Weekend in Chicago w/kids? Parking?

[kellia]

We are thinking of taking our 3 kids (14, 7, 7) to Chicago for a 3 day weekend next month during their spring break. Would it be extra busy at that time? We have never been there and I'm clueless! We wanted to see the museums, since we can do that for free with our museum membership, and the Lego place. We are undecided about doing either the Sears tower (or whatever they changed the name to) or the aquarium.

We would be driving there, but have no idea if we can park in the city? We'd like to stay a little farther out to save money on the hotel, but would we want to drive our car in or is there some transportation we can take? Or is there a cheaper place to stay downtown that anyone can recommend? How do you get around when you are downtown? Just walk or are there shuttles or anything? (Sorry, lived my life in the suburbs! )

Any suggestions would be appreciated!! We are trying to keep this a "budget" trip as much as possible.

 

[skip323]

We did spring break there a couple of years ago (with a 6 and 8 year old...I think that was it). We had a great time and now my girls pretty much expect to go each year! Over spring break we rode the train in. After that, the Megabus. I don't like driving in Chicago so we ride in, take a cab to the hotel and then walk or take the CTA buses everywhere we need to go.

Most of the hotels downtown charge for parking. I think there may have been one that did not. I do think, if you are willing to deal with the traffic, that you could drive downtown and find parking but my memories of parking have always been terrible...meaning dh and I drove in once for dinner with friends and ended up with a $40 parking bill for not much time spent there.

I think their public transportation is pretty user friendly. My girls and I rode the CTA from Michigan Ave to the Science and Industry Museum...no problem. The hotel had a list of tourist spots and the buses needed to get there. That was super inexpensive and easy. The year we went to Navy Pier, we were also staying near Michigan Ave and rode the Trolley which was free.

We have done the Aquarium and Science and Industry. We have also taken in some really great shows. We walk around all over Michigan Ave. We have done the "bean". We have walked along the shoreline. Just lots of fun things and we don't pay a lot. I have found pretty good deals online (usually through www.travelzoo.com) for hotels...especially at spring break!

I did lots of research and found discount coupons for attractions (searched online). I also found that there were places that offered discounts for myself and dh working in education (he and I both got into the Aquarium for free).

I like www.tripadvisor.com for ideas of where to stay and places to visit. I also searched on disboards for information on Chicago....lots of information on this board!

Have fun!

 

[Gr8t Fan]

You definitely don't want to have to park downtown. Most hotels do not include parking and it can cost well over $40 a night. DH had to park downtown the other day and is was $30 for 2 hours . Unfortunately it was an emergency and couldn't be avoided.

If you get a hotel in the suburbs you can take the Metra train downtown. Public transportation in Chicago is very user friendly.

 

[Prose]

We did Chicago this past summer, and I can totally recommend the tour of Wrigley Field. You go into the press box, the player locker rooms, the dugout and on the field. Very fun! We also enjoyed going up the Sears Tower (oh, what is it called now? I forget the new name!) and standing in the clear box that hangs you out over the street below. Funny, I hate heights but it didn't bother me at all -- DH has no problem with heights and hated it. We also had fun eating at Ed Debevic's - a crazy diner with wait staff that really plays their parts to the hilt. We took public tranportation everywhere - it was so easy.

 

[IndianaPrincess]

This is the only hotel that I know that is close to the action and has free parking.

http://www.hojo.com/HowardJohnson/control/Booking/property_info?propertyId=01752

 

[budbeerlady]

We live in Michigan but take the Indiana commuter train in from Michigan city. Once you are downtown its super easy to get around. We walk 90% of the time to where we need to be. If you know where you want to be google maps has walking directions you can use to get around. If I am not 100% sure I print that out and carry it in my purse.

And EAT AT ED's! (Its Dd's favorite, her eyes popped out of her head when they danced on the counter tops.) The walk from Navy Pier to Ed's is rather long so we take the free trolley from Navy Pier and walk the last couple of blocks.

