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Sounds like we're going their, early summer? Daughter wants to see the "bean", where Chicago fire/PD is filmed, ride the "El train", some kinda walkway or boardwalk? etc.
What can y'all recommend - where to go, not to go, eat, stay, etc. Will be driving up.
Wife is thinking Congress plaza hotel, 520 s. Michigan Ave. Is this place worth it?
Safe area?
What attractions are nearby?
Thanks
My wife travels to downtown frequently for pleasure.
Hotel room rates fluctuate based on events going on in Chicago that weekend. We have paid anywhere from $140-$300 per night. Plus $35-40 per car per day. Best to reserve the room from the hotel, lock in your rate. If the rate goes down you ask and pay the lower rate. IF the rate goes up, your locked in. Call and check frequently if the rate went down. Then reserve at the new lower rate.
Stay on Michigan Ave., north of the Chicago river. More to come.
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Chicago has a lot to offer and a great place to visit. With that being said, I hate big cities. Hope skunkedagain has a good time.
Stay at one of the Hyatt north of Lake street, adjacent to Michigan ave. You will be near the lake front and most of the great restaurants.
We went last Dec. Stayed near michigan ave. Walked most places. Seen the bean. Never felt unsafe. People walking every where. Do not know about hotel you are talking about. All hotels cost too much. Want a place that is different, but spendy look up the purple pig. Have fun.
Quote:
Originally Posted by skunked again
What can y'all recommend - where to go, not to go, eat, stay, etc. Will be driving up.
Wife is thinking Congress plaza hotel, 520 s. Michigan Ave. Is this place worth it? It's a hotel, none of them are worth the money. Relatively safe area but that is a business area and the streets are not full of people after dark. Plus there is a very large park across the street. Wife stayed there once and didn't like it. Too far of a walk to food, attractions, and didn't feel safe after dark. The North Loop (north of the Chicago river) is safer because there are people out enjoying the sights after dark, walking to restaurants, etc. Plus all of the activities and shopping are north of the river. Michigan Mile. look it up.
Safe area?
What attractions are nearby?
Attractions- Navy Pier is a nice tourist trap area and full of activities, plus one mega sized Ferris wheel with a great view over lake Michigan. Children's Museum, etc.
Museum of Science and Industry is always a great place to go. Next to it is the Field Museum, and the Shed Aquarium.
There are numerous Malls in the area. Not sure how old your daughter is, however there is an American Doll store in the north loop too. Not too far from a Disney store.
One of the wife's and sister-in-laws favorite modes of transportation is either the water taxi or sight seeing tour trolley. Both are pay and ride all day type of things, get on and off as many times as you like all weekend.
IF you are staying north of Chicago River, there are a ton of places to eat. There are local favorites. A little known favorite is Billy Goats, it was featured in a Saturday Night Live skit many moons ago.
Driving- best to park the car at the hotel for the weekend and either take the aforementioned shuttles, a taxi, or walk. You won't find a parking place and if you do, it won't be cheap. Another option is to park the car in Bloomington and take the Amtrak train into town, catch a taxi to the hotel. Book the train early and it's cheap. Plus it can be faster than driving in Chicago traffic. Depending on time of day, figure at least 1 1/2 hours to go 20 miles on the interstate once you get to the sub-burbs. Amtrak also comes from the Galesburg area.
My wife and sister-in-law make the trip up there for 3-4 day weekends a couple times a year. I used to work in the South Loop.
There are a ton of things to do. I skimmed the tip of the proverbial ice-berg.
Always Tony and Tina's Wedding- life dinner theater set around an Italian wedding.
Dinner cruises out on Lake Michigan.
Ed Debevicks, although I here they may be closed.
All sorts of sports bars, restaurants (owned by famous players). Jordan's, Harry Carry's, etc.
Portillo's is a favorite- the one downtown has the Al Capone theme.
Then there is always Cubs Baseball and Wrigley Ville.
