OT Chicago Trip!!!

[mom2my3kids]

We are planning a small weekend getaway to Chicago this summer. My hubby is a die hard cubs fan so that is on our list, plus Navy Pier and maybe some museums any suggestions?? Also what hotel is the best that is in a good part of town and close to the pier and such..Thanks we are about 4 hours away, we are in Indiana but very close to the Ill border..

 

[Hedy]

Navy Pier is nice. There's a nice stained glass museum in Navy Pier. I liked the Field Museum, you can get $1 off on Entrance with an AAA card. If you want to do a view, rather than the Sears tower, you can get coupons on eBay for the Hancock tower. If you do do the Sears tower, your ticket has a $1 off coupon good for one year-ask if you have friends who've visited recently.
DISer JOYG has a budget travel blog I found educational when I was planning my trip over MLK weekend.
http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/P05/

 

[maggiew]

Is it just you and DH? If so, I would recommend using priceline or hotwire for a hotel room. You can get a nice hotel for relatively little $$$.

Maggie

 

[mom2my3kids]

Is it just you and DH? If so, I would recommend using priceline or hotwire for a hotel room. You can get a nice hotel for relatively little $$$.

Maggie

It would be the family trip kids would love to go, its been a few years since we have been to chicago..

 

[mom2my3kids]

Navy Pier is nice. There's a nice stained glass museum in Navy Pier. I liked the Field Museum, you can get $1 off on Entrance with an AAA card. If you want to do a view, rather than the Sears tower, you can get coupons on eBay for the Hancock tower. If you do do the Sears tower, your ticket has a $1 off coupon good for one year-ask if you have friends who've visited recently.
DISer JOYG has a budget travel blog I found educational when I was planning my trip over MLK weekend.
http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/P05/

Thanks I am reading your blog now..

 

[JoyG]

DISer JOYG has a budget travel blog I found educational when I was planning my trip over MLK weekend.
http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/P05/

Hey! Thanks for the recommendation! I'm glad it was useful

 

[maggiew]

It would be the family trip kids would love to go, its been a few years since we have been to chicago..

In that case, I wouldn't bid on Priceline or do Hotwire. In Chicago you are likely to get a room that only sleeps 2, which is what is guaranteed with Priceline.

Maggie

 

[maggiew]

Make sure you do Millenium Park and let the kids play in the fountain. When my cousins came to visit we couldn't get them to leave the fountain area! Also check out the Bean.

Maggie

 

[4forMe]

We have friends that take their kids downtown every year during spring break for an extended weekend. They stay at the Embassy Suites Hotel Chicago Downtown/Lakefront at 511 N. Columbus. Please note there are 2 Embassy Suites in Chicago and the one I mentioned is the hotel closer to Navy Pier. I believe Navy Pier is 3-4 blocks away. I think a breakfast buffet is also included in the price and the hotel has an indoor swimming pool as well.

I agree with the previous poster that Millenium Park is a must do!

 

[zaneymax]

My husband and I just returned this last weekend and we stayed at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers. I loved it as it was close to Navy Pier and within walking distance to Michigan Ave.

Look online and you could purchase a package that includes many of the attractions you mentioned. I think it is called The Chicago Go Card(?). If you go, I would recommend the Hancock Observatory, the Field Museum, the aquarium, and if your children are young (mine are 2 and 7) we went to the lego store, the american girl store, the hershey store and if you want to have the most excellent dessert ever - Grand Luxe Cafe. They make it fresh for you and they are to die for! (They also have the best margaritas too!) Hope that helps. We are planning to go back with the kids in June.

BEWARE! Parking is outrageous ($42.00 for valet which lets you come and go, but then you have to pay at your destination). We parked our car at the holtel and walked or took a cab.

 

[cnids00]

We went to Chicago over the weekend in July last year, just me and DH, we had no clue about anything as we had never been to Chicago before...other then layovers at the airports which doesn't count

We bid on Priceline and got W hotel on W Adams, in the Loop and right by the El, brown stop. And also, which we couldn't really see on the map, very close to Sears Tower, wow, it's amazing how tiny we felt! We did Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, boat shuttle to Navy Pier, boat ride from Navy Pier, Hancock Tower one day, Sears Tower the next, in the evening for good pictures

We went to Navy Pier twice during this weekend and we loved loved and utterly loved it there and in Chicago! I'd go back in a heartbeat! People are really nice and I loved the city noise, reminded me of going to my grandparents in Copenhagen when I was younger!

Did I mention I love Chicago? I only wish our stay could have been longer!!! This was in July so it was nice weather and NO humidity as we have here in the KC area summertime.

We also bought the City Pass for the time we were there, and also ate at Gino's West? My DH had seen it on the Food Channel and it was a must for him, I wish I could had some cheesecake at Eli's but never got around to it, weekend was too short!

