Need chicago tips

[emmababy]

I wasn't sure where to post this, so I thought my fellow DVC members would know how to help!

We are planning our first trip to Chicago, so excited!! We are having a hard time deciding if we should go Wed before Thanksgiving and stay Wed, Thurs, Fri and come home late Saturday.

OR

Go up afternoon of Dec 22 and stay 22, 23, 24, and come home the 25..


I would love for it to be our family Christmas present and do it Christmas but the weather scares me!!

Any tips from native Illinois peeps would be great!!!

 

[dgaston]

Get the Citi- pass. Was just there for a conference, and wish we had. Loved the Bean, and the Stained glass museum at Navy Pier, drinks at the John Hancock tower ($5 soft drinks), and the Wendella architectural boat tour. No idea how any of these would be in chilly December. Frendly people. Ate at Harry Carey's.

 

[CMOORE185]

If you go to Chicago in winter you really want to experience the Christmas decorations. I am not sure if they all are up before Thanksgiving or not.

If decorations are up go to Macys and the Walnut room for breakfast or lunch.

Must go to Christkindlmarket at Daly plaza. It is an outdoor German American themed market with great food and non food vendors. Open Nov 21st thru Dec 24th.

I mention these two things because we love them so much we do them every year, but there is so much to do in Chicago it is hard to mention them all.

 

[Diane0977]

They always have the Christmas decorations up and a huge parade the weekend after Thanksgiving (I forget the official name of the parade). Macy's will have the tree up in their restaurant and the window displays finished as well. That week is my vote! The shopping is great, and the holiday spirit is definitely present. We try to go every year on that weekend, and spend some time shopping, catching a show, and enjoying good food. I've never been the week of Christmas, so I can't comment on that. I'm sure you will have a great time whatever you decide.

 

[runmommyrun]

Not sure the age of everyone in your group, but my kids love the Museum of Science and Industry. They have a big model train exhibit my son enjoys. The MythBusters exhibit just left, but there is going to be a Charles Schultz/Peanuts exhibits for the holidays. Plus they have the whole foyer decorated with dozens of trees from around the world. If you plan on more than one museum, then the Citi pass makes sense.

Agree with Christkindlmarket. It is a tradition for us. Only problem is it gets very tight and crowded, as booths are very compact because they cannot use the Block 37 lot across the street. (New buildings/mini-mall there... includes a Disney store, though!). I think it opens the Friday of Thanksgiving weekend, but a quick internet search would confirm that.

Again, depends on who is in your traveling party, but The Nutcracker is another tradition I've had (though my boys have not signed onto that). There are also a lot of stage productions in the Theatre District, so you can see what is playing if you have an interest in that.

Lunch in the Walnut Room at Marshall Field's (still have a tough time calling it Macy's!) is another. Last time we went, they did not take reservations, but we arrived around 11 and didn't have too horrible of a wait. Definitely will depend on the day, though.

My kids like the Shedd Aquarium, but are lukewarm with Field Museum (except the dinosaurs) and Art Institute. I actually like them all, but I'm not a 9 year old boy!

Ice skating in Millenium Park is fun. Relatively cheap, too (I'm talking for Chicago!). Just check out Millenium Park's website for dates.

Michigan Ave is full of stores. If you have young girls or boys, you'll need to stop in Water Tower Place, as the American Girl Store and Lego Store are there.

I think most of the holiday stuff will be on by the Friday of Thanksgiving weekend. But the weather would be better for walking around. Just depends what you like to do. Enjoy!

 

[mdsd8700]

Not sure the age of everyone in your group, but my kids love the Museum of Science and Industry. They have a big model train exhibit my son enjoys. The MythBusters exhibit just left, but there is going to be a Charles Schultz/Peanuts exhibits for the holidays. Plus they have the whole foyer decorated with dozens of trees from around the world. If you plan on more than one museum, then the Citi pass makes sense.

Agree with Christkindlmarket. It is a tradition for us. Only problem is it gets very tight and crowded, as booths are very compact because they cannot use the Block 37 lot across the street. (New buildings/mini-mall there... includes a Disney store, though!). I think it opens the Friday of Thanksgiving weekend, but a quick internet search would confirm that.

Again, depends on who is in your traveling party, but The Nutcracker is another tradition I've had (though my boys have not signed onto that). There are also a lot of stage productions in the Theatre District, so you can see what is playing if you have an interest in that.

Lunch in the Walnut Room at Marshall Field's (still have a tough time calling it Macy's!) is another. Last time we went, they did not take reservations, but we arrived around 11 and didn't have too horrible of a wait. Definitely will depend on the day, though.