 

[aladams2]

We just booked on Michigan Ave for this summer at Comfort Suites. We are paying $137 a night and $30 for parking. But we didn't want to waste our time commuting. For that price we get a bedroom with a King bed, a pull-out sofa, full kitchen, and washer/dryer. We are going for 6 nights so we can heat up leftovers and bring in some food to make sandwiches, ect. Plus, they have free continental breakfast which is a huge bonus for us.

 

[LoveKermit]

We prefer to drive to the city, but we are familiar. It would help to know around where you plan to stay to help with transportation. My aunt and her family were able to take the train downtown and get themselves to the museums. You might want to drive to Science and Industry. It's a hike south. Don't know if they charge for parking.

In the summer (and maybe over spring break)--there is a free trolley that goes many places. You could probably find that on a City of Chicago website. If the weather is bad (or hot) the thing can be PACKED! We've actually walked instead of taking it. But I would think it wouldn't be that bad in March.

Let us know what more specific questions you have. I'd be happy to help.

 

[KarenC]

For user friendly public transportation options see www.metrarail.com . All of the schedules for all of the lines are posted there. If you want to go to the Lego place, someplace along the Milwaukee District West line would be convenient. Most suburban train stations have parking available for a reasonable daily fee.

 

[Amy8888]

My family lives in the suburbs of Chicago and I can't drive downtown, so I always take the El in. They live near Midway so I drive there, park in one of the lots (there are some that are pretty cheap-they run a shuttle through the parking lot I use because it is so huge), and then I take the Orange Line (there are also lines from O'Hare and other places in the suburbs) into the city. That will take you right to the Loop, and you can either walk or take other public transportation to get where you need to go downtown.

 

[nilseks]

I'm assuming you mean the Lego place in Schaumburg, correct? That is about an hour from downtown Chicago--you might want to stay somewhere inbetween. There are lots of place on the NW side of Chicago, near O'Hare that are right off the expressway and have free parking at the hotels. Lots of nice restaurants there (look up the 'Edison Park' area) and less expensive than downtown.

As for whether you can park downtown--yes there are literally probably THOUSANDS of places to park but they are all very expensive. If you get down there early enough you might be able to get one of the few meter spots left near the museum campus, but they are hard to come by. Your best bet is to park in one spot and use public transportation all day (or if you stay near O'Hare you can take the train in).

 

[Kuffam]

I would find a hotel away from the city, but near the Metra station and take the train in. Plus you can get a multiple day CTA/PACE visitor pass that makes getting around the city easier and fun. I would also plan to visit Lincoln Zoo (it's free) and you could also goto the John Hancock skydeck instead of Willes Tower (former Sears Tower).

 

[Psychodisney]

I think the free trolley was discontinued last year to help with budget cuts.

 

[bear_mom]

We live in Michigan but take the Indiana commuter train in from Michigan city. Once you are downtown its super easy to get around. We walk 90% of the time to where we need to be. If you know where you want to be google maps has walking directions you can use to get around. If I am not 100% sure I print that out and carry it in my purse.

And EAT AT ED's! (Its Dd's favorite, her eyes popped out of her head when they danced on the counter tops.) The walk from Navy Pier to Ed's is rather long so we take the free trolley from Navy Pier and walk the last couple of blocks.

This is what we do too. The commuter train is a great way to get into the city. Once we are in the city we get a vistor's pass for the EL and buses - check the metra website for where to buy them or you can get get them through the mail if you have enough time. I think it is like $5 for 24 hours, $9 for 48 hours. Unlimited rides (7 and under are free).

They also have a place where you can enter your starting and ending point and it tells you which buses/EL to take.

Emily

 

[kellia]

If we stay by the airport, how long does it take to get into town via the train?

LOL! I am SO confused looking at all the train and bus maps. I am just afraid of getting stuck somewhere with whiney, tired kids because it didn't look that far on the map! Can we just pay for a bus anywhere or do we need a pass in advance? How do I tell where the busses are going? Like I said, I like my car!

 

[bear_mom]

If we stay by the airport, how long does it take to get into town via the train?

LOL! I am SO confused looking at all the train and bus maps. I am just afraid of getting stuck somewhere with whiney, tired kids because it didn't look that far on the map! Can we just pay for a bus anywhere or do we need a pass in advance? How do I tell where the busses are going? Like I said, I like my car!

