5 Things to See and Do While Attending the ISSA Show in Chicago

While there will be much to see and do at ISSA Show North America 2022, attending the event will also the perfect opportunity to sightsee around the city of Chicago. With fall temperatures favorable for getting —as Midwesterners like to say—“out and about,” you’ll want to reserve some time to explore Chi-town.

Here are five things to see and do while you’re in town:

1. Eat at RPM Italian, RPM Steak, or RPM Seafood

If you plan on listening to Bill Rancic, the morning Spotlight Speaker on Tuesday, October 11, you might find yourself curious about his Chicago business ventures. Being in town, you now have an excuse to check them out for yourself. Along with his wife Giuliana (best known as the co-anchor of E! News), Rancic, the first winner of the NBC TV show The Apprentice, operates three restaurants in the city (which is also his hometown): RPM Italian (52 W. Illinois St.), RPM Steak (66 W. Kinzie St.), and RPM Seafood (317 N. Clark St). All three have garnered at least 4.5 star ratings on Google. Choose one and see firsthand how Rancic has applied his entrepreneurial expertise to his food businesses.

2. Tour Chicago Architecture

Chicago has some of the most breathtaking and famous buildings in the entire world. It’s also home to buildings designed by some of the world’s greatest architects.

There are three means of touring Chicago’s architecture—by bus or boat, or on foot—and all can be arranged through the Chicago Architecture Center. In fact, you have your pick of more than 85 walking, bus, and boat tours, which can be booked at the center (111 E. Wacker Dr.) or online. The Chicago Architecture Center building itself is a prime example of iconic Chicago architecture.

3. Experience the Chicago Ghost Tour

As Halloween will be right around the corner, celebrate with a visit to the city’s most spooky sites. This “name-your-own-price” walking tour begins as the sun goes down and takes you through downtown’s creepiest spots, including the Congress Hotel, known as the most haunted hotel in Chicago. Learn more by clicking here.

4. Visit the Museum of Science and Industry

Not too far from the ISSA Show’s host venue, McCormick Place, is Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry (5700 S. DuSable Lake Shore Dr.). The building that houses the museum is the former Palace of Fine Arts from the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition. Full of fun and interactive displays, the museum features a full-size replica coal mine, a 3,500-square-foot model railroad, the command module of Apollo 8, and a German submarine that was captured during World War II.

5. Get a bird’s-eye view of Chicago

The observatory deck on the 94th floor of the former John Hancock Center (875 N. Michigan Ave.), “360 Chicago,” has one of the best views of the Chicago skyline and Lake Michigan, while giving you the opportunity to view October’s fall colors from above. You can also experience the “TILT,” a series of floor-to-ceiling windows that slowly tilt 30 degrees away from the building.

You can get an even more thrilling view—straight down—by visiting Willis Tower Skydeck (233 S. Wacker Dr.), which features “The Ledge,” a fully glass-paneled box with vertical views to the ground 103 floors below.

What to Wear for the Weather

While walking around downtown, you’ll want to be dressed appropriately for Chicago’s fall temperatures. October weather can be as warm as 80 degrees Fahrenheit and as cool as the upper 30s. It’s also not unusual for the city to get its first snowfall during this month, but when that typically happens, the snow is barely measurable and melts quickly.

Your best bet is to pack layers for the trip. Don’t bring a heavy winter coat—that would be overkill for October. But do bring a few sweaters and/or sweatshirts, and a light jacket to wear over them.

You are going to the ISSA Show—right? If you still need to register, click here. Click here to take a look at who’ll be joining you. Click here to learn more about the educational opportunities available at the show.