chicago hotel less than a mile from metro

[ariel71]

I really think you need to do a LOT more research and be much more realistic. You need to understand the transportation system, what you plan to actually DO at each place and for how long, where those places are, and have some sort of timeline. For example, Lincoln Park is a HUGE area of land. You're just going to wander aimlessly with someone in a wheelchair? Similarly, if you want to see Wrigley field, make sure there's no home game going on - it's a madhouse. Others have mentioned that Metra is a commuter rail, but not all of your places are even readily accessible by El (like Navy Pier), which means you need to know the bus lines, drive, or take cabs.

I usually am happy to give detailed advice, but I don't even know where to start with this one. Your "itinerary" is just too vague.

Three general things I will say - 1) scrap Ikea completely off your list. Between getting there and shopping you'd waste an entire day. It's not like it's a unique Chicago experience. 2) Do one of the Chicago River boat tours. 3) Chicago is not a cheap city. You need to have a realistic budget in mind.

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

ikea is number one on my freinds moms list so its a must do. Not to mention Ikea is how I got my week off (my boss wants new throw pillows, forks and this one particular set of dishes, not avaible online)

When people say a meseum takes them half a day (like the smithsonian) it takes us a lot less. Usally we see the things we want to see and go,we are kinda goal oriented. THe only time we wander is zoos (my fav)

Day one:
Rainforest cafe
Lincon park
sweedish meseum
buckinham fountain that eveing

day two
shedd
feild mesum
alder planatirum
Hard rock for dinner


day 3
science and instury
willis tower
Wrigley feild
navy peir

day 4
Ikea then home with a stop at great lakes


would this work? Any advice on transportation? Any adivce on how to make this all work? Im just worried we will end up missing somthing good. If I find a cheap enough hotel we may be able to do 4 nights and 5 days. Boat tours are out, my tummy dont like water.
TIA!!

 

[Janepod]

I'm always amused by people who think Ikea is a destination rather than an errand.

 

[RitaE]

It kind of reads like an Amazing Race episode of Chicago.

7 hours of travel.
45 minutes of activity
and then race to your next destination!


Is that what you mean by "goal orientated?"

 

[firecracker725]

ikea is number one on my freinds moms list so its a must do. Not to mention Ikea is how I got my week off (my boss wants new throw pillows, forks and this one particular set of dishes, not avaible online)

When people say a meseum takes them half a day (like the smithsonian) it takes us a lot less. Usally we see the things we want to see and go,we are kinda goal oriented. THe only time we wander is zoos (my fav)

Day one:
Rainforest cafe
Lincon park
sweedish meseum
buckinham fountain that eveing

day two
shedd
feild mesum
alder planatirum
Hard rock for dinner


day 3
science and instury
willis tower
Wrigley feild
navy peir

day 4
Ikea then home with a stop at great lakes


would this work? Any advice on transportation? Any adivce on how to make this all work? Im just worried we will end up missing somthing good. If I find a cheap enough hotel we may be able to do 4 nights and 5 days. Boat tours are out, my tummy dont like water.
TIA!!

No way. Unless you simply want to walk by these places and say, "Well, now I've seen it!"

Listen honey, everyone here is telling you that your itinerary is MUCH too ambitious for your timeframe (and frankly, budget). You don't seem to be understanding this. These places are very far apart, and you are traveling with people with mobility issues. You need to decide exactly what is vitally important to you, and that means leaving out some things currently on your list.

 

[4HppyCamprs]

ikea is number one on my freinds moms list so its a must do. Not to mention Ikea is how I got my week off (my boss wants new throw pillows, forks and this one particular set of dishes, not avaible online)

When people say a meseum takes them half a day (like the smithsonian) it takes us a lot less. Usally we see the things we want to see and go,we are kinda goal oriented. THe only time we wander is zoos (my fav)

Day one:
Rainforest cafe
Lincon park
sweedish meseum
buckinham fountain that eveing

day two
shedd
feild mesum
alder planatirum
Hard rock for dinner

day 3
science and instury
willis tower
Wrigley feild
navy peir

day 4
Ikea then home with a stop at great lakes

would this work? Any advice on transportation? Any adivce on how to make this all work? Im just worried we will end up missing somthing good. If I find a cheap enough hotel we may be able to do 4 nights and 5 days. Boat tours are out, my tummy dont like water.
TIA!!

No this is not a doable itinerary. Some of these places are not even in downtown Chicago. Musuems are all day visits. I think Shedd is less for us we spent 4-5 hours. With mobility issues it will take longer to get anywhere.

Museum of science and industry is our favorite and even devoting whole days we have never seen all of it in one visit.

Navy pier is crowded and also worthy of at least a few hours. You could get some Michigan ave shopping in but again it is not that close to Michigan avenue for someone with mobility issues. My mom always wants to take a taxi because she has feet issues.

Ikea is in Schaumburg. We do not even go to Chicago when we go there.