We stayed out by Midway once and it took about 45 minutes to get from downtown out to the airport using the EL. It is pretty easy to figure out how to use the buses and EL, there are signs at all the stops. You can pay as you go, you can buy passes that you add money to or you can buy the vistor's pass. I think it is something like $1.25/1.50 per ride, so the visitor's pass is much cheaper if you are going to be using public transportation.

I much prefer the buses/EL to driving in Chicago. The traffic is bad and it hard to navigate in a with all the traffic (vehicle and pedestrian) and parking is way expensive.

Emily

 

[LoveKermit]

OP--If you like your car, then drive. I know everyone has a different view of expensive. But I know a lot about 3/4 blocks off Michigan Ave that drops you out by the old Amer Girl and on a weekend is like $19 after 4 hours. For all day parking, I don't find that to be outrageous (your on vacation, right?). Ed D's has it's own lot and I've been by there in recent times and the crowds don't seem to be what they used to.

Lincoln Park Zoo has the worst parking, but maybe not on a weekday (though I think you said long weekend).

Most (if not all) Schaumburg hotels have train shuttles. It's about 15-20 min depending on which station. Shoot, I could almost take you

Last time I needed a lot near Macy's on State, I just googled to find the lot and then memorized (since I know the city okay enough) the one-ways to be sure DH didn't get us turned around. I could also have printed it.

Driving is do-able--especially on a weekend. The expressways in and out might give you a headache, just allow enough time.

PM me if you want more driving info.

 

[budbeerlady]

OP--If you like your car, then drive. I know everyone has a different view of expensive. But I know a lot about 3/4 blocks off Michigan Ave that drops you out by the old Amer Girl and on a weekend is like $19 after 4 hours. For all day parking, I don't find that to be outrageous (your on vacation, right?). Ed D's has it's own lot and I've been by there in recent times and the crowds don't seem to be what they used to.

Lincoln Park Zoo has the worst parking, but maybe not on a weekday (though I think you said long weekend).

.

True Ed's if you are going there has its own parking. It hasn't been as bad out there as it used to be, the last 2 times we were able to grab a meter spot right next to Ed's when my friend drove us in from Indiana on a Saturday. We just walked up to Michigan Ave from there to American Girl. A couple of blocks up is also the Rainforest Cafe. We flip between Rainforest and Ed's depending on the mood.

The zoo, we can never find a close spot there! Its very cool but a pain to park at.

I worry less about the parking and more about the driving downtown. We live in the country so I don't daily navigate 4 lanes with buses and taxis. I dont want to look for the street I want and drive thru that . So we walk or take the water taxi around. That's our new favorite way around, Dd loves the ride and it was easy on the feet.

 

[deerhart]

The museum campus has onsite parking. It will cost you about $15-$20 for the entire day (it may have been as low as $12, but I forget).

We went last year for memorial day. We stayed out by Midway and parked at the campus parking. For the Field Museum/Shedd, parking is at Soldier's Field. The Museum of Science and Industry has it's own garage underneath it for parking.

 

[CoP Luv]

We stayed out by Midway once and it took about 45 minutes to get from downtown out to the airport using the EL. It is pretty easy to figure out how to use the buses and EL, there are signs at all the stops. You can pay as you go, you can buy passes that you add money to or you can buy the vistor's pass. I think it is something like $1.25/1.50 per ride, so the visitor's pass is much cheaper if you are going to be using public transportation.

I much prefer the buses/EL to driving in Chicago. The traffic is bad and it hard to navigate in a with all the traffic (vehicle and pedestrian) and parking is way expensive.

Emily

The EL is $2.25 pp/per ride. They sell 3 day passes.

From O'Hare, it is about 45 min - 1 hour on the EL. There are a TON of stops to get downtown. If I could, I would stay downtown. It is a lot easier to take breaks during the day and go back to your hotel than it would be if you were communting all the way out to the suburbs.

If you wanted to take the Metra, you could always look at Evanston. It is right on the lake, great restaurants, and only a 15-20 minute train ride downtown. The Metra also has $5 weekend passes, so it makes it very affordable.