I took my daughter to a game at Fenway 3 years ago when that was threatened with being torn down and we saw the ante-penultimate game at Yankee stadium last season. Now I’m taking her to a game at Wrigley field in September, just to experience the second oldest ballpark in baseball.
Where’s the best section to sit in to get the feel of that old place?
If we buy tickets in the bleachers, for instance, can we still walk around and look at the field from other sections?
As long as we’re there, we’ll go see the Sox play the Sox as well. What else is must-see in 4 days in Chicago?
BruceT
Replies
Wrigley Field is one of the most magical places on the earth. As you can probably tell, I'm a Cubs fan.
I've been there, but to my chagrin it's been a long time. The bleachers are typically more of a rowdy section, which may be undesirable if your daughter is present. I couldn't tell you too much about the other sections.
There are many great things to do in Chicagoland, but I would definitely recommend viewing a sunset from the Sears Tower. Seeing the hundreds of square miles that are visible from the observation decks is an incredible sight. Navy Pier, Wright's houses in Oak Park, and other places are good choices too.
Jon Blakemore
RappahannockINC.com Fredericksburg, VA
Thanks for the FLW suggestion. Just got back last week. We both enjoyed seeing his house and studio.BruceT
It's been too long for me to be able to give advice, but Wrigley is a great place to watch the Cubs.
Just be aware of weather forecasts. It is amazing how cool it can get late in an afternoon game if your seats end up in the shade. I assume night games can get cool too. Probably not much of a concern early September, but later in the month.
Also, get your tickets as soon as possible. If the Cubs are anywhere near in it come September, I'm guessing the tickets will be more expensive.
Have a great time!!
Art Institute of Chicago, Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, and Museum of Science and Technology.
Thanks for the museum suggestions. Just got back last week. We both enjoyed visiting Grant Wood, et al and the pirates at the Field.
BruceT
I sat in the bleachers for one game only. The Cubs were losing and man, it was a lousy place to watch ball that day. Continuous profanity, a couple of food/drink fights, we got et. A couple of dullards that just kept ranting and raving. I'd never sit in the bleachers again, but I'm not a bleacher person to begin with. I prefer to hear the game up close and personal. We did walk around a lot that day, we scooped open seats up closer for a few innings. Mostly to get my kids out of the bleachers. The ushers were cool with that. If your kids are young the bleacher crowd can detract from the enjoyment you get from watching a game with your kids. If your kids are teens, the crowd can be a form of entertainment, but it can still detract from the game.
The other days we sat on the first base side, which is my favorite. Especially when you have a lefty pitcher and righty batters. And at Wrigley it gives you that nice panoramic view of the field to include the weed-covered outfield walls.
From what I remember...
- Sunshine? For day games the 3rd base side was sunnier. For a hot summer day the 1st base side is shadier and a bit more comfortable.
-Rain? If rain bothers you, there are covered seats in the 200 and 400 sections.
-Obstructed views? Problem is that something has to hold up that covering that protects you from the rain, so there are poles that obstruct sight lines, and if you're sitting far back undercover, you'll lose sight lines with fly balls too. If you get in the 200 sections, the poles are a few rows back. Maybe 5 or so. All the 400 section seats are unobstructed. The 500 seats have poles right up front in the first couple of rows.
-Sore neck? If you get too far out by the foul poles, your seat faces the center fielder and you have to look over your shoulder to see the action in the infield.
A personal preference again, but I don't like sitting behind home plate down near the field.
I like the first base side because it has a full view of the right-handed batters and it gets shade early. The lower level is best, but the upper levels aren' t bad. The bleachers are not a good place for a family, in my opinion. Too much profanity, too much sun, and the kids get squeezed by the seating.
Edited 5/23/2009 11:04 am ET by Mongo
Thanks for the tips. Sounds like the Wrigley bleachers are way beyond "colorful". I'm 64 and my daughter is 26, so won't be traumatized by a few cuss words, but neither of us wants to put up with real rowdies.Incidently, she changed loyalty from the Angels to the Red Sox when she went back East to college in the Boston area. I took her to Fenway for graduation.When we went to the game at Yankee Stadium I asked her not to wear her Sox cap so as not to attract trouble from any over-zealous Yankee fans. She wore her boyfriend's Pittsburgh cap instead - got no animosity, just pitying looks. :)BruceT
Anywhere inside Wrigley is a great place. Buy tickets early. Sox park or whatever they call it used to be not the best place to be at night
for side attractions Grier pretty much nailed. The recent improvements to the museum area now called the Museum Campus by the city really are improvements (it used to be a real pedestrian nightmare when I lived not too far from there when I was a kid). Sunset from the top of Sears or even the Hancock is seoncdary to to sunset from Adler Planetarium which is right there jutting out in the water at the Shedd Aquarium and will have the sun setting behind the city sky line. If you do the Art Insititute get the headsets.
