brichardson1991

ABOUT US.....

We will both be 22 years old by the time we fly out and have recently completed university. We are coming over to the USA to experience the big cities, the bars, the beaches, the culture and hopefully meet lots of new people...

ABOUT THE TRIP...

Myself and a friend are flying out to Chicago on Mon 22nd July and fly home to England from Las Vegas on Mon 26th August. We plan on spending 14 days in the mid-west before flying out to Boston (flight yet to be booked) where we will spend time with family in New Hampshire for 4 days and then go Boston itself for 3 days on our own. We will then fly out to San Francisco where we will spend 14 days in Califormia (finishing in LV).

In the mid-west possible destinations (other than Chicago) are: Chicago, Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Kansas City, San Jose, Indiannapolis, Cedar Rapids, Cincinnati, Columbus.

For California we are hoping to do as much if the coast (and LA) as we can.

WE NEED HELP...

Transport:

We have yet to decide how we will get about. I know greyhound buses are cheap and go to most major cities but will it be feasible to get a car for a week in the mid-west maybe? In people's experience what is the best way of getting around? Obviously you don't need a car once your in the city, but a car means you can go anywhere you want!

Destinations:

Although we have a rough idea of places we still have no specific plan of where we will go n the mid-west and Cali

Places To Stay:

Does anyone know of any cheap hostels/motels in destinations you feel we may be interested in going in the mid-west/ Cali?

We are open to any suggestions:

E.g if you feel we should only spend 7 days in Chicago/Milwaukee then fly out to the East Coast for a week instead.

Many thanks in advance for your help

Ben

sunbum1944

Have you heard of "couch surfing?" Apparently there is a website- the traveller can contact people listed on the site and you can stay at their homes- I assume you do some emailing back and forth to determine if you are a match. I think you do not pay them

I have a young friend from France who has done this all over the world. Said she had no bad experiences- well except once there was a bug problem. Other than that, she has only met great people- so check that out for some inexpensive stays.

nytraveler

Am not sure if you have been to the US before - but IMHO you are missing the two best sightseeing venues NYC and Washington DC.

Until you have spend 5 or 6 days in each one seeing places like Milwaukee, Columbus or Cincinnati make no sense whatsoever. (Perfectly fine places to live but not exactly hotbeds of tourism.)

As for car rental - when you're under 25 it's very difficult - some places will rent to you but many won't - and there will be a premium charged.

Also - as far as bars are concerned be sure you have your passport with you at all times. Out legal drinking age is 21 and you will be carded everywhere - yes, even for beer.

Hosteling International has a good reputation - I know the one in NYC gets very good reviews, is very cheap - $40 per night for a dorm room bed and locker - and they also have their own tours and lots of advice/services. Not sure how many cities they have branches in.

Gretchen

Nothing against the great Midwest of our wonderful country but it is an interesting emphasis. Is there a reason you have chosen Minnesota, Iowa and Indiana?
Buses are really not a very good possibility for transport in the US, and aren't particularly cheap either. I hope you can rent a car for your sightseeing.
I have to wonder if this is a real post actually.
No NYC. No WashingtonDC. We're gonna do Cincy, Columbus and Indianapolis.
Legs gettin' pulled here.

HappyTrvlr

Cincy, Columbus and Indianaoplis?No. Minneapolis, yes, and Chicago is a wonderful city to explore. Why not fly to Boston first, then Chicago, next to California and LV? If you can include NYC, that would be a huge plus.

Gretchen

She also mentions "beaches". I'm not sure where they are unless they are counting on LA for them.
REally--boston over NYC also? I "get" LV although you couldn't pay me to go!!

Gretchen

She also mentions "beaches". I'm not sure where they are unless they are counting on LA for them.
REally--boston over NYC also? I "get" LV although you couldn't pay me to go!!

sunbum1944

Poster also mentions San Jose as part of the midwest with perhaps a stop in Cedar Rapids- Hmmmm!

cw

For Boston, look at staying at the new Boston Hostel on Stuart St. It's well-located for sightseeing and has been well-reviewed since opening.
http://bostonhostel.org/

exiledprincess

Oh, to be 22 again and anticipating adventures in a new destination! Actually the excitement of the latter never lessens, does it?

