OT Chicago Trip!!!

[OKWAnneMarie]

My husband and I will be going to Chicago for a business trip in June and I'm so happy to see this thread!

We will be staying at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. Is that in walking distance of the Miracle Mile? Will I be able to walk to the pier?

Can anyone recommend which boat tour to take?

I would really love recommendations on restaurants (from expensive to cheap).

Thanks everyone.

 

[Sandy321]

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

I agree - plus there are fewer rooms available to Priceline on Cubs game days!

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

CITY PASS is an incredible deal imho - unfortunately the Art Institute is no longer part of it (or wasnt when we went last Spring) IF you do go to the Art Institute - I do reccommend getting the headsets - DD 11 loved taking that tour!! (she did the adult tour btw, and it included the childrens tour!)

You can get City Pass ahead of time too!! Next to WaterTower Place is a visitor type building that you can purchase these and more tickets!!

http://www.citypass.com/city/chicago.html?id=tSZZAMX8

Get the 3DAY (or more day or less day) VISITOR BUS PASS!!

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!

It also can be crowded, and long waits - that was why I switched to the Bus Pass for $5 you can get on and off the Busses - it was great!! We come in the city via Union Train Station and purchase it there - we plan our trip by looking at the http://www.transitchicago.com/

for food and movies I always check out http://chicago.metromix.com/

The food court at WaterTower place is great - you get in line are taken to your table, and then you can make your food choices - it always confuses me to find the place - you have to go up escalators when you get in then go down an escalator to get to the food court!!

Have fun!!

 

[Sandy321]

My husband and I will be going to Chicago for a business trip in June and I'm so happy to see this thread!

We will be staying at the Hyatt Regency Chicago. Is that in walking distance of the Miracle Mile? Will I be able to walk to the pier?

Can anyone recommend which boat tour to take?

I would really love recommendations on restaurants (from expensive to cheap).

Thanks everyone.

http://www.chicagotraveler.com/boat_tours.htm
Some start from Navy Pier, some from the river by the Hyatt - Wendella is the River one that is famous, and a beautiful tour - I hosted an internet meet and this is the one we went on, all loved it..

You can walk, but its a long walk, the Hyatt will give you a map if you ask when you check in that is helpful for bus lines, etc - just ask them!! Its really a friendly place - we usually always stay at the Hyatt - Priceline this hotel just pops up for us!! I walk to the magmile "Michigan Ave" and take the 151 Sheridan Bus up to Water Tower - I always guess wrong and have to walk back south to get to the Disney Store!! lol

 

[Sandy321]

PS - those Double Decker Sightseeing Tours where you can hop on hop off - popular in many cities - according to my friend who travels a lot and lives near Nashville - this is one scary bus tour - it became comical - it was so bad - it took so long, they waited for people to get on - and once we made an unscheduled stop at a McDonald's because someone wanted to use the bathroom (across from the scheduled stop at Sears Tower!!)

Also Sears Tower gets a lot of the hype - just know you have to watch a movie before getting in the elevator to ride up -

John Hancock is across from Water Tower Place on Michigan Ave - and has great views!! If you have City Pass its included in that - the line moves very fast btw - and I've been known to bypass the line on shopping days and take the elevator up to the 42nd floor Coctail lounge - get the same views and DD gets a Shirley Temple, and I of course get an "adult beverage"!

http://www.signatureroom.com/
(the elevator for this is around the corner from the long lines to get up to see the observation deck - which is a neat view btw!!)

 

[MelAnderson]

Some of my favorite restaurants in downtown include:

Coco Pazzo (Italian - I like the one on St. Clair) - reasonably priced
The Saloon - (Steakhouse) on Chestnut in the Seneca Hotel, near Watertower Place - good food & prices
Bandera's (American) - on Michigan Avenue, near the Citibank - good prices, really good food.
Joe's Stone Crab - in the loop, expensive, excellent
Dao (Thai Food) - on Ohio Street, great food

Pizza is one of those subject where no one can agree, but I can tell you that I HATE Gino's East on Superior (I am not a fan of deep dish pizza, or the cornmeal crust) and I don't like Giordano's either, though many like it. D'Agostino's and Eduardo's are much better IMO.

Let me know if you have any more questions!

 

[Sandy321]

Have you ever eaten at Quartino's on State Street?

They were featured on Check Please

http://www.wttw.com/main.taf?erube_fh=wttw&wttw.submit.CPRestaurantDetail=1&wttw.RestaurantID=238

good Point on the Pizza

Ed Debevic's is another tourist place that can be fun for families - dh's father loves this place!!
http://featuredfoods.com/cgi-local/...?L+scstore+kbbn2392debevicff973697+1201815009

Thanks for your reccomendations - we're going in March and I've been looking through the Check Please places!!

 

[MelAnderson]

I haven't tried that place, but if it good good reviews on Check Please I would check it out. The cost is pretty good and the location is not far off of right in the heart of the city. Other good Italian, Spiagga (crazy money, good food), also there is a Cafe Spiagga, cheaper in price.

Ed Debevics is fun, though I haven't been there in a while.

Enjoy your trip! Though, I am soooo hating the snow that is currently falling.

