Chicago. Where did you stay with the kids?

[2Tiggers]

Wondering what hotel is a good one with kids. Is it close and within walking distance to the museums and eating ect... Also, what did the hotel have to offer?

We have never been to Chicago, so if you could give advice on what is there to do, that would be great! Is there a lego land there?

I know they have museums and shopping but that's about all I know. Again we have never been.

Thanks guys!

 

[ZeroMyHero]

The Legoland is in Schaumburg, a northwest suburb of Chicago. With traffic, it would take you about an hour to get there by car.

 

[katied]

The museums are all spread out. Some key things to see/do in Chicago:

Navy Pier
Art Institue
Museum of Science and Industry (my favortie)
Shedd Aquariam
Adler Planterium
Field Museum
Michigan Ave (fun to walk around, shopping, etc.)

Field Museum, Adler and Shedd are within walking distance, but then not really to the rest. Also, I'm not sure I'd want to stay at a hotel walking distance to them.

If you want to be in downtown Chicago - I would look for a hotel around Michigan Ave./downtown loop area and then plan to use busses to get around. You can take taxi's too, but it would cost a lot more.

Another option would be to stay out in the burbs (Schaumburg, around Woodfield Mall/Legoland), and take the train in/out of the city for visits. Metrarail.com and transitchicago.com have lots of info on how to use public transit to get around.

We've done our hotels normally thru priceline, so we can get 4* hotels in downtown for $80 - $100/night.

Good luck!

 

[LoveToT]

Public transportation in amazing there. you can get anywhere using the bus or "EL" (subway). Take a look at transitchicago.com for transportation information and choosechicago.com for things to do.
You can get to/from either airport using the el. A car is VERY expensive to have. Even if you book a hotel, parking is not free - Its $15 a day and upwards. Parking anywhere in the city is going to cost you. If you park in the street - .25 will get you 5 minutes, otherwise you are paying lots of $$ everytime you park in a structure (museums, shopping, zoo, etc.)

I agree with the last person who said to stay in the loop or on Michigan Ave.

 

[budbeerlady]

I usually find a good hotel deal on Travelzoo. (I love Priceline but usually dont need it for Chicago.) We take the train in and have a ball, with what it would cost to park the car we grab a taxi if need be!

We love hitting Shedd, Ed Debevic's for lunch and window shopping on Michigan Ave. Dd could spend the day at American Girl, we walk across the street from there to Hershey for some desserts. Navy pier has a wonderful Children's Museum! (And a free trolley to help with that long walk.)

 

[LoveKermit]

I usually find a good hotel deal on Travelzoo. (I love Priceline but usually dont need it for Chicago.) We take the train in and have a ball, with what it would cost to park the car we grab a taxi if need be!

We love hitting Shedd, Ed Debevic's for lunch and window shopping on Michigan Ave. Dd could spend the day at American Girl, we walk across the street from there to Hershey for some desserts. Navy pier has a wonderful Children's Museum! (And a free trolley to help with that long walk.)

I've heard the free trolley is too expensive and is no longer running. Is that irony? (I know--maintenance and driver---but it is a little funny)

I'm taking DH to Am Girl for the first time tomorrow. Oy.

 

[scrappingizlife]

most of the museums are spread out. A good majority of them are downtown. Shedd, planetarium, field museum, Museum of Science and Industry, and the Children's museum at navy Pier. There is also LegoLand in Schaumburg. A Holocaust museum in Skokie. There's the Botanical Gardens by Deerfield, and of course Six Flags Great America in Gurnee. Gurnee also offers Key Lime cove which is an indoor waterpark hotel, and a huge outlet mall, Gurnee Mills. If you're coming in the summer and want something different, Not too far into WI, there's the Rennaisance Faire, another nice outlet mall, and the Jelly Belly factory.

Hotel wise I am not much help. I live here, so I have never really needed one, except for when we went to Key Lime Cove. I can tell you that downtown is pretty expensive though. Parking is B. I would stay somewhere nuetral like Skokie, rent a car for trips up north, and take the train for trips into the city.

 

[scrappingizlife]

oh there is also the Kohl's Children's Museum in Glenview.

 

[ariel71]

OP - it would be helpful to know the length/time of year of your visit, age/sex of your children, if you would have a car, etc. Some other attractions that haven't been listed yet are the Lincoln Park Zoo, Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum, Garfield Park Conservatory, boat tours on the Chicago river, Cubs or Sox game if you don't live somewhere with professional teams. It really depends on when you'd be visiting. If you're only coming for a weekend, there's so much to do in Chicago itself that I would avoid suburban excursions. I live here, so can't comment on hotels.