I'm going to give you a lot of information in an attempt to help you a little with your Midwestern U.S. portion of the trip. But before I do so, there are a few general things which I wanted to mention.

Rental cars: I believe that most (if not all) of the major rental car agencies require that operators be at least 25 years of age. This will severely handicap you in certain areas, particularly smaller cities and/or towns, because those destinations may only have very limited public transportation system or perhaps none at all. So, even if you reach there by public transportation, you'll have to research what other means of conveyance are available to you once you get there.

Public transportation in cities: Not all cities are created equal. For example, you certainly do not want a rental car in downtown Chicago or Boston. However, that same reasoning doesn't apply to other cities where a car is a great boon, if not close to a necessity. So you really have to look at all of your destinations, once you decide upon them, and see if the public transportation available (if any) will fit your needs.

The websites which you might be interested in for public transportation in the Midwest (and other areas):

Megabus
Greyhound (and you would be looking at the Express area, specifically)
The South Shore and South Bend Railroad - aka The South Shore (www.nictd.com) - more on that later
Amtrak
In Chicago (CTA) and the Suburbs (Metra)

While you are in Chicago, it would really behoove you to invest in a CTA's Visitor's Pass. This allows *unlimited* travel for 24/7 for however many days you purchase (they come in 1-day, 3-day and 7-day increments). Groupon recently had a special running for discounted 3-day passes - not sure if it still is applicable but check into it.

When you fly into Chicago O'Hare, you would take the CTA Blue Line to the downtown area (aka "The Loop"). You might take a few minutes and look at the maps on the CTA website to acquaint yourself with where the various attractions are located in Chicago.

In Chicago, lodging can be very expensive. And prices fluctuate constantly because Chicago is a major convention and event destination. So when there is a large event/convention, the rates reflect the situation. Because you are younger, don't have a family (I assume) and on a very limited budget, you might be interested in looking into a hostel - which is basic dorm-like lodging, usually equipped with bunk beds and shared bath facilities (although some do have more private rooms).

There are hostels in several areas of Chicago, and most are in neighborhoods more removed from the Loop area. The Chicago International Hostel is in the southern portion of the Loop on Congress (a boulevard). Please keep in mind that if you (or circumstances) choose a hostel further away from the centralized Loop area, you will be spending (perhaps) much more time getting to whatever attractions you want to enjoy.

If you go this direction for lodging, I strongly recommend that you read the reviews on Tripadvisor's website for whatever hostel you consider. It will give you information about how to better your experience - such as how to reserve lower bunks instead of upper; bringing necessary/desired equipment such locks, earplugs, etc.; if you are going to be lodging at a number of hostels, perhaps getting a membership ahead of time instead of paying the fees at the separate ones, if applicable.

Your other possible option is to stay out at a hotel near O'Hare for perhaps some of the time (if the rates are too high downtown). Again, keep in mind that staying further away from the centralized Loop area will result in wasting more time commuting to/from.

Chicago is situated on the shoreline of Lake Michigan - which is really a great inland sea. So you can visit some of the beaches there, if you wish.

If you wanted to visit some beaches outside of the Chicago area, then I would recommend you consider:

Taking the South Shore and South Bend Railroad (from the Millennium Metra station at Randolph & Michigan in downtown Chicago) to the Dune Park or Beverly Shores stops. The Dune Park stop is about a mile walk from the Indiana Dunes State Park and the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Beverly Shores is a small town (pop. about 600) where you can rent bikes and/or walk to some beaches. Take a look at the NICTD's website under the Indiana attractions and you can find out more information on them. Because the South Shore is a commuter service, it is less expensive than Amtrak.

For some more beaches, you could possibly take Amtrak to New Buffalo, Michigan. However, even though they have several times daily, I normally don't recommend this option unless it is an overnight trip - and the lodging available to you without a car at your disposal may exceed your budget restraints.

Using Metra: If you are spending more than 3 days in Chicago and want to visit some outlying attractions, you can take Metra to various locations in the suburbs, such as the Brookfield Zoo (although the Lincoln Park Zoo in Chicago is free everyday - not as extensive as the Brookfield Zoo by any means but a nice option); to Oak Park for Frank Lloyd Wright architecture; the lovely Chicago Botanic Gardens (free admission) in Glencoe - would necessitate about a 1 mile walk to and from to get there from the Braeside station, but it's definitely something to consider; or to Ravinia.

