retired04

Taking 5 yr old granddaughter from Mi to Chicago with DIL. Any tips, suggestions? Staying at Hilton Garden Inn. Will transport from train to hotel be readily available? It's been eons since I've done any train travels. Thanks in advance.

tchoiniere

Once you get to Union Station in Chicago, you can take the El (subway) anywhere in the city. Where is the Hilton Garden Inn?

Daniel_Williams

Hi

I have never had any trouble finding a cab in front of Chicago's Union Station.

Enjoy! Daniel

Citylghts

Cabs around Union Station will be plentiful. You can also purchase transit passes. There is a vending machine near the Metra ticket windows that sells 3-day passes for $14. The machine accepts only credit/debit. They're valid on all CTA trains and buses.

You can purchase a 1-day pass for $5.75 or 3-day passes from some of the stores in the station.

If you won't have much luggage, you can take the CTA bus to reach the HGI. Cross Adams and you can catch either the Number 157 bus near Canal and Adams or the Number 151 bus at Canal and Monroe, one block north. The Number 157 runs only M-F.

The bus will make its way to Michigan Avenue and exit at the Grand Avenue stop. Stops will be display above the windshield and announced. Cross Michigan and head down the stairs to Grand. The hotel is 3 blocks ahead. You can also walk through The Shops at Northbridge/Nordstrom and take the elevator down to the lower level.

For transit info, a trip planner and maps, check www.transitchicago.com.

You don't say when you're coming but if the weather is nice, also consider a trip to the Lincoln Park Zoo and Conservatory. They're both free and about a 15-minute ride from your hotel. The northbound Number 151 bus will drop you at the zoo entrance. Nearby, the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum has exhibits and a free-flight butterfly gallery.

cd

Also, if time allows consider the Shedd, http://www.sheddaquarium.org/ A great family place. We went to the American Girl with our granddaughter and were sorry we didn't make reservations for tea. It is adorable how they have small highchairs for the kids to seat their dolls in.

bakerstreet

If your granddaughter likes American Girl dolls, she will want to spend most of her time there. DEFINITELY make reservations for at least one meal there! My daughter has made 7 or 8 trips to Chicago with me between the ages of 3 and 11, and the highlight of every single trip, for her, has been that store. First the old store, now the new one.

Here are some other things we've done that the children enjoyed: several trips to Wrigley field for Cubs games, Navy Pier many times, Shedd Aquarium, Lincoln Park Zoo, Ed Debevic's many times, a family-friendly comedy show, Wicked, ice skating in Millennioum Park, concerts in Millennium Park, Art Museum several times, Hershey's candy store, ESPN Sports Zone, Hancock Tower, Sears Tower, etc.

Out of all our activities, the trips to the American Girl Doll Store were what my daughter most looked forward to, and on most visits we went more than once. We always had at least one meal there, and most trips two. I envy the brilliance of the person who conceived that idea. I heard she sold the store for hundreds of millions of dollars.

SO -- my advice is to plan at least one meal there, and if you are going to buy your granddaughter AG merchandise and she is taking her AG doll on the trip, let her shop for matching outfits for her and her doll. Take the doll to the store on the morning of your meal and visit the salon. Let her choose the hairstyle and leave the doll there. When you arrive back at the store for your meal, collect the doll from the salon, and your grandddaughter will love eating with the doll. Here's where they get to wear their matching outfits -- many other girls will be dressed to match their dolls.

If your granddaughter does not already have an AG doll, she will want one when you visit the store. Unless she hates dolls, but I'm guessing she doesn't hate dolls or you wouldn't be planning a trip around that.

The other favorite thing for my daughter there is eating at Ed Debevic's diner. The waiters and waitresses make it fun by insulting the customers, especially the kids, dancing around, etc. There's always a wait but the kids love it. My children always want to go whenever we go to Chicago.

Those are my top tips for traveling to Chicago with a 5-year-girl who likes dolls. Have a great trip!

kelliebellie

I know the train is cool and all, but my mom just took my 5 year old daughter on the train and she got pretty car sick. Plus they were delayed. I just wanted to pass along Megabus from Detroit and Ann Arbor.

http://us.megabus.com/

I haven't ridden it, but it is supposed to be very nice. And no delays!