Things to see / do in Chicago/Las Vegas/New York

[Atheist]

I'll be going on a 3-week trip to the US with a friend and my brother this friday.
We will be visiting Chicago, Las Vegas and New York, one week in each city.

Does anyone here have any tips or ideas as to what to do or see in any of these cities?

[EntityX]

I'd recommend visiting the top of the Empire State Building when in New York. I thought that was sort of cool. Maybe visit the Statue of Liberty too. I never did that but it might be interesting also. I heard about a roller coaster in Las Vegas that goes through the top of some building. Not sure which one. Something to consider. Some of the members that have been to Las Vegas regularly could give you advice about Las Vegas. I haven't been there since either '96 or '97.

[SambaNeko]

I'll be visiting Chicago in a couple of weeks, so I'd like to see those suggestions as well. Will be staying near the Chicago River and plan on checking out the "Magnificent Mile," Millennium Park and some of the museums and art centers around there.

I'm not big on gambling, so Las Vegas was mainly about attractions and sight-seeing for me. It was pretty easy to find stuff to do: just walk along the Strip and stuff will find you. I mean that literally: at one point a group of costumed performers ran down the street chanting and dancing and handed us a discount to see their Cirque du Soleil-style show, so we did. We also saw the Blue Man Group, and various free shows in front of hotels (like Treasure Island's pirate and volcano shows, the Bellagio's fountains). If we'd had time (we were only there for a weekend), we would've gone to see Fremont Street.

[Milk]

I would like to see the Vdara death ray in action, although I can't seem to find it in the hotels website amenity section.

[MartinLiss]

Chicago I can understand you asking about, but Vegas and the Big Apple???

[GaryMazzone]

In NYC go see the Intreped Sea and Air museum. The Museum of Natural history is amazing... I spent 2 days in there with my daughter great visit.

[abhijit]

Segway tour in Chicago! Signature room at John Hancock center.

[baja_yu]

Wikitravel articles are a good read

http://wikitravel.org/en/Chicago
http://wikitravel.org/en/Las_Vegas
http://wikitravel.org/en/New_York_(city)
http://wikitravel.org/en/New_York_(city)/Manhattan

[EntityX]

After posting in this thread I started thinking about my visits to the Empire State Building. The first time was when I was 12 with my family and then again in 1995. I was reading the wikipedia article about it. It's rather interesting.

In 1995, the building was lit up in blue, red, green and yellow for the release of Microsoft's Windows 95 operating system, which was launched with a $300 million campaign.

It only took 410 days to complete. It opened for use May 1, 1931. A B-25 bomber crashed into it back in 1945.

Over the years, more than thirty people have committed suicide from the top of the building.[59] The first suicide occurred even before its completion, by a worker who had been laid off. The fence around the observatory terrace was put up in 1947 after five people tried to jump during a three-week span.[60]

On May 1, 1947, 23-year-old Evelyn McHale leapt to her death from the 86th floor observation deck and landed on a United Nations limousine parked at the curb. Photography student Robert Wiles took a photo of McHale's oddly intact corpse a few minutes after her death. The police found a suicide note among possessions she left on the observation deck: "He is much better off without me ... I wouldn’t make a good wife for anybody". The photo ran in the May 12, 1947 edition of LIFE Magazine[61] and is often referred to as "The Most Beautiful Suicide". It was later used by visual artist Andy Warhol in one of his paintings entitled Suicide (Fallen Body).

On December 2, 1979, Elvita Adams jumped from the 86th floor, only to be blown back onto the 85th floor and left with a broken hip.[62][63][64]

Only one suicide has jumped from the upper observatory. On November 3, 1932, Frederick Eckert of Astoria, Queens, ran past a guard in the enclosed 102nd floor gallery and jumped a gate leading to an outdoor catwalk intended for dirigible passengers. Eckert's body landed on the roof of the 86th floor observation promenade

[Shaggy Hiker]

I would like to see the Vdara death ray in action, although I can't seem to find it in the hotels website amenity section.

Yeah, that would be totally cool.

Otherwise, I think you should try to get mugged. That would give you the big city experience.

[Hack]

Boy, a fine bunch of Americans you all are.

Chicago: Wrigley Field
New York: Yankee Stadium
Las Vegas: Please...do you really need to ask about that?

[GaryMazzone]

Old Yankee stadium Yes....New so-so

[Hack]

I actually haven't been to the new one yet but I lived/worked in Hartford CT for 9 years and during those summers I spent lots, and lots, and lots of time at old Yankee Stadium.

[GaryMazzone]

I've been to both... the new is OK but it does not have the same feel (at least to me)... I remeber going to see Mantel, Ford, Maris play at the old stadium.

[Spoo]

Chicago: the CME, and buy some pork belly futures
NYC: The Ed Sullivan Theater ... ie, say hi to Dave Letterman, or the Bloomberg building
Vegas: don't waste your money