Anyone familiar with Chicago?

[heifetz17]

In a couple weeks I’ll be taking a quick trip into Chicago to see Millennium park and Cloud Gate. If I travel I90 to I290 will I run into any trouble? It’ll be my first time and I’m not sure what parts of town are best to avoid.

[c1pher]

South part of Chicago is problematic. Just make sure you don't stop or break down.

[ezaircon4jc]

[allinon72]

You're probably OK in those more public areas, but Chicago is getting to the point where it's not worth it to stop anywhere in the city besides maybe the northern suburban areas. It's not overly dramatic to say the city is downright dangerous and if you get yourself in a situation there, good luck, you're on your own.

[wtwo3]

I live in the western suburbs of Chicago. When it comes to the city, stay in the major touristy areas and you'll be totally fine. Millennium park/Michigan Ave/Navy Pier are all relatively safe spots. It's when you get to the South side of Chicago that things start to really get hairy.

[floridaorange]

We had an awesome time in Chicago last Nov, zero safety concerns, super friendly atmosphere - visited Wrigley Field, Bulls Game, architecture tour, did a lot of walking. Stayed in Logan Square. Would love to go back!

[chassis]

Originally Posted by heifetz17

In a couple weeks I’ll be taking a quick trip into Chicago to see Millennium park and Cloud Gate. If I travel I90 to I290 will I run into any trouble? It’ll be my first time and I’m not sure what parts of town are best to avoid.

What kind of trouble? Traffic? Use Waze, google maps, Apple maps, etc.

No issues traveling to Chicago. I have traveled there countless times on varying days of the week, weekends, day and night.

What do you have in mind?

[ryan stewart]

Originally Posted by floridaorange

We had an awesome time in Chicago last Nov, zero safety concerns, super friendly atmosphere - visited Wrigley Field, Bulls Game, architecture tour, did a lot of walking. Stayed in Logan Heights. Would love to go back!

Same, been many times using public transit and the worst thing to happen was someone hitting us up for whores coming back late from the bar.

[FastTyger]

Just don’t flash gang signs or commit road rage, and you want have problems. Also, don’t walk around alone drunk at 3 am with AirPods and a nose stuck in an iPhone. And if there’s a weather advisory and they tell you to stay away from the lakeshore, stay away from the lakeshore.

[Autoregression]

Originally Posted by heifetz17

In a couple weeks I’ll be taking a quick trip into Chicago to see Millennium park and Cloud Gate. If I travel I90 to I290 will I run into any trouble? It’ll be my first time and I’m not sure what parts of town are best to avoid.

You'll have a great time! I lived there for ~15 years and loved it.

Just use Waze or Google Maps or similar for navigation, traffic can be unpredictable (or predictably bad) based on timing.

As others mentioned, Southside Chicago gets in the news a lot - but you shouldn't be close to that. Millennium Park may be the safest and most touristy part of the city. If you have the opportunity, head up to Navy Pier, the Magnificent Mile, and Lincoln Park!

[heifetz17]

Thanks everyone! My main concern was safety. I didn’t want to inadvertently travel through a bad part of town to get to my destination.

I’m not so much worried about traffic. I’m not sure how it compares to other major cities, but I frequent Denver and Seattle and I lived in San Francisco for a number of years, so I’m no stranger to big city traffic. Although I believe Chicago is bigger than those other three!

[chassis]

All major cities including Denver, Seattle, SF and Chicago have areas to avoid. Treat Chicago like any other major city.

[BMWILUVU]

No the whole of Chicago is especially dangerous its no longer just the South side it includes all areas including the magnificent mile. Car jackings are a popular past-time for the indigenous. I have been telling my friend to get out of there for the longest time because everytime we talk, he describes one horrific crime after another going on in all parts at all times. He lives in a wealthy area but drive-by shootings are just down the block.

[vreihen16]

Originally Posted by chassis

All major cities including Denver, Seattle, SF and Chicago have areas to avoid. Treat Chicago like any other major city.

...and use the beltways to avoid them at all cost!!!!!

[ryan stewart]

Originally Posted by heifetz17

Thanks everyone! My main concern was safety. I didn’t want to inadvertently travel through a bad part of town to get to my destination.

I’m not so much worried about traffic. I’m not sure how it compares to other major cities, but I frequent Denver and Seattle and I lived in San Francisco for a number of years, so I’m no stranger to big city traffic. Although I believe Chicago is bigger than those other three!

Just use GPS. You aren't going to be going to the parts you hear about on the news. Even if you ride the trains you're just going to be going over them.

Ive staggered around Chinatown, North Halstead and everything in between with nothing more than someone thinking we were sailors interested in paying for pussy. You gotta go all the way south of Washington Park and unless you're walking to the water from Midway Airport you aren't going to, there isn't shit down there.

Chicago is just fodder for faux news because the numbers seem scary to rurals. Its homicide rate has been consistently lower than my hometown of Wichita, KS. Just seems worse because its out of 9.5 million people.

[floridaorange]

I still can't believe how good the Chicago-Dogs are there. More special that the pizza in my opinion .

[Housekeeping]

I’m familiar with Chicago from a few years back, was an awesome city, loved it, top five in the country. No more, no thank you, the dens ruined it too much. Scary place now

[bosstones]

Originally Posted by wtwo3

I live in the western suburbs of Chicago. When it comes to the city, stay in the major touristy areas and you'll be totally fine. Millennium park/Michigan Ave/Navy Pier are all relatively safe spots. It's when you get to the South side of Chicago that things start to really get hairy.

So no self guided tour down Halsted?

OP, the South and West sides....NOGO. The places you mentioned should be fine. Yeah, there has been aome hooliganism around Michigan Ave at times but just be aware of your surroundings. It's wide open there ao not too hard to see around you.

If you take 290 straight in, it'll take you straight to Michigan Ave and you can park at Millenium Park (if you like easy). There are also plenty of other self parking garages, too. If you take 90 in, exit off at Ohio and go straight up from there.

[ryan stewart]

Originally Posted by floridaorange

I still can't believe how good the Chicago-Dogs are there. More special that the pizza in my opinion .

Or the italian beef sammiches

I do like chicago style pizza when Im in the mood for it, but since its really a casserole and not a pizza you got be in the right mindset.

[ErikJ1]

If I can't sling my AR pistol under my windbreaker...then we don't travel to those places..

[Dylanm240]

Lived here since 2010. City feels exactly the same as it ever has. Just don't go to a few neighborhoods in South and West side after dark and you'll be fine. FYI, these aren't neighborhoods you would randomly end up in, you'd have to try to find your way there.

The fear mongering from people from Indiana is hilarious. The murder/crime rate is worse in Indianapolis.

https://fox59.com/news/indycrime/ind...than-chicagos/