Cardinals/Cubs in July

Old Mar 25th, 2013, 04:50 PM
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Cardinals/Cubs in July

We are thinking of crossing off something on my bucket list in July. The St, Louis Cardinals will be in Chicago for a 4-game series July 11-14.
We were thinking of either driving or flying to Chicago (if we do the latter, we will have to rent a car).
My main question is:
Are there any reasonably-priced (under $150 per night) accomodations within walking distance of Wrigley Field?
If not, how hard is it to get there? What is the parking situation?
Not a big fan of subways and such in unfamiliar places (from a small town, it's easy for me to get on the wrong train, lol). But I guess that wouldn't be out of the question, as long as I know the exact route to Wrigley and back.
By accomodations, I mean hotels/motels, B&Bs, VRBO... Not hostels....
Thanks
magnumholmes is offline  
Old Mar 25th, 2013, 04:58 PM
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Do you plan on seeing all the games?
spirobulldog is offline  
Old Mar 25th, 2013, 05:03 PM
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Just go to one game, as both teams will suck this year.

And in Chicago - most of the trains are above ground.
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Old Mar 25th, 2013, 05:35 PM
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Do not rent a car! Parking at Wrigley is $30-$50 and it is the same at hotels. There are not really many hotel near Wrigley. Take the train to the game. You just have to follow the hoards of people in the Cards and Cubs gear. Stay downtown in the Loop or River North. Prices vary a lot so you will have to check on a hotel website. Hampton Inn should work for you.

http://chicagovisitor.net/WrigleyInsiderTips.html
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Old Mar 25th, 2013, 06:20 PM
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Another alternative: We stayed at Magnolia Studios (link below) a couple of years ago when in for a Cubs game and a second day of sightseeing. It was very nice. It's about 2-3 blocks from the Red Line at Bryn Mawr (elevated), and a few stops north of Addison (Wrigley). The trains are not hard to figure out if you aren't color blind. The train does go underground as it makes its way farther south towards the Loop (south of Division St.?). If you stay on the train all the way to 35th St., you can even see real baseball played at a White Sox game! ;-)

It should be within your price range. Although we had driven, we left our car parked on the street all the while we were there and used public transportation. You don't absolutely need a car in Chicago. Have fun!

http://www.5705magnolia.com/Pages/default.aspx
Dave_Ohio is offline  
Old Mar 26th, 2013, 09:48 PM
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You absolutely should NOT be using a car to get around the city, particularly to a Cubs game. It is a zoo around there on game days and parking is expensive there. The red line (train) stops right by the ballpark and is an easy ride to River North and the Loop, where most of the major hotels are. If you don't want to stay downtown and prefer to be in more of a residential neighborhood closer to the ballpark, try these: Hotel Lincoln (really nice hotel right across from the Lincoln Park Zoo), The Willows, Best Western Hawthorne Place, City Suites, Days Inn-Lincoln Park on Diversey. Not sure of the prices, but all are either a few el stops from Wrigley or within walking distance and are in great neighborhoods with tons of restaurants.
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Old Mar 27th, 2013, 04:03 AM
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Good advice from everyone - especially about using the Red Line - it really couldn't be any easier.

I would recommend securing your tickets soon - these are popular games.
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Old Mar 27th, 2013, 06:23 AM
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Almost any hotel in the River North or Loop areas would put you near all the tourist sights and a short train/bus ride from Wrigley.

You don't say who we is, but there are dozens of hotels in River North ranging from The Ritz to Fairfield and Hampton Inn. There are also several all-suite hotels such as Residence Inn, Homewood Suites and Spring Hill Suites if we includes small children.

To reach Wrigley, catch the Red Line on State Street toward Howard and exit at Addison. I'm sure most people on the train will be doing the same thing. You can see the stadium from the platform. A one-way fare is $2.25. As an alternative with a little better view, you can take the Number 146 bus northbound on Michigan Avenue. It will run express along the lake through Lincoln Park, then return to local service in the Lakeview neighborhood. Exit the bus at Addison and walk about six blocks to the stadium.

You can reach downtown from Midway via the Orange Line in about 30 mins. From O'Hare, the Blue Line takes about 45 mins.

You can purchase transit passes that allow unlimited rides on all CTA trains and buses. A 1-day pass is $10 and a 3-day is $20. You can find complete info, maps, a trip planner and how to track trains and buses with a smart phone on www.transitchicago.com. You can purchase passes at either airport or most CVS and Walgreens pharmacies or Jewel and Dominick's supermarkets.
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Old Mar 27th, 2013, 06:37 AM
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tomsd - I disagree! The Cardinals are the BEST!!

Have fun at the game!!
annesherrod is offline  
Old Mar 27th, 2013, 08:10 AM
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Try looking at the Days Inn Chicago, especially since you want a place under the $150/nt. It's in the Lakeview neighborhood, about 1 mile south of Wrigley Field but just across the street from the north end of the Lincoln Park neighborhood.

The #22 Clark St. bus will take you right to the ballpark, if you don't care to walk.

I agree that you do not want to rent a car for Chicago. In fact, it is exactly what you do not want to do.
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Old Apr 8th, 2013, 07:53 AM
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Thanks for all of the great replies. Sorry I didn't say who "we" is-- Just my wife and I.

I guess the trains in Paris scared the daylights out of me. I'm guessing they aren't as complicated as that dreadful experience made me fear.. But changing trains/buses can be confusing unless you've done it many times, which we haven't.

One other question...
I plan on wearing Cardinal gear... Safe or not?
Probably a goofy question to some, but not to me.
magnumholmes is offline  
Old Apr 8th, 2013, 08:44 PM
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The train system in Chicago isn't as extensive as Paris', and if you can read a map, you should have no problem. I would even suggest getting a fodors Chicago book if for no other reason than it'll give you the nearest train and bus stops to the sights and restaurants. Most of the major sights are in River North/Mag Mile, the Loop or Museum Campus (Field, Shedd and planetarium) at the south end of Grant Park.
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Old Apr 9th, 2013, 09:11 AM
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Using the CTA is pretty simple. You do need to know in which direction you are going, though - especially if you are using the 'L. If you ever have any doubt when using a bus, just ask the bus driver when you board (or even before, but don't block passengers boarding when you do so).

Make sure that you get CTA visitor's passes, as that would give you the best bang for your buck - unlimited rides for each 24 hr. period, based on how many days you purchase.

What you want to do is go to the CTA's website and look at the maps there. They show where all the bus and 'L routes are located, as well as where the major attractions are. When you look at the bus or 'L (train) routes on the maps, they will show you which direction the routes travel (not all routes travel the same way in different directions).

If you still have problems figuring it out (which I doubt you will), they have a section dedicated for tourists, which fully explains which routes go to which attractions.

BTW, if you forget which bus route you need to take when you are out, every bus stop shows the routes that stop there, as well as a map of where the route goes. The bus stops in the major tourist areas (i.e., Mag. Mile, Loop) have copies of those maps you find online.
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