Seeking Ideas for One Day Car Tour Out of Downtown Chicago

I'd like to throw in yet another vote for the architectural boat tour. Take the one that actually winds through the river and the city, not the one that goes out on the lake.

If you want something 'touristy' and cool with a view, go to the Hancock building and take a trip up to the observatory deck on the 96th floor. You can have drinks and appetizers up there. Another one of my favorite restaurants is the Chicago Firehouse. It is located on Michigan Avenue in the south loop, but not so far from downtown that it is a stretch.

Go to Navy Pier...great places to eat and you can see the City from the water from one of the boat! Another ideais to go to Grant Park and the water fountain!! You have can enjoy the look of the lake with the sailboat in the background at the habor! You also have the Shedd just a short walk from there! If you get downtown on Wednesday night...remember that Navy Pier has fireworks on Wednesdays! Double check with 311 to make sure they did not change the night of the fireworks this year!

I like to take people to Millennium Park. The restaurant inside the Art Institute (the one in the courtyard that's only open in nice weather) is really nice, and you don't have to have an admission to the museum to eat there, and it's right next to the park.

I also like the new restaurant in Millennium Park. Nothing all that unique about the food, but it's very good and not terribly expensive.

Oh, also right there, you might take them to the Walnut Room at Macy's (the old Marshall Field's) if they're into Early Chicago stuff.

Let's see, other Chicago food. Pizzeria Uno has the best chicago-style pizza, I think, but you have to wait a while to be served. Oh - how about Frontera Grill? Rick Bayless's less-expensive restaurant, or Topolobampo right next door. He has a cooking show on PBS. The food at Frontera is good and not expensive. And Chicago has so many Mexican residents and restaurants, so in that sense it's "chicago" just like steaks and barbecue and hot dogs.

I also strongly recommend the architectual boat tour. Even if you are not into architecture, the stories are fascinating! The views of the city from the river are gorgeous and it's a really nice way to spend about 2 hours (I think it was about 2 hours). It's also not that expensive.