My kids like the Shedd Aquarium, but are lukewarm with Field Museum (except the dinosaurs) and Art Institute. I actually like them all, but I'm not a 9 year old boy!

Ice skating in Millenium Park is fun. Relatively cheap, too (I'm talking for Chicago!). Just check out Millenium Park's website for dates.

Michigan Ave is full of stores. If you have young girls or boys, you'll need to stop in Water Tower Place, as the American Girl Store and Lego Store are there.

I think most of the holiday stuff will be on by the Friday of Thanksgiving weekend. But the weather would be better for walking around. Just depends what you like to do. Enjoy!

These I agree would be the top picks for anyone coming to Chicago around the time you are planning.

For the Walnut Room I would suggest getting there very early it is a huge tradition for many families in Chicago and the wait can be like TSM. It doesn't have the best reputation in terms of food quality, but the tree is lovely.

We too have seen the Nutcracker in various locations/settings. However we prefer the Goodman Theater's annual production of a Christmas Carol. My DH and I started going in 1986 when we met and have gone every year since this. This is year 26. I am biased but I beleive you will never see a better staged production of this play. It can be very intense and scary in places for some younger audiences. It a tradition that we have shared with friends and family.

Museum of Science and Industry with "Christmas Around the World " is also a great choice. We frequent this often as well. The museum overall is first rate and my kinds (15 and 18) still love it.

They usually light the City Tree in Daley Plaza around Thanksgiving so you could check into that. That same weekend usually the Chicago Christmas Parade on Michigan Avenue hosted by Mickey Mouse. We haven't been to that in years, but it was fun when our kids were little. The Christkindlmarket opens this weekend as well.

I beleive there are CTA Holiday Trains too, but we have never experienced those.

Enjoy your trip!!

 

[emmababy]

Thanks everyone!! My kids are 2,4, 6. We are staying at Hampton Inn and Suites. Is that convenient to everything? We hope to take in the parade, how insanely early do we need to get there to get a spot?

We plan on doing Shedd and shopping, but after that mostly taking in the holiday events! Thanks for all your tips.

Question- if we want to do the oceanrium- can we just pay for that option or do we have to upgrade to the $30 tickets?

What is the Walnut Room?

I would love to go for Christmas but my luck it would be a blizzard, so guess we should stick with November!

 

[twoj]

You will love it in Chicago at that time of year
The walnut room is a restaurant located in Macy's on state street in the loop. It is a chicago tradition for many so be prepared to wait a long time. I suggest getting a pager early and shop while you wait... The store is the former flagship Marshall Fields and is gorgeous.

Stop and get Garrett's popcorn on Randolph street...

If you want pizza I would recommend Pizano's which is run by the Malnati family. I believe they have a few locations in the loop or up near the mag mile.

 

[psac]

I have to travel there all the time for work. Sunda, on LaSalle and Illinois (I think it's close to the Hampton), is one of the best modern Asian restaurants I've tried anywhere. Make a reservation, and plan to spend as much as you would at a Deluxe at WDW.

I just read again and saw your kids ages, I don't know if it's really a kid friendly restaurant. Maybe if you can find a babysitter.

 

[DMKEDM]

I'm a Chicago native, with considerable family still there (I now live in Washington, DC, though)...

Other posters have done a good job at describing some of the highlights of downtown Chicago during the holidays, so I'll just focus on the weather.

Since 1978 I've either gone or looked into going to Chicago for Thanksgiving, Christmas or both...weather IS an issue. And it's not terribly different between the end of November and the end of December. In all those years, I think we've not encountered "signficant snow" (4 inches or more) only once...

BUT, Chicago excels at managing snow...you'll find streets cleared, sidewalks shoveled...snow in Chicago from November thru March is just a fact of life and hardly gets in the way at all.

Now, Chicago does get blizzards (and w/all the extreme weather we've been experiencing in all seasons all over the country, it's a good bet there will be one or more blizzards there, too)...but most often that awful city-slowing (if not stopping) blizzard-y stuff "waits" til January/February. Now that doesn't mean there won't be a blizzard there--but it's just as likely (or unlikely) in late November as it is in late December.

I guess the most important message from me is: expect snow; you may get lucky and not get it, but the high likelihood is that you will...and it's no less likely in late November than in late December. BUT it equally highly likely that it won't get in your way. Chicago is really, really REALLY good at managing its snow!

Have a great time and say hi to my city for me! I love Chicago every bit as much as I love Disney!

 

[mdsd8700]

Thanks everyone!! My kids are 2,4, 6. We are staying at Hampton Inn and Suites. Is that convenient to everything?

We loved to stay downtown with our kids and have done so many times since they were young and have previously stayed at this hotel.

