Need help with Chicago getaway, Amtrak experiences?

[cruiserkaren]

We are thinking of taking the Amtrak from Indianapolis to Chicago during dd and my nephew's spring break (1st week of April). We'd only stay a couple nights.

What hotels would you recomend? Which museum's do you think would be best? The kids are 4 and 13 so there is a stretch in age. Any other things that'd be good?

Anyone have any experience with Amtrak from Indy to Chicago?

 

[Beth76]

I would stay in the North Michigan Ave area. I've stayed at the Wyndham, the Millennium, the Monaco and the Courtyard. You may want to try Priceline, as Chicago hotels can be pretty pricey. Although, doing research for a trip that I took about a year and a half ago, I found the Sheraton Four Points to be reasonably priced and had great reviews on Trip Advisor. We ended up with an employee discount at another hotel so did not stay at the four points. But it did look really nice, for a good price.

You definitely will want to hit the Science and Industry Museum, but it's a trek from downtown. You'll either need to take a cab or a bus, so it may not be worth it to you. The Aquarium is also fantastic. The Field Museum is supposed to be great too, if you like that sort of thing. I haven't been since I was a kid, but I remember hating it.

There's also Navy Pier which has a lot of cool things. If it's not too cold and if it's even running, check out the Sea Dog speedboat. There's a children's museum there too, but I haven't been to it. And there's also a cool maze house.

One of my favorite things is the Observation Deck of the Hancock building. Or the Sears Tower would be cool, I'm sure too. We always stay near the Hancock bldg so that's why we go there. But next time we'll likely try the Sears Tower because my son thinks that's cool.

Oh man, now you're giving me the itch to go back to Chicago.

As for the train, I would recommend you get on the amtrak site and do a "status check" on your train, for the last few days. A girlfriend and I were going to take the train from STL, but found that it was consistently late nearly everyday. Not just an hour late, but sometimes 6 hours late. So we decided against it. We found the same problem about 8 years ago too. I know the train sounds like a fun easy idea, but if you're going to get a late start to a short trip, that could really put a damper on things. Hopefully, your route isn't so bad.

ETA: Try Uno's for pizza (several locations) and Ed Debevics for burgers. It's a fun 50s diner. I wanted to go there last time we took the kids and we didn't make it, to either. Man, I'm really feeeling the need to get back to Chicago now.

 

[Dodie]

I had a recent Indy to Chicago Amtrak experience when we went up to an Oprah taping. Another poster asked me about it and I responded. I don't recall how indepth my responses were, but you can read my Oprah trip report here for mentions of the train trip:

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=1690080

It definitely takes longer than driving, but you don't end up with a car to park or drive in downtown Chicago.

Both times we've done it we've been VERY late coming back. Never too bad going - but long delays on the trip back.

 

[budbeerlady]

We go to Chicago via the commuter trains on the weekend. I dont know if that would be an option? I know Amtrack can be pricey for us and it was always late. (Like a few hours the last 3 times we took it....) I drive the hour to Michigan City and take that train into town. We get off at the museum campus and go from there. http://www.nictd.com/service/systemmap.htm

We love Shedd Aquarium. DD loves the sharks on the bottom floor!

 

[piglet too]

I have to agree with the PP who said that the Museum of Science and Industry would be great for the kids, but it is a trek from downtown. (Not in distance really, just the logistics of getting there)

 

[cruiserkaren]

- Thanks! I was thinking the Science and Industry Museum, Shedd, and the Hancock Observatory.

I'm looking at hotels now and WOW are they pricey!!

Dodie - I read your review and that was my biggest concern was the reliability. The thought of being stopped on a train (or plane, for that matter) going nowhere for hours sends me over the edge. But I hate to have to pay for parking. I'd rather take taxi's so we don't have to mess with directions and traffic.

I just checked the status of the train since March 1st and it was late EVERY single time! Once only by 8 minutes but every other was 30+. It looks like it arrives very late back into Indy. It's scheduled to arrive at 11:30pm but actually it was about 1:30am consistently.


Ok, well the train is probably out. I just don't have the patience for that. I'd rather be in my car.

Beth-when your family goes do you drive around or walk/taxis? I really don't know much about Chicago and feel a bit overwhelmed actually.

 

[grinningghost]

My aunt used to take Amtrak from Buffalo to Chicago regularly to visit her son. She used to RAVE about it. I don't ever remember her saying anything bad about it - only that it was great.

 

[mjkacmom]

- Thanks! I was thinking the Science and Industry Museum, Shedd, and the Hancock Observatory.

I'm looking at hotels now and WOW are they pricey!!

Dodie - I read your review and that was my biggest concern was the reliability. The thought of being stopped on a train (or plane, for that matter) going nowhere for hours sends me over the edge. But I hate to have to pay for parking. I'd rather take taxi's so we don't have to mess with directions and traffic.

I just checked the status of the train since March 1st and it was late EVERY single time! Once only by 8 minutes but every other was 30+. It looks like it arrives very late back into Indy. It's scheduled to arrive at 11:30pm but actually it was about 1:30am consistently.


Ok, well the train is probably out. I just don't have the patience for that. I'd rather be in my car.

Beth-when your family goes do you drive around or walk/taxis? I really don't know much about Chicago and feel a bit overwhelmed actually.

Don't forget about Navy Pier - you can take a water taxi over from Shedd. My sister lived in Chicago, and we drive to the Museum of Science and Industry, and cabbed everything else. The Lincoln Park Zoo is nice, and free!

 

[Beth76]

I'm looking at hotels now and WOW are they pricey!!

Try travelocity or hotels.com. Or even priceline or hotwire, if you're a bit more flexible.

Beth-when your family goes do you drive around or walk/taxis? I really don't know much about Chicago and feel a bit overwhelmed actually.

We went when the boys were 4 and 1 and did not do taxis. We stayed very far north on Michigan Avenue so we drove our car to the Aquarium and then took the water taxi from there over to Navy Pier. Took the water taxi back and then drove to my aunt's house in the suburbs for dinner. Since we were only there one day, it worked out well for us. But the parking and the water taxi were $$$$. The water taxi doesn't start running until Memorial Day though. And the carseat law is 8 or 80lbs, so you would either need to cart around a seat or take the bus.

Another option possibly would be to wait until summer. During the summer the water taxi is running and there's also a free trolley that hits all the big places. When we went, the trolley wasn't running yet. But hotels will likely be more expensive.

 

[budbeerlady]

Try travelocity or hotels.com. Or even priceline or hotwire, if you're a bit more flexible.

We went when the boys were 4 and 1 and did not do taxis. We stayed very far north on Michigan Avenue so we drove our car to the Aquarium and then took the water taxi from there over to Navy Pier. Took the water taxi back and then drove to my aunt's house in the suburbs for dinner. Since we were only there one day, it worked out well for us. But the parking and the water taxi were $$$$. The water taxi doesn't start running until Memorial Day though. And the carseat law is 8 or 80lbs, so you would either need to cart around a seat or take the bus.

Another option possibly would be to wait until summer. During the summer the water taxi is running and there's also a free trolley that hits all the big places. When we went, the trolley wasn't running yet. But hotels will likely be more expensive.

Thats the other downside to driving. The cost to park everywhere! We parked at the stadium by Shedds, I could never pay that much to park. My cousin live in the burbs and she drives us around or we take taxis, trolley, etc to get around. But parking, ugggggg, it was better to park in the place and taxi around the rest of the day.

Check out the BEAN at millenium park. DD wants to play in the water all day when we go to the park.