You can take Amtrak (and at least Greyhound Express, perhaps other options as well) to Milwaukee, but then research what public transportation options you require when you get there. The cost of numerous cabs may be outside your budget.

Free and less expensive things to seriously consider for Chicago:

The free Chicago Greeter Service. Read their website thoroughly. For a personalized tour, you need to reserve in advance. For the InstaGreeter tours, you need only to show up at the appropriate location at the right time (there are several locations around the city).

The Chicago Architecture Foundation. I cannot stress to you how highly I recommend that you splurge for their River Tour. However, if that isn't in the cards, go on one of their less expensive walking tours.

If you cannot afford the River Tour mentioned about, Chicago has water taxis. Water taxis are just what they say - no narration involved (that's where the CAF River tour excels - you know what you are looking at and learn a lot about architecture throughout). Two companies: Shoreline and Wendella. They have different docking areas and different price ranges. For example, Shoreline travels from the Willis Tower to Navy Pier on their river route and from Navy Pier to the Museum Campus on their harbor route. Whereas, Wendella doesn't go as far as Navy Pier, but it does have a route from N. Michigan Avenue (by the Wrigley Building) to Chinatown.

The Chicago History Museum has inexpensive tours as well. This is located in the Gold Coast neighborhood (a "neighborhood" in Chicago is just part of the city proper, not a suburb).

If you take my advice and get the CTA Visitor's Passes, then you can easily get to any desired neighborhood in Chicago. The big plus is that there are many more less-expensive and varied independent eating establishments the further away you are from the most "touristy" areas (the "Loop", River North and the Magnificent Mile). Evening entertainment is less expensive, too.

On the Choose Chicago and/or Chicago Greeter websites, you can see information about the various neighborhoods. The ones which I would recommend you consider: Hyde Park, Chinatown, Gold Coast, Old Town, Lincoln Park, Lakeview (and the areas contained therein: Boystown, Wrigleyville - around historic Wrigley Field, and the N. Southport Corridor), Wicker Park/Bucktown, Lincoln Square, and Andersonville. The Loop and River North are also neighborhoods in their own right. The Magnificent Mile is not as it is N. Michigan Avenue from the Chicago River north to Oak Street. The area to the east of the Magnificent Mile is called Streeterville.

The museums will be pricey for you, if you are going to any. The basic admission for any particular one may not be, but when you start including on fees for the extra exhibits (which you probably will want to see), etc., it does add up. Of all of them, I would put the Art Institute at the very pinnacle of the list (their admission normally includes all exhibits - AND I would recommend getting their audio tour for the addition $5 to further enhance the experience).

The Art Institute is immediately south of Millennium Park, where many free concerts (and rehearsals for the same) are performed at the Frank Gehry-designed Jay Pritzker Pavilion. You can picnic on the Great Lawn while listening.

Of course, walking is absolutely free. The best walks I would recommend are these:

Along the Lakefront Trail - starting from the Museum Campus (take the #146 SB CTA bus there, using those Visitor's Passes). Then you just walk north along the Lakefront Trail. You will pass Monroe Harbor and Buckingham Fountain along the way. You cannot miss the latter, as it is the largest fountain in the western hemisphere. You can continue on from Buckingham Fountain westerly to the Art Institute on S. Michigan Avenue or northwesterly to Millennium Park. Either way, you are walking through Grant Park.

The Chicago Riverwalk - south side of the Chicago River, starting at the Vietnam Veteran's Memorial (at Wabash Plaza, between State Street and Wabash) eastwards to the Lakefront Trail.

On Astor Street in the Gold Coast. Only 4 blocks long - from Division (1200 N.) to North Avenue (1600 N.). It is largely considered one of the most beautiful streets in Chicago, with significant architecture.

Through Lincoln Park (the park AND the neighborhood). Visit the (already mentioned) Lincoln Park Zoo, or the (free everyday) Lincoln Park Conservatory. Or make a visit to the Alfred Caldwell Lily Pool, just north of the Lincoln Park Zoo on Fullerton. If you go east from the Lincoln Park Zoo, you are at one of the city's beaches (North Avenue Beach - the Oak Street Beach is just south of that) and if you go northeast (north to Diversey and then east) is Diversey Harbor, a motorboat harbor with spectacular views.

