Chicago Tips

[spmarshall]

Need advice - and since others have been asking about NYC, I thought I'd give it a try.

What are the best bets in terms of things to do? I wanted to check out Oak Park (for FLW), ride some of the L lines,

Is it worth it to go up one of the towers? If so, Sears or Hancock?

Any good downtown architectural tours or buildings that are much sees? Any overlooked gems?

I couldn't find good deals on hotels that I'd feel comfortable at, so I'm considering just renting a car and staying in a suburb and doing the park-and-ride thing, but if anyone knows of any good cheap place, I'd love to hear about it! I'm going in just over a month from now.

 

[Observer Walt]

The subway runs right out to O'Hare Airport. Assuming you're flying into O'Hare, save a cab fare and take the subway downtown. A good deal of it runs above ground and you can start seeing the city right away.

The Aquarium is worth seeing IMO. It's right beside Lake Michigan. I remember sitting on benches facing a pool where they were doing a show with dolphins. With the lake immediately beyond, you felt as though you were sitting on the beach with nothing between you and the other side of the lake.

 

[adma]

The most underrated/undercelebrated architectural thing IMO is the museum of Science & Industry: that is, 1893 World's Fair exterior concealing an astonishing 1930s streamline-moderne orgasm of an interior...

 

[TdotTrickyRicky]

My info is a few years old. Stayed at the HI hostel in the south area of the loop. The art gallery is really good as is the aquarium. Definately go to a cubs game if you can. That area (rigleyville) is also one of the chief nightlife areas much more interesting then anything available downtown. There are several walking tours focusing on the rich architectural heritage downtown. The downtown area is very walkable. People say that John Hancock is the better lookout.

 

[wyliepoon]

A must ride... Wendella Chicago River and Lake Michigan boat tour!

www.wendellaboats.com/index.htm

 

[Investwhore]

If you're on a budget.....

I will be going to Chicago in the fall and plan to stay at the HoJo. It has secure parking and is located within walking distance of downtown attractions.

chicago-hotels.tripadviso...inois.html

If you don't have a car, the Cass Hotel is better - even more centrally located and cheaper.

tripadvisor.kdka.com/Hote...inois.html

Disclaimer: I have never been to Chicago but I heard of these hotels through a friend.

 

[Westend0r]

Re: If you're on a budget.....

i had a great time just came back yesterday! 3 days spent 600 including a ticket to see madonna! hotel split 4 ways car rental split 4 ways (06 nissan maxima) believe it or not only a tank and a half there and the same back. (sweet ass fast car also)

stayed at the travelodge (dont stay there!!) sketchy and dirty and saw a beatle size roach in the lobby!...location was fine almost right on michigan ave. south of the loop.

very walkable but the cool places seem to be far from the loop took alot of cabs.

we went to the hancock tower and had drinks at the signature lounge on the 96 floor ....instead of paying to go up to the observation deck on the sears u can spend that on a cold cocktail and get a better view!! elevator was creepy though we were there in like 20 secs lol... no lie
...go at night though!!


while you are there dont ever be afriad to ask ppl for directions or help cause they were all so nice and loved visitors... every time we got id'd they went off the hook how we came "all that way" "oh wow ONTARIO!!" was awesome!

i was not ready for the thick accent of residents though ...i liked it.

walk along michigan ave towards hancock at night absolutly beautiful ...an amazing street!! millennium park at night was soooooooooo cool!!! a must see!

the loop looks alot like toronto but the people certainly do not.

 

[spmarshall]

Re: If you're on a budget.....

Thanks.

I'm actually now planning to rent a car in Detroit - this is so I can check out some of the places along the way, and I was planning to go to Kenosha and Racine as well (for FLW and the "Transit Oriented Development" in Kenosha with our PCCs, so I think I'll stay in the burbs and park-and-ride it (at different L stops to have an excuse to ride different lines!). So Hancock is the better tower - that's very useful, and the types of tips I need.

 

[Brighter Hell]

Re: If you're on a budget.....

we went to the hancock tower and had drinks at the signature lounge on the 96 floor ....instead of paying to go up to the observation deck on the sears u can spend that on a cold cocktail and get a better view!! elevator was creepy though we were there in like 20 secs lol... no lie

Good call. I went to the 96th floor lounge too - a lot classier than the observation deck. we stayed at the Cass Hotel when we were there. A decent place for cheap. But then again that was 5 years ago and I was a student so my standards might have been lower then