 

[mom2my3kids]

Thanks for all the great information. I won't know the exact dates until the cubs release info and we purchase our cubs tickets. I am hoping for a few days during the week instead of a weekend but we will have to wait and see..I was kinda looking at hotel but they all seemed booked up or they are not taking reservations right now for summer..

 

[JulianneCP]

great thread thanks I just booked a surprise trip for my mom 70th bday in May we are staying at Embassy Suites/Lakefront good to know someone like it!

 

[J. Galt]

Lots of good advice here. I would just second the Embassy Suites suggestion. We've stayed here with the kids. We walked to Navy Pier and Michigan Ave (Big Disney Store! and American Girl Store). There was a Walgreens right next to the hotel and an upscale grocery store right across the street (or kiddie korner a bit maybe). That can be a lifesaver with little ones. I think there was a movie theater right next to the hotel too. Also... we had a really nice breakfast (full breakfast) and a manager's reception at night (cocktails, etc..). Tons of families staying here... kids running around all over the lobby. We felt very comfortable.

 

[maggiew]

Some of my favorite restaurants in downtown include:

Coco Pazzo (Italian - I like the one on St. Clair) - reasonably priced
The Saloon - (Steakhouse) on Chestnut in the Seneca Hotel, near Watertower Place - good food & prices
Bandera's (American) - on Michigan Avenue, near the Citibank - good prices, really good food.
Joe's Stone Crab - in the loop, expensive, excellent
Dao (Thai Food) - on Ohio Street, great food

Pizza is one of those subject where no one can agree, but I can tell you that I HATE Gino's East on Superior (I am not a fan of deep dish pizza, or the cornmeal crust) and I don't like Giordano's either, though many like it. D'Agostino's and Eduardo's are much better IMO.

Let me know if you have any more questions!

I like Coco Pazzo too. I took my MIL there when she visited, to give you an idea. It must be ok if I took MIL!

Although I disagree about Giordanos! Its my FAVORITE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That's where I was going to recommend.

There is a Cheesecake factory in the Hancock building. We often go there. Warning, the portions are huge. We always share!

Maggie

 

[daughtersrus]

I'm going to add Garrett's popcorn to your list. They have several stores downtown with the one on Michigan Ave being the busiest.

 

[sarahg311@hotmail.co]

We have stayed at the embassy suites with our kids and we loved it! The rooms are nice sized and the pool is great for the kids. The breakfast is really good as well! Another kid friendly restaurant that I would recommend is Food Life in Water Tower Place. Its kind of like a huge cafeteria with tons of different food stations so you can pick and choose different foods. If you can you must get some of Garretts popcorn! It's the best in the world!

 

[Hedy]

I'm going to add Garrett's popcorn to your list. They have several stores downtown with the one on Michigan Ave being the busiest.

If you;re at Sears Tower/Macy's, there's a smaller Garrett's that's much quieter.

 

[mom2my3kids]

We have stayed at the embassy suites with our kids and we loved it! The rooms are nice sized and the pool is great for the kids. The breakfast is really good as well! Another kid friendly restaurant that I would recommend is Food Life in Water Tower Place. Its kind of like a huge cafeteria with tons of different food stations so you can pick and choose different foods. If you can you must get some of Garretts popcorn! It's the best in the world!

Which Embassy Suites, there are so many different hotels to choose from..

 

[pixidust princess]

We are also planning to to Chicago this summer. We live in Illinois, about 3 hours away. You have a great plan in mind! I am pretty sure Cubs tickets go on sale Feb. 22, but someone please correct me if I am wrong. Dh and I have been several times, but this will be the first time with children. We stayed at the Sheraton Hotel and Towers several years ago and it was great. I am not sure where we are going to stay this time, as the prices for hotel rooms in the city are OUTRAGEOUS in my opinion. Have fun planning. When I have more time I am going to read all the posts to see if there are any ideas I have missed.

 

[traces7]

My DD (8) and I are going to Chicago at the end of March for spring break. We've been a couple times before, but this time are staying overnight. Does anyone know anything about the Four Points Sheraton. We're thinking of staying there and getting their American Girl package. Is it a pretty good hotel? It's close to American Girl Place, which we wanted.
We'll be going to American Girl Place and Cafe and the Museum of Science and Industry.
Thanks for any help!

 

[vsimeone]

My girlfriend and I do a "girls' weekend away" shopping trip to Chicago every year! Last year we stayed at the Sheraton Four Points and enjoyed it. It's clean and convenient and has a Trader Joes right behind it

This year, we are NOT doing a budget trip. We are staying at the Omni but we got 1/2 price rooms from the Entertainment Book. All of the weekends that we wanted to go either had NO availability ANYWHERE or were outrageously priced. This is our compromise!

I hope everyone has a fantastic time on their Chicago trips! I can't WAIT til ours - March 7-9th!

 

[MelAnderson]

The Four Points Sheraton is on Ontario and only a few blocks from American Girl. I think that it looks fine, though I haven't stayed there. There is a Pizzeria Uno which a lot of people like almost across the street from the hotel. You're about 1.5 blocks west of Michigan.

 

[Ricky's Girl]

I'm planning a mid October trip with my best buddy. Signing on so I can learn more.