If your budget allows it, take a look at Hottix, which offer discounted day-of-performance tickets for theatre and comedy shows.

Inexpensive (for Chicago) eating options downtown:

If and when you go to the concert(s) at Millennium Park, I recommend Pastoral on E. Lake Street. This is only a few blocks from Millennium Park. This is just a *little* splurge to your budget, but a huge step above fast food chain options.

Speaking of chains, if they are acceptable to you, there are huge selection in the most "touristy" areas.

There are Corner Bakeries all around the city. One is just across Wacker Drive from the Chicago River, just west of N. Michigan Avenue (and just southwest from the DuSable Bridge - fka Michigan Avenue Bridge). Sitting at the patio outside, you can view the Trump, Marina Towers, the Wrigley Building, the Tribune Tower and many others during your meal. Another is housed in the same building as the Chicago Architecture Foundation's main location, the ArchiCentre - which happens to be right across S. Michigan Avenue from the south end of the Art Institute. There is even one in the Field Museum of Natural History, just feet away from Sue (the world's most complete T-Rex skeleton).

And, if you must go to a McDonald's when you are here - right across the Chicago River from the option in the above paragraph - at the Wrigley Building, go through the building arch there westerly. Nothing much different inside than your usual McDonald's but it's the outside which counts, as you can stand on the terrace, right to the south of it, and view the happenings on the Chicago River.

So now we get to Italian Beef and Chicago-style hotdogs. A local chain, Portillo's, is available and it's just OK and they serve both. However, you don't have to go there: Al's Beef or Mr. Beef for Italian Beef - not too far away. And for a Chicago-style hotdog, if you are on N. Michigan Avenue (the Magnificent Mile), just to the west of the Bloomingdales building on N. Rush Street is Downtown Dogs. In fact, since you are of legal age, you could go to Pippin's (a tavern) next door and order from Downtown Dogs menu.

But for the ultimate - and this is ONLY if you are in Chicago for a number of days, as it takes a not-inconsiderable time and effort expenditure to get there: Hot Doug's. They specialize in sausages and you don't go there for just a Chicago-style hotdog. The place is crazy busy, with long lines and waits (well over an hour out the door and around the block) if you go at the busiest of times. Cash only. I recommend that you read any review about it on Tripadvisor, Yelp, any number of gourmet magazines, etc. Review their website to see their menu - go for the specialty sausages. If you are so unwise to choose a Friday or Saturday (they are closed on Sundays), get there before they open. You'll be glad you did when you see the line formed as you come out.

Lastly, let's talk about a nicer dinner out in Chicago, as it is one of the great dining destinations in the world. Dining in Chicago can be very expensive. Dinner at the most expensive places typically run $150+ pp and just an averagely priced experience usually runs around $40-50+ pp for table service (including beverage, tax and gratuity). It's usually more expensive to dine in the "high rent" areas - which also happen to be the most touristy ones. And please keep in mind that Chicago taxes and surcharges (for specific items) will add quite a bit onto whatever menu prices you see online.

As a lesser priced option for finer dining, I recommend The Dining Room at Kendall College. Now, you need to remember that these are student chefs are practicing their craft BUT keep in mind that a good many illustrious chefs are alumni of Kendall. So youse takes yours chances. Mine have always been very good ones when I dined there. www.kendall.edu/news-and-events/the-dining-room

Wanted to give you at least three nicer dining options because I'm sure on such a limited budget you'll be at fast food joints a lot.

Chicago is simply a wonderful city with so many options for you. I've only mentioned a few for you to truly consider, based on your circumstances. I hope you have a wonderful time there.

exiledprincess

Sorry for the extra post but wanted to make a correction for the above: When I spoke of the McDonald's situated at the Wrigley Building - it is across the River from the second location of the Corner Bakeries I mentioned. I added the final one after the fact, not realizing how it changed the meaning of the next paragraph.

DebitNM

Not sure why you think this is a she, it's signed "Ben"

experience the big cities, the bars, the beaches, the culture does not = Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Kansas City, San Jose, Indiannapolis, Cedar Rapids, Cincinnati, Columbus.

