Chicago Itinerary

We may be in Chicago from June 30 to July 6.

What do you recommend most in Chicago and can you recommend some day trips from Chicago? We are willing to rent a car if needed.

Can you recommend some hotels in the Magnificent Mile or other good downtown area?

Thanks.

Chicago Itinerary

In terms of what I recommend most of the ';main attractions';, I would say the Art Institute and the Field Museum. After that, I would say, in no particular order, the Shedd Aquarium, LP Zoo, Hancock Observatory, Michigan Ave, seeing a ballgame at Wrigley, Museum of Science and Industry, The Chicago Historical Society and the Cultural Center, as well as a boat tour. Navy Pier is really the only attraction I%26#39;d say skip, as I think its cons outweigh its pros, especially in the Summer, when the Pier seems to bake in the Summer sun.

I can%26#39;t really think of any ';day'; trips right now, as most of the nearby trips are more 2-day trips, such as Starved Rock State Park (to the SW of Chicago) or Lake Geneva (to the North of Chicago, in Wisconsin.)

In terms of hotels, it depends on budget. You mentioned in another thread that your hotel budget was $110 a night max. In that case, I would recommend using Priceline to bid on a 4* in either of the main Priceline downtown areas: the River North/North Michigan Ave. area or the Millennium Park/Loop/Grant Park area. If you%26#39;ve never used Priceline before, it is a non-refundable, deep discount service where you ';bid'; for a room in a certain area at a certain star rating (for example, a 4* in the River North/North Michigan Ave. area.) The service searches to see if any hotels in that area at the star rating you picked will accept your price and if one does, it automatically books you there for those dates at that rate and the resevation is not refundable and cannot be changed.

In your case, I would recommend bidding for a 4* in either of the main downtown areas mentioned above for $85 a night. If that is not accepted, then you are not charged and can bid for $90 24 hours later.

Chicago Itinerary

Thanks so much for these ideas. As far as hotels, here are some I can get at a reasonable price.

Hampton Inn

Hilton Downtown

Palmer Hilton

Fairfield Inn %26amp; Suites

Do you have an opinion on any of these as far as quality and location?

Thanks.

Depending on how long of a day can you make. My huband and I make few day trips, but we leave about 6am to come back home by midnight or couple hour after midnight. You can google them for more info and how far they can get.

* Milwaukee, WI (about 2/3 hours)

* Starved Rocks (about 3 hour drive)

* St. Louis, MO (5-6 hr non stop drive). ANd the only main attraction is the arch.

* Lake Geneva (about 3 hour drive)

* Wiscondin Dells ( 4 hour drive) - Please keep atleast 2 days since Dells is all about waterparks.

%26lt;%26lt;Thanks so much for these ideas. As far as hotels, here are some I can get at a reasonable price.

Hampton Inn

Hilton Downtown

Palmer Hilton

Fairfield Inn %26amp; Suites

Do you have an opinion on any of these as far as quality and location?

Thanks.

%26gt;%26gt;

All four are very nice hotels, but I think they%26#39;re all different and have their benefits.

In terms of the Fairfield and the Hampton Inn (if you mean the Hampton on 33 West Illinois St.), these would be more basic hotels, but offer breakfast and be in the very nice River North/North Michigan Ave. area, which offers more nightlife and dining options than the Loop. Of these two, the Hampton would be the better located and the one I%26#39;d go with, as it%26#39;s located a block from a subway station. If you stayed in the North Michigan Ave. area, it%26#39;s not difficult to get to the Loop area and vice versa.

The Palmer and the Hilton and Towers are historic 4* hotels, but don%26#39;t offer breakfast (unless you were able to get a package deal) and would be in the Loop, which, while putting you closer to museums, is an area that offers less nightlife and can be quite quiet at night. The Hilton Towers is also in the South Loop which, while closer to the museum campus, otherwise really does not have much right around it aside from college buildings and apartments. Depending on what%26#39;s available, rooms at the Palmer may also be quite small. The Palmer is also undergoing renovation, but that shouldn%26#39;t cause noise in the rooms.

For day trips, look at the Chicago Botanic Garden and the Ravinia Music festival (can combine these two easily) or Brookfield Zoo and the Frank Lloyd Wright Home and Studio in Oak Park (Brookfield Zoo and Oak Park are close together).

For a day in the city, but not in the tourist zone, try

- the Lincoln Square neighborhood (old German area with a newer influx of artists, plus the Old Town School of Folk Music for concerts)

- Bucktown/Wicker Park (Garfield Conservatory, art galleries, lots of restaurants and a funky atmosphere).

- Prairie Avenue Historic District/Chinatown/Printers Row (the near south side of downtown)

- Hyde Park (the Museum of Science and Industry, University of Chicago, Jackson Park)

These can all be reached by train or bus. A car is optional in Chicago.

Are there any 1/2 day or day tours from Chicago that would pick me up at the hotel. It would be great if I didn%26#39;t have to drive at all on this trip but also be able to leave the big city at times.

Thanks.

Great day trip... New Buffalo / Union Pier / Saint Joseph Michigan... fabulous beaches... great shopping... amazing restaurants and quaint wineries... you%26#39;ll love it... and it%26#39;s an hour and 15 minutes from downtown. it%26#39;s actually the weekend destination of many from Chicago.

Amish Country Indiana - it%26#39;ll be laid back, relaxing, and not so far of a drive...only about an hour and a half...

Like Football... go to South Bend, check out the museum, the campus... the Chocolate Company... and stop at the Indiana Dunes on your way back into Chicago for the beach / sunset .... it%26#39;s about an hour and a half as well.

WE%26#39;ve stayed at the Hyatt many times on cheap deals... and LOVE it... also, surprising, the Holiday Inn City Center was redone not long ago, and shockingly nice for a Holiday Inn. The Wyndham is in a good location, and usually has great deals on priceline... And, one of our favorites, which is actually a little bit away from downtown is the Hyatt at McCormick Center... because it%26#39;s not right downtown, it%26#39;s a little cheaper if it%26#39;s not conference time... the views are AMAZING!!! And they have a shuttle to downtown, with a driver who will drop you off wherever you want to go!!! IT%26#39;s worth staying away, unless you are planning to stumble home from the bars.

ALso, you%26#39;ll be there during the taste of CHicago, so any room is going to be expensive... and the fireworks as well... so getting a place downtown may mission impossible now. That said, try the Hyatt...

Also, FYI, we tried to take my roomates daughter to the taste of chicago last summer... a disaster... literally a million people in Grant Park.. .it%26#39;s worth it if you%26#39;re adults and not afraid to be in the crowd... but if you don%26#39;t like crowds... AVOID, AVOID, AVOID.

Another day trip option is House on the Rock in Wisconsin.

1/2 day trips with no car:

You could take the Metra up to Ravinia on Sunday. It%26#39;s a free day with performances by the Chicago Youth Symphony. Ravinia is a beautiful outdoor concert venue, and the Metra (train) drops you off right there.

Oak Park is accessible via Metra or the Green Line (CTA). It%26#39;s Hemingway%26#39;s birthplace and has the largest collection of Frank Lloyd Wright buildings.

http://www.metrarail.com

http://www.transitchicago.com

www.thelocaltourist.com/daytrips/daytrips.htm