State Street & Michigan Avenue are good for shopping and depedning on your allegiance going to the old Marchal Field Store (now called Macy's (ugh)) is good jsut to see the old architecture. The Water Tower is an interesting place to see but not a lot to it unless you do your research ahead of time. Museusm of Science and Industry has a genuine coal mine that you ought to get here early for to beat the long line.
Get a Chicago style Hot Dog which will have Vienna Beef and no other brand. (!)
If the weather is good take as long of a walk along the Lake Shore as you want on great paths/walkways. Oak Street beach is a nice place to relax with the Hancock tower just over your shoulder.
Carriage rides in the evening are a nice way to relax.
i'm sure I'll think of more...
Thanks for the suggestions. We missed the Shedd, but took advantage of free admission Wed and Thursday at Field.I read "The Devil in the White City" while I was there, so the Museum of Science and Industry had more interest since I knew it had been the Fine Arts Palace at the 1893 Columbus Exposition and the lagoon was still there as well.
BruceT
The last time I went to a game at Yankee Stadium I went with a die-hard Yankees fan.I wore a Red Sox cap I was once taunted by my section of NYY fans cheering "twenty-six, twenty-six". I good-naturedly countered with a solo chant of "Dave Roberts, Dave Roberts". That settled things down quickly and we sat back and enjoyed the game.
Thanks for the advice.Even last May the place was nearly sold out, so I got seats in the last row of the last section at about the right field foul pole. 6th inning we moved to empty seats in the second section directly behind the plate.BruceT
Don't wait to buy tickets. Wrigley is small and even now there is not a lot of choice for placement or tickets left even in September.
Millenium Park around the Art Institute is also a good spot for sightseeing.
If you have time and like Frank Lloyd Wright, Oak Park has the original house and workshop as well as some buildings.
http://www.wrightplus.org/
Edited 5/23/2009 5:37 pm ET by rvieceli
Thanks, I'd forgotten that Wright started out in Oak Park. I've seen Hollyhock House and Taliesin West, so that sounds like a good idea.BruceT
Thanks for the Millennium Park suggestion. I loved The Bean!BruceT
I can't advise about wriggly seating, but welcome the Windy City.
Did you know the city got that nick-name not because of how windy it is here (it's not, really), but because of the hot air from all the politicians.
I know you're going to enjoy the visit.
~ Ted W ~
Cheap Tools! - MyToolbox.net
See my work at TedsCarpentry.com
Sears Tower is nice, but I actually prefer the Hancock building. It's almost as tall, and is right on the lake, which I think is nice.
The Art Institute and a number of the other places have "free" days, a day of the week when they don't charge, which you might look up for the days you are there.
If you happen to know someone in Chicago who has a library card, you used to be able to check out passes to a lot of different museums and sights for free. I'm not sure if they are still doing that. If not, you can buy a booklet that gets you into a number of different places at a pretty good discount. I forget what they are called, but I'm sure you could find them through google.
Have a great time. Chicago is a blast.
Peace,
Casey
Thanks for the "insider's perspective"I'm getting so many good suggestions, I may have to add a day of two to my stay there.BruceT
Thanks for the tip on free days. We took advantage at the Field Museum both Wednesday and Thursday, but the others either don't do it or times did not work out.BruceT
Glad to hear you had a good time. I'll have to make it over to the Sears tower to try one of those cool bump outs.
Peace,
Caseyhttp://www.streets.org
Thanks All for your suggestions. My daughter and I enjoyed our week in Chicago with 70° weather and no rain.
Sears (now Willis Tower) was a great sight, especially since you can stand in one of the glass boxes that now stick out from the sides of the observation floor.
I posted pictures on Picasa, if anyone is interested. http://picasaweb.google.com/brucet999/Chicago2009#
View Image
BruceT
Near Wrigley Field is "Leona's," a truly nice place offering fabulous 'knife & fork' pizza. Be sure to try it!
Take the North/South and Evanston Els as far north as you can go, and you're a short walk from the Bahai Gardens. Apart from amazing landscaping, the construction of the building, using blindingly white concrete, is amazing. It's an archetectural marvel.
Now I'd have expected you to know great places in Reno, Carson City or the other side of MtRose, but Chicago? Surprise surprise!ThanksBruceT
there's so much to do, hard to fit it all in in 4 days. getting tix to the cubs should be easy, they're 9 games out and don't stand a chance. don't worry going to a sox game at night. lots are well light, and plenty of security. check out The Chicago Historic Society, it's at North Ave & Clark St. you have to have a hotdog, polish sausage, italian beef, and a deep dish pizza. take an architectural river boat tour, it goes up and down the chicago river and out into the lake. let me know what your looking for, i can help hook you up.
Thanks, but this May thread popped back up because I just got back and posted thanks to the folks who made suggestions back then. Sorry for the confusion. Perhaps I should have posted a new thread instead.BruceT