Chicago is a great city for tourists, but being a tourist is not that great. Tourists get lost easily, get taken for all they're worth and often leave not knowing what the place they've visited really has to offer.
So quit attempting that Chicago accent, put away that ridiculous fanny pack and ditch your credit cards, because we're checking out Chicago like bonafid—albeit thrifty—natives.
Although Navy Pier and the city's various museums are tourist hotspots, they are nonetheless genuine components of Chicago's culture and shouldn't be avoided. However, this does not mean you need to pay full price. Take advantage of the free days that many museums offer by simply checking out their websites before you visit—or purchase a CityPass on-site.
With a CityPass you will only pay $49.50 (a total savings of $40.50) on admission to the Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, Adler Planetarium, Museum of Science and Industry and Hancock Observatory together. For a quirkier museum, try a stop by the Museum of Holography. Admission is $4 and the museum features four galleries of 150 holograms, some as large as three-by-four feet.
Navy Pier, though not as quirky, can provide you with some nice vantage points with which to view Chicago.
""The skyline is amazing. You don't realize how beautiful Chicago is until you can look back from the pier and see everything,"" said Chicago native and UW-Madison sophomore Alex Robles.
If you want a closer look at the downtown Loop's fine architecture, you had better take advantage of the Loop Train Tours, which begin May 6 and end Sept. 30. Tickets are free and available at the Chicago Office of Tourism Visitor Information Center in the Chicago Cultural Center.
Another way to see Chicago without having to be on a tour is to hop on a river taxi. These taxis are relatively cheap, ranging from $5 to $15, and are a great way to experience the hustle and bustle on the Chicago River while also avoiding delays from construction.
After meandering down the river, you may want to mosey over to some of Chicago's historical neighborhoods to spend some time looking at how the rich once lived.
As the city's website puts says, ""The Seven Houses on Lakeshore Drive District ... are rare survivors of what Lakeshore Drive looked like when it developed as a prestigious residential street in the late-19th century.""
After that, allow time to experience the drink of nobility: tea. Take your tea at the Drake Hotel where the likes of the princess of Wales, princess Diana, Hillary Clinton, Queen Elizabeth and the empress of Japan have been served.
If you're looking for other ways to experience the highlife frugally, stop by Michigan Avenue and make sure to window shop at some of the Magnificent Mile's high-end establishments, such as Hermes or Gucci.
If you want to see one of Chicago's popular theater productions such as ""Wicked,"" but don't want to shell out a lot of cash for tickets, try Hot Tix. This service, operated by the League of Chicago Theaters, sells advance and same-day tickets at half-price for more than 170 city and suburban theaters.
Also, if you've ever wanted to visit famous sites around the world but couldn't afford it or didn't have time, the Tribune Tower may offer a solution. The base of the Tribune Tower is studded with more than 120 stones from famous structures and sites around the globe. Most notably, it has stones from the Great Pyramids, Taj Mahal and Berlin Wall. A moon rock on loan from NASA is also currently on display.
Whatever you choose to do, take time and plan carefully.
""Even after living in Chicago for 19 years I can still find new things to do,"" Robles said. ""Chicago is always changing like that.""
That is truly the appeal of Chicago: Its rare combination of history, culture and eccentricity—a combination that when fully appreciated can make any visitor truly feel like a native.