We'll be back

 

[douglisa]

Field museum, Shedd Aquairium, Adler planetarium, Museum of Science and Industry are all must sees! At the desks to these places you can buy a booklet that grants you admission to all these places. I believe it was called the City Pass. It really helps you save lots of $$! Also you can plan to go on free days by looking @ the museum's web sites. Not all of them have free days though.There is a good fondue joint that I can not remember the name of downtown. Staying close to downtown is going to be very costly. Not only do you have to shell out lots to stay there but you also have to pay for parking! And that was crazy expensive too. We stayed in a town close by that had shuttle services to the tourist destinations. We stayed at a Hilton because we were on our honey moon. There were cheaper, you just need to do your homework. Try to stay away from driving during peak times. (when people are going to or from work) We learned the hard way by almost loosing our lives to some crazy semi driver that bullied his way out onto a buisey exit. One of the many crazy drivers challenged him and almost caused a huge pile up. Also have quarters ready for toll ways. People get rude if you are not ready! LOL Good luck and have a great time, Lisa

 

[marcyinPA]

My husband and I just returned this last weekend and we stayed at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers. I loved it as it was close to Navy Pier and within walking distance to Michigan Ave.

Look online and you could purchase a package that includes many of the attractions you mentioned. I think it is called The Chicago Go Card(?). If you go, I would recommend the Hancock Observatory, the Field Museum, the aquarium, and if your children are young (mine are 2 and 7) we went to the lego store, the american girl store, the hershey store and if you want to have the most excellent dessert ever - Grand Luxe Cafe. They make it fresh for you and they are to die for! (They also have the best margaritas too!) Hope that helps. We are planning to go back with the kids in June.

BEWARE! Parking is outrageous ($42.00 for valet which lets you come and go, but then you have to pay at your destination). We parked our car at the holtel and walked or took a cab.

I stayed at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers in November when I was there for conference. Really nice hotel in a great location. The beds were AWESOME!! Wish I could have brought that bed home with me....my own mattress stinks! We walked to Navy Pier, the Art Institute, and Michigan Ave. It was a very short walk to the bus stop too...we took the bus to the Field Museum. There is a great little breakfast place down the street from the hotel too...it's called the West Egg Cafe. AWESOME breakfast...huge portions and the prices weren't bad at all.

I loved Chicago and really want to take my family. I saw as much as I could in a short time, considering I was at the conference every day, but I still have so much more to see!

 

[Glenn]

I think someone mentioned the Art Institue which is on Michigan ave in the middle of downtown. Cubs tickets are very hard to come by. Once your sure of the dates check with the park first then you might have to try a broker. Some tickets are available on game day but you never know. Also North of the Pier you have Lincoln Park Zoo. The zoo is free but you do have to pay for parking. Its easy to walk around but can get busy on weekends during the summer. You can also easily take a bus there from downtown. And last if you see a Garrets Popcorn shop you have to try it. The carmel corn is to kill for. Have fun

 

[MelAnderson]

Boat cruises are nice too. Some leave from Navy Pier and take you around Lake Michigan. The Chicago Architecture Cruise is also nice & goes up the Chicago River and around. There is no need to drive anywhere in Chicago, nor would I encourage it, especially in the summer when various streets are closed due to summer festivals, happenings in Grant & Millenium Park, etc. Public transportation is readily available and reliable. If you do decide to go to Lincoln Park Zoo, DO NOT Drive, parking in Lincoln Park is horrific and the zoo's parking fee is an unnecessary expense IMO. You can walk to Michigan Avenue and take the 151 Sheridan bus & it will drop you off in front of the zoo's entrance. Parking in Lincoln Park is a nightmare! You can take the same bus back.

For wrigley, take the "L" red line train to their stop, or you can take a cab, it shouldn't be more than $15 from downtown, but public transporation IS the way to go. Right now, bus & "L" train fare is $2 one way, but you can get a CTA card at various price points. Hope you have a good trip!

 

[we3disneygo]

In the summer they have a free trolley going around town, we just walked or took the bus, we took my dad and step-mother who had never been to Chicago, she was amazed at how tall the buildings were !! have fun!

 

[Along4theRide]

My mom and I were there this past summer and can't wait to go back w/dd. I want to take her to American Girl. I want to get to another Broadway show while we're there too. We saw High School Musical and it was great!! Might check to see who will be there when you're there...if you're into that sort of thing

Also, I agree about the public transportation. It's really easy and soo much cheaper than paying for parking, not to mention the traffic!!

Good luck and have fun!

 

[DreamDelta]

The Chicago Children's Museum at Navy Pier is amazing! Your kids will love it!

 

[G&GMom]

We took the kids to Chicago last summer, at the time they were 6 &4. We used priceline and stayed at the Hyatt Regency on E. Wacker. We used public transportation to get everywhere we needed. We did navy pier, including the children's museum. We went to Shedd aquarium, the Field museum & adler planetarium. We also went to the museum of science and industry. I think we got in free to all of those places using our card from our local museum. We also went to American girl place. We had a great time, I think we were there 3-4 days.

 

[bkreitzel]

We never miss a HOUSE OF BLUES Gospel Brunch on Sunday morning. The music is absolutely AMAZING.