Like most big cities, Chicago has pretty much anything that you're looking for: culture (Chicago boasts a world class symphony, ballet, opera), theater (The Producers debuted here, Mama Mia, and The Lion King have enjoyed long runs here), sports (teams from all 3 professional sports leagues), dining (ranging from exquisite cuisine to the neighborhood dive), bars (although I'm not much of a bar-goer), shopping (it is a shopaholics paradise), zoos, a long stretch of beach, and other assorted diversions (Navy Pier, boat cruises, etc). They also have countless festivals and concerts during the summer -- such as the Taste of Chicago in Grant Park, Blues Fest, Jazz Fest and Movies in the Park.

Some of my personal favorites are:

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If you have $90+/person to spend on dinner (which includes dinner plus tip, not drinks), or if your parents are in town and have money to burn, Les Nomades is where you want to go. The menu is prix-fixed, which means that you get a four-course meal (dessert included) for $75/person (at least that was the price when we went about two years ago).

You absolutely need reservations, you won't be able to get a table without them. And the gentlemen must have a jacket on, and women should be attired appropriately. Despite the formality, it was not stuffy. The dining room, while small, was light and airy. The service was impeccable. And the food. . .my oh my, $75 is a lot of money to spend on food, but what they put on my plate was magical. Course after course was sheer gastronomic ecstasy. My husband says that the steak he had there was the best beef he has ever had. They had a mango souffle for dessert that you had to order when you order your first course, and it was divine. The flavors of souffle change but both times I've been there, souffle was on the menu.

This is a restaurant to go to for a special occasion (anniversary, perhaps), if you want a fine dining experience, or if you just want to get out of the crowds and want to pamper your stomach!

The Bongo Room is not for those who are unwilling to experiment with food or try new flavors/ingredients/recipes. It's a bold, eclectic approach to brunch! Pancakes with Heath bar topped with caramel creme anglaise. Chocolate brioche french toast. Black forest cherry pancakes cris-crossed with vanilla and chocolate crème anglaise. The menu changes periodically as well.

This place is notoriously busy and cramped. It's a small space to begin with and no formal waiting area. Expect to wait at leaset 45 minutes during peak times (e.g., Saturday and Sunday mornings). I would recommend going either on a weekday morning or early afternoon. The prices, while high, are not outrageous for the quality of food--it is definitely worth the splurge!

Bongo Room is located in Wicker Park, an up and coming neighborhood northwest of downtown. If you are staying downtown, you will definitely want to take a cab here. There is public transportation that you could navigate (it is close to the blue line and there is a bus line that runs past the restaurant), but that may be more tedious and confusing than it is worth.

Lawry's is located right off of Michigan Avenue in an old mansion. The outside is not as impressive as the inside, which is all oak paneling, massive pieces of art, chandeliers, wall to wall carpeting, the works. While they do not require a dress code, you might feel (and look) out of place in shorts or jeans and a t-shirt. Slacks/skirts for women and golf shirts or even a tie would fit in well for men. The servers are clad in traditional garb. Because of this, you may wonder into which time period you stepped.

The menu is not extensive--their showcase is the prime rib. They do have limited fish and chicken options for the non-meat eaters in your party. I normally choose the California Cut, which is a bit leaner and the portion, while still very large, is less than the regular cut. The spinning bowl salad (which they make in front of you), bread, and potatoes or hush puppies are included in the price and served via a rolling silver cart--all other options (e.g., mashed potatoes, broccoli, etc) are a la carte. The prime rib here is amazing--it is perfectly cooked and seasoned. My stepmother got the salmon entree and said that it was some of the best salmon she has ever had. Lawry's is pricey, but the food and the ambience make the price a little more palatable.

The zoo is easily accessible by public transportation, although you need to take a bus. The L does not run to the zoo. You could take the red or brown line to Fullerton and then get off and take the bus or a cab east (east is towards the lake). Or you could take the Marine bus north (from Michigan Avenue). Parking at the zoo is expensive! Street parking can be fairly full, so if you go that route, be prepared to walk.

As I mentioned above, the seal exhibit is probably my favorite. I also really enjoyed the monkey/gorilla exhibit. The monkeys literally looked like they were just hanging out! They had blurbs set up next to the cage giving a bio on some of the different animals, how old they were, where they came from, which children were theirs, etc. There were pictures there too, so sometimes you could spot a specific one that was featured.

On the south end of the zoo is a children's farm. And next to that is a pond where you can rent paddle boats. They're definitely a workout! The little girl that accompanied us had a lot of fun on that too. These are not free, and I do not remember how much it was, but I don't remember it being that much money. They rent them out by the half hour if I recall correctly.

As could be expected, the food and beverages were very expensive. There is a food court on the north part of the zoo, as well as vendors set up around the zoo for drinks and popcorn. It's typical amusement park/zoo fare--sandwiches, burgers, ice cream, etc. The money you save from admission could go towards food, or you could bring a lunch and eat it on one of the picnic tables that are set up around the food court.

All in all, one of the better things to do in Chicago, with entertainment for both kids and adults.