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How to transform a mystery trip into a voyage of discovery

At this time of year, the season of so many family gatherings, you might find yourself taking an unplanned vacation to a place about which you know next to nothing.

That’s what happened to one young woman whose parents asked her to represent the family at a cousin’s wedding in Chicago. They offered to pick up the tab for airfare and hotel if she would pack her party clothes and get to the church on time. As an extra bonus, they suggested that she stay on a few extra days and see the city – on them!

Exploring the Second City from a computer
The problem: although she easily found Chicago on the map, she didn’t have a clue what she would do with herself there after shaking the wedding confetti out of her hair. How would she get the most from her unplanned vacation?

So she launched into some basic research and was intrigued by the city’s spectacular setting (on a lake as big as a sea, with a river that winds among world-famous architecture) a broad array of entertainment choices and a diversity of neighborhoods.

To make sure she didn’t waste time in aimless wandering or stand in line at too many box offices, she decided to set up everything before leaving home – the 21^st century way. So, she turned to the American Express Web site’s section on planning a trip.

Hard to choose

From the wealth of possibilities, she could select these must-sees:

• See the city by boat. Choices range from a 30-minute cruise of the Chicago River covering 53 notable buildings, to a Lake Michigan sail on a 148-foot vessel modeled on old-time commercial ships. Water taxis also carry visitors to the city’s great sights, the Sears Tower, Navy Pier and Shedd Aquarium.

• Visit The Art Institute of Chicago’s famous Thorne Rooms, 68 miniature settings of interior décor produced during the 30s and 40s at 111 South Michigan Avenue.

• Next, hear some music. Dozens of offerings are listed by genre, venue and neighborhood: including jazz (73 possibilities), blues (102), classic rock (6) and many ethnic offerings including Irish and Celtic (4).

• Sample theater offerings from the Second City comedy troupe to Shakespeare’s “King Lear.”

Best of all, she found she could order many of the tickets online, and they would be waiting for her when she arrived.

Maybe, she thought, she could extend her visit a little longer.

April 12, 2001

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