Discover Chicago's favorite son's favorite haunts in 3 days.

From any point in downtown Chicago, go east toward the lakefront and turn right to head south along  Lake Shore Drive toward Hyde Park — a 10-minute drive from the heart of the city and the neighborhood where President Barack Obama's roots are deepest.

Make your first stop at Valois Restaurant (1518 E. 53rd; 773.667.0647), an Obama favorite which serves hash, French toast and other hearty American breakfast fare until 4 PM.

While security will prevent you from getting close to the Obamas' 1910 Georgian revival home, you can get a flavor of the Hyde Park-Kenwood (along the lakefront roughly between 47th and 57th streets) area where it is located — an extremely diverse community studded with parks and influenced from its earliest days by the presence of a distinguished world-class university and the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition.

One of Chicago's extraordinary museums — the Museum of Science and Industry at 57th Street and Lake Shore Drive (773.684.1414) — is housed in the only remaining building from the Columbian Exposition. The largest science museum in the western hemisphere, Museum of Science and Industry is home to a staggering number of fascinating exhibits, including the U-505 submarine.

Head next to the University of Chicago (5801 S. Ellis; 773.702.1234), where President Obama taught as a professor in the Law School from 1992 until 2004. You'll find much to explore on this campus — home to 81 Nobel Prize recipients over the years — including the blend of buildings in the English Gothic style combined with modern designs by renowned architects Eero Saarinen and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe.

Make 57th Street Books your next stop. This store — which calls itself "first stop for serious readers" — carries an extensive selection of fiction and non-fiction titles and is an Obama family favorite.

Ready for lunch? Grab a delicious pie (carryout or delivery only) at presidential favorite Italian Fiesta Pizzeria (1400 E. 47th; 773.684.2222).

Before you head back toward downtown, go south on Lake Shore Drive to see the South Shore Cultural Center (7059 South Shore Drive; 773.256.0149) site of the Obamas' wedding reception. Parrot Cage Restaurant (773.602.5333) in this landmark gem serves up a seasonal menu for dinner and a superb lake view.

A bit further north, you'll see Promontory Point (5491 S. Lake Shore Drive; 773.742.4847) where the family enjoys lakefront strolls, and the basketball courts at Hayes Drive where the President and his brother-in-law Craig Robinson like to shoot hoops.

Back downtown, you may want to make a brief detour west so the sports fans in your group can stop at United Center (1801 W. Madison; 312.455.4500) — home arena for the Chicago Bulls and Chicago Blackhawks — and snap a photo with the statue of Chicago Bulls great Michael Jordan.

For dinner, head north to Lincoln Park and R.J. Grunts (2056 N. Lincoln Park West; 773.929.5363) — where the Obamas go for a casual bite. While some people call R.J. Grunts' burgers the best in town, the huge 50-ingredient salad bar also has many fans. And don't miss the giant malts and milkshakes.

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