Overall I would say this is an excellent location, across the street is a Chicago Firehouse, feel free to stop by and let the kids take a look at the fire engines. The firefighters will welcome you. My son loved stopping by here when he was younger.

You are at the very start of the retail of Michigan Avenue. It is about a 10 minute walk to "the heart Michigan Avenue" aka "Water Tower". That could vary with little kids or dependent on the weather. Lots of great streak houses in that area but not sure that is where you would want to go with kids at that age.

It is over the river so a bit more of a walk to Marshall Fields (Macy's as it is called now aka the Walnut Room) about 15 minutes or slightly more. Millenium Park for ice skating is another 7 minutes or so from Fields. Assuming that you are walking a good pace (Disney style.... )

The Willis Tower (formerly Sears Tower) has a great sky deck with a see through floor. That is located about 7 minutes south of Marshall Fields.

I agree Garretts is a good choice as a stop by. It is Chicago tradition. Ask for a carmel/cheese popcorn mix. Sometimes the line can be out the door.

Hope this helps.

 

[hmillerbarilla]

Chicago is a wonderful city!

You will love your visit!!!

We also do the Walnut Room. Just arrive early, and it will be fine. It's wonderful.

Before you mentioned your kid's ages one of my first thoughts was Second City but you could only do that if you had a sitter.

For kids the Musuem Campus is fun. You will enjoy that a lot.

If you have a daughter, go to the American Girl Place on Michigan Ave. It's fantastic.

This makes me want to plan a day in the city this weekend. Yay!

Enjoy!

 

[scout68]

If you are a seafood fan be sure to stop by Shaw's Crab House. the food is great and the atmosphere is very cool.

 

[hakepb]

Darn it, now I want to visit Chicago, again!

I visited last summer, it was fun, but not cheaper per day than Disney. I was glad we had advance tickets to the IMAX in the museum of Science and Industry, they were otherwise sold out when we got there, but that museum is quite far from the others...but I think anything like that is better to have advance admission than just showing up at the door.

The OP's kid are still too young...but I grew up in the suburbs and was fortunate enough to take field trips into the city and go to the Art Institute, etc.. I never fully appreciated how much better great art is in person than just a textbook until I took a college humanities class.

 

[emmababy]

You all have been great! I am soo excited to go! We have wanted to go forever. It's only 5 hours from us but wanted to wait until kids got a little older.

Should I take double or single stroller?

Anyone have advice on how early we need to get a spot at parade? Do people put blankets out or chairs? Are there bleachers?

 

[Jousey]

there is a chrismas market in downtown, not sure if it will still be running have not found the dates for this year. Of course the Chicago Disney Store is a must. I like the Navy Pier area, but since you are talking Dec it may have to wait.

 

[OKWAnneMarie]

We've been to Chicago only once and we loved it! My most important tip is to eat at Coco Pazzo...one of the best restaurants we've ever been to! Also, Giordanos has great pizza (and this is coming from a New Yorker...lol!)

 

[webcs]

Make sure to go on the subway website and get a visitors pass online before you go. They will mail it to you.

Chicago has outstanding rates for subway rides for visitors if you order them online. Unlimited trips, really makes life great.

 

[P&B's Mom]

Thanks everyone!! My kids are 2,4, 6. We are staying at Hampton Inn and Suites. Is that convenient to everything? We hope to take in the parade, how insanely early do we need to get there to get a spot?

We plan on doing Shedd and shopping, but after that mostly taking in the holiday events! Thanks for all your tips.

Question- if we want to do the oceanrium- can we just pay for that option or do we have to upgrade to the $30 tickets?

What is the Walnut Room?

I would love to go for Christmas but my luck it would be a blizzard, so guess we should stick with November!

With a family of your size, it might be cheaper to buy the annual pass. Be sure to compare prices. I live in Chicago, so feel free to PM me with any questions.

 

[CarolAnnC]

I am a native Bostonian transplanted to Chicago from New Hampshire 8 years ago. I have not attended these two holiday events, but they are on my bucket list. They sound like they would be great for kids too.

First Navy Pier's Winter Wonderland http://chicago.about.com/od/holidays/p/Navy-Piers-2010-Winter-Wonderfest.htm

Also, outside of the downtown Chicago area, but accessible via car or train from Union Station is Brookfield Zoo's Holiday Magic http://gochicago.about.com/od/eventsfestivalsholidays/p/brookfield_xmas.htm

Please note, these links are from last winter, but I have seen these events advertised each year, so they should be happening this winter as well.

As far as weather, there can be snowstorms, but they do not match NH's mammoth storms IMHO. I have more problem with the ferocious winds that rip thru and chill to the bone. Wear lots and lots of layers and mittens with those little hand warmer packets inside, and hats too!