I have fished the Chicago River when we stayed at the Sheraton grand while my son was taking his Bar exam. the city of Chicago offers free fishing gear through there park district program to promote fishing. they will hook you up with rod/reel and bait. Even give you tips on where to go and how to fish. Chicago River is Bass, and Bluegill mostly. the bass have stunted noses from bumping up against the wall all the time.
That ought to get you started. Questions, ask!
The Hyatt is a good recommendation, great central location. Warwick Allerton is also a nice hotel, rooms are a little small. But it is also centrally located.
Hanr3 - Thank you so much! Our daughter is 15. We thought about taking the train from somewhere down here even. But decided not to, as we have family between here and their, gonna stop and visit. Daughter will also have her permit by then, she's wanting some drive time, so it's a win-win. Don't worry, she's not going to drive when we get close to Town!
We need to get a room booked soon, was playing around with rooms and prices last night, some are already booked.
Again, thank you.
Chicago has a lot of good pizza!
I never miss this place when in the area.
Chicago Pizza And Oven Grinder Co. | Chicago Pizza Company
One other thing. Check out the Segway tours. My daughter took that tour and she loved it.
Segway tours? Interesting, I'll check into it. Hotel booked today.
Good. If you don't mind, which one?Quote:
Originally Posted by skunked again
Best Western river north. Between the overall cost (lodging plus parking), location, reviews, etc, that's what they picked.
Thanks to all for the help!
Hanr3 - thank you so much for the detailed information!
I hope it helped. Your' welcome.Quote:
Originally Posted by skunked again
That hotel is real close the Hard Rock Café, Rainforest, and there used to be a Chicago style hotdog stand in that area, that was always my wife's favorite when we lived up there. I'll check with her and get the skinny on other places to eat in that area. You / they picked a good area.
Gotta hit up Giordano's for some deep dish pizza. Just be prepared to pay more for everything.
I got on Google maps and "drove" around some. Saw rainforest Cafe, it was real close. The three of us need to do this, and get a feel for what's where, of course I don't know how old those images are, it'll help though.
The funny thing is, at least on my phone, I could only go the wrong way on one way streets.
I'll tell them about Giordano's, hard rock, and investigate the hot dog stand.
It was my wife that picked it. I'd be lost without her.
Take the ladies shopping at Bloomingdales Mall and Water Tower Place. Be ready for sticker shock in both...
More realistic shopping, go to State Street.
Check out Cheesecake Factory, Portillos, Grand Lux, The Corner Bakery, Eggsperience, and Lou Malnattis (Pizza), for eats!!!
If you go to Portillo's get a chocolate cake shake, it will change your life
We went, we walked alot.
- Saw the bean
- rode the ferris wheel on navy Pier ( wife was NOT happy! That was to high for her, being in a little box. I didn't help things by trying to rock it!)
- ate at portillos. Hot dog and chocolate cake shake
- had a pizza at a joint on the pier
- did the lean out on whatever tall building
- stood out on the skydeck, again wife wasn't happy, but she did it. Beautiful view by the way.
- stopped at the firehouse where Chicago fire was filmed at. This is what triggered all of this for our daughter.
- drove through part of China Town? Wife was scared silly, daughter and me where laughing. :Rofl
- toured the Chicago theater
- rode an L train
- ate at a little place catty corner of the theatre.
- did a quick water tour of the lake front.
- wore my crappie.com hat !
Stopped at my brother's house on the way home.
It was a good trip. A very fast paced day and a half. Makes us love our town of 10000 even more ! !
Thanks to all for the help !
Walked some of the riverfront also
Sounds like a good weekend. Packed full of the typical tourism events. Chi-town is a nice place when you're away from the slim and crime areas.
See any cats or dogs in China Town?
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Nope ! I made that comment, asked if their where any restaurant around, i got a foul look.
ah,you went to chinatown.a couple blocks away is lawrences fish and shrimp on 22nd and canal.deep fried seafood heaven .i grew up in the city but live in the south burbs.i still work downtown when i have to.i have caught crappies in the chicago river near michigan ave.