum Campus
Lakefront s of Loop
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9:30 to 4:30 M-F; open 9 S and S
check site for shows as that is the reason
to visit
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w 2 shows $18/ $17 sr; with one show $13/ $12
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some general exhibits but the shows are the draw
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www.adlerplanterium.org
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to the site
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Museum of Science and Industry
located in Hyde Park, home to the U. of Chicago, south of downtown but accessible via public transportation
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9:30 to 4 M to Sat; 11 to 4 sundays
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$9.75 plus tax/ $7.50 srs over 62
surcharge for some special exh
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A submarine, a coal mine, an amazing model train exhibit, and a fairytale dollhouse plus all the science you can imagine,
huge museum but pace yourselves and combine with tour of rest of Hyde Park for a full day
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www.msichicago.org
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click here for site
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Chicago Historical Society
in Lincoln Park just north of downtown
easy access by bus
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M to Sat 9:30 to 4:30, Sun 12 to 5
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A small jewel of a museum with lots of chicago history
some special exhs. Great to combine with trip to zoo and Lincoln Park.
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www.chicagohs.org
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to the site
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The Art Insitute
111 S. Michigan Ave
Lakefront right in Loop
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M to F 10:30 to 4:30, S and S
10 to 5
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Tuesdays free
others $12/ $7 sr.
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Absolutely world class, surcharge for some spec exh, major Impressionist collection, free gallery talks
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312-443-3600 (recorded info) web site is www.artic.edu/aic
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The Great Outdoors: Chicago's lakefront is a model of early urban
planning and boasts 30 miles of beach, park, bike and jogging paths fronting Lake Michigan. Grant Park is the major downtown park and now boasts the magnificent Millenium Park where summer
brings free classical concerts by the Grant Park orchestra and jazz, blues, gospel and Latin music fests in the old bandshell.
Visit the historic Buckingham Fountain in the warm weather. The wonderful Cloudgate
Sculpture is now back under wraps for final work until next summer but Millenium Park is worth a walk through anyway.
You can stroll, jog, or bike for miles without car traffic. Follow the lakefront path north to lovely Lincoln
Park, home to wonderful Gardens, the Chicago Historical Society, Lincoln Park zoo--free
and open every day, small but lovely with new great ape house--the Conservatory (free) and the Peggy Notebart museum, a small
nature museum. Walk along the boat harbors, around the lagoons, rent a paddle boat in the zoo lagoon, and enjoy wonderful
views.
The Skyline and Architecture Galore: Chicago is home of
the modern skyscaper, Frank Lloyd Wright, lots of outdoor sculptures, etc. The Chicago Architectural
Foundation is worth a brief visit just to see their gift shop and it offers many wonderful walking, boat, bus
tours. All their volunteer docents have been thoroughly trained and are extremely knowledgeable. Check out their
web site.
Another FREE tour guide program is Chicago Greeters which provides free guides for a
couple hour tour; needs advance planning and is limited to groups of six so be sure to let exhange director know.
These tours can be of various neighborhoods or arranged around special interest themes, such as Jewish, Latin Chicago, legal
Chicago, gardens. Etc. Or you can take your chances on the Instant Greeter program
that allows drop in visitors to join a small group for a tour of the LOOP. The website is www.chicagogreeter.com, via e mail at chgogreeter@cityofchicago.org or call 1-877-Chicago. The regular program requires seven business day advance booking. Or join an Instant
Greeters on the spot group on a first come, first serve basis at the Cultural Center on the Randolph Street side.
In addition Friendship Force of Chicago often arranges their own
walking and public transportation tours as part of its all group or small group day hosting options. Whether it is the
history of the modern skyscraper, Art Deco buildings or our wonderful collection of outdoor scuptures, the downtown area comes
alive when a knowledgeable escort provides insight.
Let us know your ambassadors interests in planning the exchange to take full advantage of
all these opportunities!
Anchors Aweigh: Most
of the boat tours on the lake and along the river provide narration and vary in prices. The river and lake combo usually
leave from the River and more lake tour options leave from Navy Pier. If the weather is at all favorable this is a must
see attraction. Be sure to have a light jacket even in warm weather, and sun protection if you want to enjoy the open
decks.
FF of Chicago often does a combined lake/ river tour as our group outing
for weeklong exchanges, but you can easily arrange this on your own without advance tickets for most of the boats.