You need to rethink this. As far as taking the bus in the mid-West should you really do this - they take forever to get anywhere as the stop at every little town along the way.

exiledprincess

DebitNM, I think maybe the OP meant "culture" as in a way of life, customs, and so forth. Not particularly as pertaining to the fine arts.

That being said, Milwaukee does have the Milwaukee Art Museum. So, yes, there's culture (not to mention the beer culture) up in the Dairy State as well as other destinations in the Midwest.

Since the OP may be unable to obtain a rental car, due to age restrictions, they'd be limited to busses and trains (meaning, to the large extent, Amtrak) for those other locations where they are not flying. If it's an express bus route (which has limited stops), such as what Megabus and Greyhound Express do, it might be less travel time than that of Amtrak.

Gretchen

I still need an explanation of choosing Milwaukee over NYC for example. And for sure Indianapolis, Columbus (for pete's sake!) and Cincy!!

Dukey1

You have undoubtedly noticed that a few people on this board, myself included< sometimes decide they do not need to really read what posters write so let us review your priority listing:

experience the big cities, the bars, the beaches, the culture

we notice "culture" is fourth... could that have been intentional???? IOW, forget Washington, DC and I wouldn't even include Boston (although you might like some of the
beer; Milwaukee? Brits? Somehow I doubt it.

That leaves New York...you did say BIG cities...Chicago, Los Angeles. Now, for big (kinda) cities AND bars AND beaches? MIAMI!!!!

I'll let the academics and Rick Steve3s haters take back over.

exiledprincess

Perhaps not choosing NYC is a monetary issue or a personal choice. As budget-stretching as Chicago may be, it's usually still quite a bit less expensive than NYC.

RE responding to the OP's choice of a 14-day visit in the Midwest, there are other destinations which I would have mentioned besides those mentioned above - but if they cannot get a rental car, it would be a moot point.

For example, a trip up to Mackinac Island and then into the Upper Peninsula is a very scenic and beautiful thing to do.

Even closer to Chicago, first an overnight stay in lovely Galena, Illinois with perhaps a drive south along the Mississippi River (perhaps to St. Louis?) and/or a ride on a paddlewheel boat.

Or a drive along the Ohio River...

But now that I think about it...Perhaps they might have a great deal of fun at the EAA AirVenture in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, if their interests ran in that direction. It fits right into their schedule as well (July 29-August 4). Maybe the OP would like to check out their website and see what it is all about. Of course, a flight from O'Hare or Milwaukee to Oshkosh probably would be out of their budget. But Greyhound services Oshkosh (either directly or via Milwaukee). It also appears that there might be some type of shuttle service between the Milwaukee airport and Oshkosh (from the EAA AirVenture website). Tickets to the event aren't inexpensive but it's an experience.

It appears that the Greyhound Express service from Chicago to Milwaukee doesn't save that much time or money, but perhaps their scheduling might be more amenable to the OP, especially if they were staying in Milwaukee first.

Sometimes you have to be a little creative if you have to use public transportation, and are on a strict budget, in less serviced areas. But it really depends on what you think would be fun and what would worth the effort.

exiledprincess

Dukey, are you recommending Miami in late July-August, during hurricane season?

BTW, there are several Midwestern cities much larger than Miami. Besides Chicago, Indianapolis, Columbus, Memphis and Nashville are all much larger than Miami.

DebitNM

I have no personal stake in this thread. That said --

These are 22 year olds, who wanted to see big cities and bars...[their top priorities] not sure how many 22 year olds I know that realized what the mid west cities are like and knowingly pass up true big city vibe.

HappyTrvlr

Chicago fills the bill in every category..big city, fun beaches including North Ave beach with it's beach volleyball, bars, culture of every type, lots of young people.

exiledprincess

I don't have any either, DebitNM.

As you can see by my original thread, I stated I was just responding to the OP's original request about a 14-day period **in the Midwest** starting in late July. It appears that the tickets from London to Chicago are a solid, whereas the others are tentative.

The point is, that for whatever reason, they did not mention NYC. It is hard for me to believe that they didn't know of the size of it, especially since they have relatives in New Hampshire - so there must be another explanation why not.