Take a good look at the map because you will be traveling from lake shore drive to the museum campus to Michigan ave. to Schaumburg. Rainforest cafe is somewhere in the mix but after our experience at the rainforest cafe in Schaumburg I have no inclination to visit any more of them.

Sent from my iPhone using DISBoards

 

[RitaE]

ikea is number one on my freinds moms list so its a must do. Not to mention Ikea is how I got my week off (my boss wants new throw pillows, forks and this one particular set of dishes, not avaible online)

When people say a meseum takes them half a day (like the smithsonian) it takes us a lot less. Usally we see the things we want to see and go,we are kinda goal oriented. THe only time we wander is zoos (my fav)

Day one:
Rainforest cafe
Lincon park
sweedish meseum
buckinham fountain that eveing

day two
shedd
feild mesum
alder planatirum
Hard rock for dinner


day 3
science and instury
willis tower
Wrigley feild
navy peir

day 4
Ikea then home with a stop at great lakes


would this work? Any advice on transportation? Any adivce on how to make this all work? Im just worried we will end up missing somthing good. If I find a cheap enough hotel we may be able to do 4 nights and 5 days. Boat tours are out, my tummy dont like water.
TIA!!

When is this trip again because about the only thing I can think of to make this the absolute craziest thing I've heard is for you to tell us you are going to attempt that right smack in the middle of the Taste of Chicago.

 

[Gr8t Fan]

I don't think the trip is doable as planned either. Considering the transportation and mobility issues, I think doing 2 different things each day might be pushing things a bit.

 

[firecracker725]

I'm always amused by people who think Ikea is a destination rather than an errand.

 

[ariel71]

Usally we see the things we want to see and go,we are kinda goal oriented.

Why bother even getting out of the car then? Just drive to each spot, take a picture, and leave. I don't quite understand why you're coming here if you're not interested in actually enjoying the city. But then I also don't understand traveling to a new city and eating at chain restaurants...

Boat tours are out, my tummy dont like water.

It's the Chicago River, not white-water rafting in the Grand Canyon. It truly is THE one thing that I recommend regardless of age, interests, etc., and no one's been disappointed. Maybe it really would be a problem for you, but don't discount it out of hand without at least looking at it - it may not be what you think.

If you insist on doing everything you have listed (which as RitaE says, is nothing more than The Amazing Race by Scooter), it makes no sense to have Wrigley on Day 3 when it's physically smack dab between Lincoln Park and the Swedish Museum, which you have on Day 1.

 

[StitchesGr8Fan]

Day 2 is not feasible.


And like a PP poster said, you aren't listening. You will not be able to do everything with a person with mobility issues on public transportation in the time frame you have given. If you drove from point to point, you'd have a better chance, but would bust your budget on parking.

You need to cut down the list. Period.

 

[Poohforyou]

MUSEUM
MUSEUM
MUSEUM

And no, it isn't feasible. Chicago isn't WDW where everyone and everything is geared towards vacation. Oh, and the Smithsonian is made up of 19 different museums. It is impossible to "do the Smithsonian" in a 1/2 day.

 

[Iforgetmypassword]

MUSEUM
MUSEUM
MUSEUM

And no, it isn't feasible. Chicago isn't WDW where everyone and everything is geared towards vacation. Oh, and the Smithsonian is made up of 19 different museums. It is impossible to "do the Smithsonian" in a 1/2 day.

We will spend hours in just one of the Smithsonians.

 

[NotUrsula]

Day one:
Rainforest cafe
Lincoln park
swedish museum
buckingham fountain that evening

day two
shedd
field mesum
alder planetarium
Hard rock for dinner


day 3
science and industry
willis tower
Wrigley field
navy pier

day 4
Ikea then home with a stop at great lakes

Have you bothered looking at a map? That itinerary has you criss-crossing the city every single day; you'll end up spending HOURS on transit for no good reason.

Let's re-group your itinerary by region:

South (make this a car-touring day):
Science and Industry (furthest out, so do it first)
IKEA Bolingbrook

Museum Campus/Grant Park area + the Loop (allow two days for these):
Field Museum
Shedd Aquarium
Adler Planetarium
Buckingham Fountain
Willis Tower (not really in the Loop proper, but close enough to include in the nearby area)

Near North / Mag Mile area (all of these places may be done in the evening):
Hard Rock
Rainforest Cafe
Navy Pier

Lincoln Park / Gold Coast area and slightly north:
Lincoln Park Zoo
Swedish Museum
Wrigley Field


As someone else suggested, it would be easier on you (both timewise and in terms of transit issues) to do the Rainforest at Gurnee Mills rather than the one downtown; Gurnee is fairly close to Great Lakes. Besides that, eating at Rainforest AND Hard Rock on the same day would be a bit too much theming and huge meals for a single day. All RFC's are alike, while all Hard Rocks are not.