On a Clear Day You Can See (Almost) Forever: The two major
observation decks are on top of the Sears Tower and the John
Hancock Tower. Check out their web sites for hours and admissions. If you have a clear day and want to
see the whole city and four states, check one of them out. At a clear night, the Hancock provides a spectacular view
of the city lights. If you want to just catch a drink, you can go to the bar at the top and enjoy the view from there
but the observation deck allows you to move around. If you are in the bar, females should definitely visit the Ladies
Room as it has a great view to the South! Sorry men. No such luck for you. The Hancock Observatory is open
daily from 9 am to 11 pm. You can often get 2 for one admission coupons at the Cultural Center.
Our other major zoo, Brookfield is in the suburbs. Will add a link to its website.
We have two lovely outdoor suburban sites, the northern Botantical Gardens and the Morton Arboretum that are favorite destinations
while in the burbs. Require cars to get to.
For John Hancock Observation Tower
For website of Chicago Architectural Foundation and tours
The top tourist destination in Chicago is Navy Pier, a restaurant and amusement site on the
Lakefront, where you can rent bikes, take a variety of boat tours, visit the Children's Museum, esp with
kids, people watch and catch fab views of the skyline. Great when the weather is nice but kind of drag
if not nice as the big draw is to be outside. Lots of souvenirs and t shirts. Home to the Chicago
Shakespeare Theatre. Many restaurants and a big cheap eats food court. Parking is very expensive, but you
can get there with buses or seasonally via free trolleys.
Music and more music.
Chicago is home to a world class symphony the Chicago Symphony Orchestra where declning attendance
means individual seats are sometime available. For schedule and more info check the web site. See also the Lyric Opera's web site to see what might be available there. Chicago's
second orchestra, the Grant Park Orchestra, plays free concerts all summer in the park. Many
classical concerts for free in the Chicago Cultural Center. Check that site. If jazz is your passion, there are
many venues, of which one of the best is the Jazz Showcase with national acts, smoke free.
Another FF favorite is the Hothouse, which has lots of jazz and world music; it has a nonsmoking
section. Many other jazz venues in club atmosphere; check local listings Singin' the blues? Several blues'
clubs, one of the most popular is Buddy Guys in the s. loop--loud, crowded, often SRO but lots
of fun. The Gospel Brunch at the House of Blues offers 2 shows on Sunday am with wonderful
music and a southern comfort buffet. See the websites below (being added) to get more information about these music
options. The gospel brunch often sells out as does Jazz Showcase so plan ahead. One of Chicago's jewels is the
Old Town School of Folk Music now in a northern section of the city
but with wonderful smoke free programs, world music and lots of American genuine folk music. Covers vary and usually
a minimum drink order. Some venues very smoky.
Theater: Chicago has many, many theaters from the beautifully renovated downtown legit
theaters that book touring shows to major regional rep houses (Goodman, Steppenwolf, Lookingglass, Chicago Shakespeare) to
dozens upon dozens of small storefront theaters. For those with good English skills and a strong interest in theater,
our club might be able to help you explore some of these options. Prices vary from about $90 for touring shows to $15
for some store fronts.
If you have a particularly strong interest in music or theater, let us know. Because most of these activities are
in the evening and expensive, we would have to make special arrangements to help you take advantage of them as most home hosts
are not prepared to take you to such events.
For link to Chicago Shakespear Theater web site click here
The Neighborhoods: Chicago is a city of neighborhoods, each with its own flavor, often still
showing its ethnic roots. Chinatown and Greektown are popular for restaurants as are Little Italy (although you can't
walk a block in Chicago without coming across an Italian restaurant). Andersenville and Lincoln Square to the north
are Swedish and German (although the yuppies are taking over), Pilsen and Little Village to the south are home to Chicago's
burgeoning Hispanic population. Bucktown to the near west is full of trendy boutiques and restaurants and Lincoln Park
is a neighborhood of lovely homes, shops, restaurants and a great place to stroll. Many of these are accessible by public
transportation and we sometimes do day hosting explorations with a lunch stop along the way,
For more information about some of these attractions visit their individual web sites many of which are noted here or
have exchange directors enquire about these opportuntiies.
for the website of Lincoln Park Zoo click here
Grant Park and Buckingham Fountain
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