Afternoon: HOTEL CHECK-IN: Available at 3:00 pm Program Registration: After you have your room assignment, come over to the Road Scholar desk in the room adjacent to the lobby to pick up your arrival packet containing your name tag, the up-to-date schedule and to confirm the time of dinner and the orientation session.

Please be aware that program activities and scheduled times could change due to local circumstances. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding.

Dinner: We will dine out at a popular eatery on the Gold Coast.

Evening: ORIENTATION & WELCOME: Following dinner we'll review the schedule and any changes; discuss responsibilities, safety guidelines, emergency procedures; and answer any questions you may have. You'll also have an opportunity to meet the program staff and your fellow participants during a get-acquainted session.

This City Highlights Weekend in Chicago is a new Road Scholar "Flex" program. It is different from other programs with more opportunities for you to dine out and explore on your own. Several meals have been excluded from the program cost and you will have substantial free time for personal independent exploration. We hope you enjoy this new "Flex" program and the highlights of what's on in Chicago this weekend.

Lodging: Club Quarters

Meals Included: Dinner

Chicago River Architecture Study Cruise, Free Afternoon & Evening for Personal Independent Exploration

Breakfast: Enjoy a delicious continental breakfast in the hotel.

Morning: FIELD TRIP: This morning we will board a Chicago River Cruise boat to experience and learn about the rich and diverse culture of architecture in Chicago, making it the beautiful and unique city that it is today.

Lunch: Begin your free afternoon and evening with lunch on your own. Choose from hundreds of options in the city. Whether you prefer a Chicago-style hot dog, or a leisurely lunch in one of the cafes along the Chicago River, the choice is yours. You might want to assemble a picnic and eat in Millenium Park among the sculptures and greenery along Michigan Avenue. You are also welcome to have a bite (at your cost) with the Group Leader.

Afternoon: FREE AFTERNOON: There's so much to see and do in this city that it will make your head spin, but we'll have recommendations for you. You might want to visit Navy Pier, one of the most popular places for visitors to the city, and take in the Stained Glass Museum on the pier. It is a quick bus ride down Michigan Avenue to visit the Shedd Aquarium, or the Adler Planetarium on the museum campus. If Frank Lloyd Wright is your thing, you might want to take a train or cab out to Oak Park to visit the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio. If you are a science buff, the Museum of Science and Industry is a 25 minute train ride away from the hotel. You are also welcome to join the Group Leader on an impromptu walk in one of the neighborhoods if you like.

Dinner: Dinner is on your own to enjoy your preferences among Chicago's wonderful restaurants. What will it be: Greek, Italian, Thai, Chinese, steaks, or seafood? Suggestions will be provided. You may also join the Group Leader (at your cost who will dine downtown.

Evening: FREE EVENING: The hotel is conveniently located so you have many options for an enjoyable evening on the town. Check out local listing (links provided in preparatory materials sent following enrollment) for information on a variety of activities and events. If music is your thing, you might want to check out a jazz or blues club. If baseball is your passion, make arrangements to hop a train for Cellular Field and take in the 8:00pm White Sox game. Buckingham Fountain offers spectacular views of the city and a wonderful light show after dusk. If you love comedy, make a reservation for the renown Second City in the heart of Old Town. If you like, you are welcome to accompany the Group Leader (at your cost) for an informal activity.

Lodging: Club Quarters

Meals Included: Breakfast

Art Institute of Chicago, Michael Feinstein & Chicago Jazz Orchestra Performance

Breakfast: Enjoy a delicious continental breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: PRESENTATION: Learn about the flamboyant political history of the City of Chicago and how it came to be the world class city it is today.

Take the rest of the morning to explore more of the city on your own, from the Magnificent Mile to the Museum of Contemporary Art, Lincoln Park Zoo and Gardens, the observation deck and glass ledge of the Sears Tower, and so much more. You may choose to join the Group Leader on an impromptu walk.

Lunch: Lunch is on your own to choose the cuisine of your choice from among the many casual Chicago cafes or restaurants. You're also welcome to accompany the Group Leader (at your cost).

Afternoon: FIELD TRIP: The Art Institute of Chicago. We will take a bus down Michigan Avenue from the hotel to the world renowned Art Institute of Chicago for an expert-led exploration of the museum with time to visit the galleries that are of particular interest to you. There is never enough time at the Art Institute, and those who so wish may go earlier in the morning to explore on their own, meeting the group at 1:30 pm at the Michigan Avenue entrance.

Those who wish to do so may join one of our Group Leaders for a drink (at your cost) at the historic Palmer House Hotel, on the way to dinner. Those who wish to stay longer at the Art Institute will join our second Group Leader for a leisurely stroll to the restaurant.

Dinner: Dinner this evening is at a popular Chicago restaurant, conveniently located in close proximity to the Art Institute and the Auditorium Theatre.

Evening: PERFORMANCE: Michael Feinstein with Jeff Lindberg's Chicago Jazz Orchestra. Legendary American singer, pianist, and music revivalist Michael Feinstein unites with Jeff Lindberg's Chicago Jazz Orchestra to showcase the most beloved tunes from the American Songbook for one performance only.

The Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University is a designated National Historic Landmark. It is the venue of choice for major dance companies, Broadway musicals, popular music concerts, a jazz music series, and numerous community events.

Lodging: Club Quarters

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

Breakfast: Enjoy a delicious continental breakfast at the hotel.

Morning: FIELD TRIP: This morning we will board a bus for a short ride to the Field Museum for an expert-led exploration with time to look about on your own before returning to the hotel.

Primarily an outgrowth of the World's Columbian Exposition held in Chicago in 1893, the Field Museum today it is part of a lakefront Museum Campus that includes the John G. Shedd Aquarium and the Adler Planetarium. These three institutions are regarded as among the finest of their kind in the world and together attract more visits annually than any comparable site in Chicago.

PROGRAM CONCLUDES: The program concludes with our return to the hotel at approximately noon.

We trust you have enjoyed this new City Highlights Weekend "Flex" program and will join us for other rewarding Road Scholar learning adventures in the future. Best wishes for all your journeys!

Meals Included: Breakfast