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Now Chicago????

TKBosss

Shared on Thu, 05/27/2010 - 09:07

OK, don't know if my wife is smoking crack on the side or what, but last night she brought up that she thought we should go on vacation this summer. We looked at several destinations, Williamsburg, VA, Portland, ME, San Francisco, CA, and Chicago. We want to go somewhere interesting for the kids. Last September we did Boston to see the Rays play the Red Sox, plus all the great historic stuff in Boston that my 9 year old really digs (He loves the Revolutionary War).

Well, we also want to visit the ballparks slowly, so we eliminated Williamsburg, VA and Portland, ME. San Francisco is still a slim possibility, but I hate plane changes and lay overs with kids. So that leaves Chicago, which my wife is really excited about, because of the children's museum, Field's Museum, Brookfield Zoo, etc...... Well I happen to mention the LAN was in Chicago in August (we were planning to go in July) and she said "By all means let's change our plans, so you can spend a couple of days at the LAN with the 2o2pers". She said she could hit some of the kid's museums and the zoo when I was out at the LAN Friday and Saturday.

Now I know we have a lot of members in the Chicago area, so I have a couple of questions.

1. We are planning now to go like Aug. 1st or 2nd through August 8th, so we can do some family stuff before the LAN. Am I better off staying downtown and taking a cab out to the O'Hare Marriott for the LAN or staying out at the O'Hare Marriott and getting transportation daily into the city???

2. Is there a shuttle or train or something from the O'Hare Marriott to downtown, so we don't have outrageous cab bills???

3. Any family friendly suggestions to visit in Chicago for a 4 and 9 year old??? Beside Science Museum, Wrigley Field, Brookfield Zoo, Field's Museum and Children's Museum. We already plan on doing most of these. If we have to add a day or two more to our vacation so be it, but we want to do something fun and worthwhile.

 

As you can tell we are leaning on 99% going to Chicago for this vacation. Any suggestions is greatly appreciated!!!!!  BY THE WAY, DOING THE HAPPY DANCE!!!!! 

 

Comments

Lbsutke's picture
Submitted by Lbsutke on Thu, 05/27/2010 - 09:31
#1 take the train/subway to downtown. There is a station in the bottom of the Chicago airport (not Midway). #2 Take the train/subway. You can buy a daily/3 day/weekly pass that you can use trains and buses for. Plus there is a stop literally 300 yards from the Lan Hotel. It will be about a 45 minutes train ride from the lan hotel/airport to downtown Chitown. #3 Check Out the lan thread on stuff to do. I believe it is called Lan info for noobs or something. Navy pier is a lot of fun ( http://www.navypier.com) and you can take little boat tours call architectural tours that take you around the waterways of the city.
Samarah's picture
Submitted by Samarah on Thu, 05/27/2010 - 09:58
Go to Ed Debevic's to eat. Think Dick's Last Resort but for kids. Our daughter loved it. Get a City Pass for the sights.
JPNor's picture
Submitted by JPNor on Thu, 05/27/2010 - 10:04
I don't know crap about Chicago but I'm sure it's more interesting than Portland ME (I'm there about once a week). Also your wife sounds awesome if she is willing to change the dates like that.
godWHYme's picture
Submitted by godWHYme on Thu, 05/27/2010 - 10:50
#3. Navy Pier - When I went to chicago the way my gf talked about Navy Pier I had no interest in going. due to the brief time we where there. Sadly, when I went there it was pretty awesome but because of being rushed we couldn't spend much time there. Also, The Shedd Aquarium, they do a goofy little show now that seems more kid oriented but it was fun and if you like sea creatures in the slightest it was a fun day. Depending on how you do with heights or you family does with heights check out the sky deck at the sears tower, there is another location in the city with a better view but I don't remember it's name off hand.
TKBosss's picture
Submitted by TKBosss on Thu, 05/27/2010 - 12:26
Thanks for the great tips on things to see. Will have to see hotel-wise whichever my wife wants I guess. Either way no big deal as she was flexible so I could go, and she's entertaining the kids while I'm at the LAN. @godWhyme - Fear of heights is my greatest fear. I have a hard enough time flying anywhere. Sears Tower is OUT!!! Love aquariums though. We usually come up with that. Don't know what we were thinking. Anybody know anything about this "Tall Windy Ship"???
Samarah's picture
Submitted by Samarah on Thu, 05/27/2010 - 13:08
I'm pretty sure the John Hancock building is included with the City pass.
corbin_dallas's picture
Submitted by corbin_dallas on Thu, 05/27/2010 - 16:42
Be warned the Museums are pretty expensive. What's sad is when I was a kid they were all free. You can get to O'hare easily by taking the "L" I can't remember what line it is though(i stay away from the city as much as possible now, traffic sucks, parking is expensive) The tall ship would be at Navy Pier, it's a gimmicky tourist attraction. I'd say you'd be better off on the architectural tours down the river and on the lake. There are better restaurants than Ed Debevic's. No offense to the person who posted to go there but the place isn't what it used to be. Dick's Last resort is more fun if you ask me and I think the food is better. Make sure you hit at Garretts popcorn, your tastebuds will thank you.

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