There are tons of websites dedicated to Chicago tourism - the city's own site is explorechicago .org (I can't post links yet).

 

[ChrisM]

Stay at the Embassy Suites at Columbus and Grand/Illinois (there's a 21 screen AMC multiplex in the same building). Close to Michigan Avenue and Navy Pier, and fairly easy access to the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium, Grant and Millenium Park, the Sears Tower and the John Hancock Building. You're also effectively right at the lakefront.

The Lincoln Park Zoo is easy to get to from there with public transportation (or cab) but the Museum of Science and Industry is best served by cab.

 

[Tam1067]

There are two main hotel areas--either Michigan Avenue or the downtown (or Loop) area does. The theatres are in the Loop (Billy Elliot is there now, and Lion King is coming back in the fall). Michigan Avenue and its surrounding area have lots of shopping, restaurants, and American Girl Place. It's possible to walk between the two.

There's a regular Lego store on Michigan Avenue. The Lego Discovery Center (indoor mini theme park place) is in Schaumburg which is about 30-40 minutes from downtown. It's right next to Woodfield Mall if you're curious about that.

The museums are not within easy walking distance. The Museum of Science and Industry is not for sure--it's several miles from downtown. There is a Metra line (commuter train) that you can take out there if you want to see it, or you could drive. The Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, and Adlter Planetarium would be walkable but a very long walk from downtown.

We really like walking around Millenium Park which is fun and free. My kids love it there.

Also, I highly recommend an architectural cruise on the Chicago River. You pick these up by going to the Michigan Avenue bridge and then taking the steps down to the river. There are different cruises. The one we take visitors on goes up the river and then out onto Lake Michigan. You get just beautiful views of the city plus narration about the historical aspects of the buildings which are really unique. My kids liked doing these, so unless you have really young kids, I'd recommend doing it.

Parking overnight will cost you about $30 per night.

There's a Homewood Suites on Grand Ave. It's nice for kids and comes with breakfast. It's very close to lots of stuff you'd want and is just west of Michigan Ave. There are also two Embassy Suites in that area, but the location on State Street is the more conveniently located of the two. If you stay anywhere in the North Michigan Avenue area, you'd be able to walk to lots of dining--Rainforest Cafe, Portillo's (Chicago hot dogs and Italian beef), Pizzeria Uno and Due--plus more.

Have a great visit!

Yes, the trolley was discontinued.

 

[KatMark]

Be sure to do a lot of research. Hotels in the downtown area are not cheap by any means and some of them are in not too great of neighborhoods. Also, if driving, be aware that parking is very difficult to find on streets in the downtown area and the parking garages will kill you.

 

[Tam1067]

I really think that anything near North Michigan Avenue or in the Loop is going to be as safe as any big city would be.

But parking is super expensive. You should check the hotel's website beforehand so that you know what you'll be charged.

 

[kittycatalina65]

There's a Homewood Suites on Grand Ave. It's nice for kids and comes with breakfast. It's very close to lots of stuff you'd want and is just west of Michigan Ave. There are also two Embassy Suites in that area, but the location on State Street is the more conveniently located of the two. If you stay anywhere in the North Michigan Avenue area, you'd be able to walk to lots of dining--Rainforest Cafe, Portillo's (Chicago hot dogs and Italian beef), Pizzeria Uno and Due--plus more.
/QUOTE]
I've stayed at that Homewood, and it's a great choice with kids. They have a small indoor pool which was a hit.
Last year we stayed at the Blackstone. right across from Grant Park, close enough to walk to the Shedd and Field Museum and Millennium Park.
If you are going when kids are out of school and plan to go to the Shedd Aquarium go EARLY! We were there at opening and still waited 20 minutes to get in. By the time we left the line was all the way back to the Field Museum. Wish we could have used a Fastpass
I've not heard anything good about the Lego Discovery Center, but we enjoyed the Lego store.
If you like Greek food, Greektown is a short cab ride away. Pegasus has a nice rooftop deck.
Have fun!

 

[El&Asmom]

Dh and I stay downtown once or twice a year to have a night away. We just stayed at the Hotel Monaco and loved it. They are child and pet friendly. You can even ask for a pet goldfish for your room. They also have bed sized window seats that my kids would have loved.
Others have already pointed out many of the activities available in Chicago. It really depends on the ages of your children, and how long you will be in the city. Have fun, Chicago has a lot to offer, and is very nice in the summer.

 

[smidgy]

Brookfield Zoo, is much better than Lincoln Park Zoo, but pricier. (they have a dolphin show). but its in a far west suburb.
everything is SO spread out. I would enlist the help of a travel agent. the town of Rosemont, near Ohare, has nice hotels, and is near major expressways.
I would then take the train to downtown, or the park and ride. (we live 40 miles out, and drive to the park and ride (by 90 and Cumberland).
the Field Museum, adler Planetarioum, and Shedd Aquarium are all near each other, but too much to do in one day. the Museuam of Science and Industry is VERY nice!!!, but way on the south side . you do NOT want to stay in that area. call a Chicago office of AAA.

 

[katied]

Brookfield Zoo, is much better than Lincoln Park Zoo, but pricier. (they have a dolphin show). but its in a far west suburb.
everything is SO spread out. I would enlist the help of a travel agent. the town of Rosemont, near Ohare, has nice hotels, and is near major expressways.
I would then take the train to downtown, or the park and ride. (we live 40 miles out, and drive to the park and ride (by 90 and Cumberland).
the Field Museum, adler Planetarioum, and Shedd Aquarium are all near each other, but too much to do in one day. the Museuam of Science and Industry is VERY nice!!!, but way on the south side . you do NOT want to stay in that area. call a Chicago office of AAA.

Brookfield is off one of the Metra lines. They have a zoo stop - so if you are staying in Downtown Chicago, you can head to Union Station and catch a train out to the zoo, and then back downtown. On the weekend, there are cheap Metra fares, and even on weekdays, depending on the age of kids, they ride for free with parents.

Agree - do not stay in a hotel near the Museum of Science and Industry.

 

[Tam1067]

There's no need for visitors to stress too much about staying near the Museum of Science and Industry because all the hotels you'll find on a basic search of Chicago are going to be in either the Loop area or the North Michigan Avenue area.

I know you guys are trying to help, but it would be difficult to even find a hotel in that area if you wanted one, and it's several miles south of the downtown area, so no one who is staying downtown will even be near that area.


I just went to Trip Advisor and plugged in Chicago hotels. I just looked at the first two pages of hotels in the order of rankings, and ALL of them are in either the Loop or North Michigan Avenue area and therefore all of them are perfectly fine for any tourist who is coming to the city. The Loop and Michigan Avenue area are as safe as any big city. Mayor Daley has made sure of that--he wants tourists to come here--the violence in Chicago is not happening in those areas or in any area where tourists will be likely to stay.

Also, if you're coming to enjoy the city itself, you should stay in the city and not worry about taking Metra in each day--if you can afford it, just stay downtown somewhere. You'll have a great time.

 

[susykt4]

We recently stayed at a La Quinta a couple blocks from the Sears Tower. It was relatively inexpensive and had an indoor pool. My kids are 7 and 9, boy and girl. They LOVED the Children's Museum at Navy Pier when they were preschoolers. We went in December and they were too old for almost everything. They loved the Field Museum (dinosaurs, gems, Egypt, huge collection of taxidermied animals.) They have always loved the Museum of Science and Industry (plenty for all ages other than maybe babies.) The Shedd Aquarium is great for all ages. Brookfield Zoo is better than Lincoln Park Zoo, but is HUGE and expensive, while LPZ is more compact and free admission and has plenty of great exhibits. The LegoLand in Schaumburg is "ok." I think it's really pricey for what it is. The kids love it, though. It has two rides, a 3D movie, several exhibits and a "factory tour." The fun part is the area where you build your own racers, build with giant Legos, etc. The Lego store on Michigan Ave is wonderful! It's probably as good as the one at Downtown Disney. My daughter isn't into American Girl, but loved the store. My son loves chocolate and loved the Hershey store sort of across from Water Tower Place, kind of close to the actual water tower.

 

[4forMe]

Stay at the Embassy Suites at Columbus and Grand/Illinois (there's a 21 screen AMC multiplex in the same building). Close to Michigan Avenue and Navy Pier, and fairly easy access to the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium, Grant and Millenium Park, the Sears Tower and the John Hancock Building. You're also effectively right at the lakefront.

The Lincoln Park Zoo is easy to get to from there with public transportation (or cab) but the Museum of Science and Industry is best served by cab.

This Embassy Suites is at an ideal location; however, we prefer the other Embassy Suites at 600 N. State Street. It's further from Navy Pier but very close to numerous restaurants.

In addition to either Embassy Suites, here are some more hotel recommendations. They all include complimentary breakfast and in room fridge and microwave which I appreciate when traveling with the kids:

Homewood Suites by Hilton/Chicago
40 East Grand Avenue

Springhill Suites or Residence Inn Chicago Downtown/River North
410 N. Dearborn (they share a lobby)

Comfort Suites
320 N. Michigan Avenue

Comfort Inn and Suites
15 E. Ohio Street

Check out the reviews on tripadvisor as well as prices to see which would best suit your family.

Enjoy your vacation - Chicago is a fabulous town to visit! :