4sharie

I have spent hours reading through previous threads and decided to jump in and see what you think about our plans for Chicago.

The primary reason for the trip is to take our daughter to The American Girl Place for her 10th birthday (it'll just be my husband, myself, and our daughter).

We're driving from Cincinnati and hope to arrive in Chicago around noon on Wed, Aug 26th. We have reservations for Comfort Suites 1/2 block south of the river on Michigan Ave, and plan on sucking it up and paying the $60 parking across the street for our 30ish hours in Chicago ($30/day).

Other than shopping at American Girl, we hope to visit Millenium Park, the Navy Pier to see the fireworks Wed night, checking out the Hancock building, maybe Lincoln Park Zoo if there's time. Our Afternoon Tea is scheduled for Thurs at 4:00, and we plan on hanging around until traffic clears out and leaving Chicago around 7:00 pm.

We're trying to do this all as cheaply as possible (the tea at American Girl and the parking fees are enough!), so we're opting not to do any boat tours, or rides/shows at Navy Pier. Basically we want to just walk all over and see the sights. Food will be cheap too, like Subway or Chipotle, and probably some pizza!

Any input? Can we just walk everywhere? I don't think the distance would be a factor, but I wonder how much time it's going to take, since we'll only have about 30 hours. Are we trying to squeeze too much in? Not enough?

I've tried and tried to figure out the public transportation, but I'm still confused if any of it will be helpful to us.

Thanks for reading, and looking forward to your insight!

laurie_ann

Your hotel is right on Michigan Ave. which makes the 151 bus very handy to go to AGP, Hancock or the Lincoln Park Zoo. Bus fare is $2.00 per person each way. If you want to go up to the zoo, which is great, right across the street from the hotel or from the front of Water Tower Place on Michigan Ave. (where American Girl Place is) you take the bus up to up to the zoo (get off in the Park at Webster street at the zoo entrance) and then return by bus (the return stop is across the street from where you got off the bus at the zoo), again the stop back on Michigan Ave. is right to across the street from the American girl. Best at the zoo is the ape exhibit and the Africa exhibit. From hotel you could walk up Michigan Ave. to AGP, Hancock, get on bus there, to to Zoo before tea.

For Navy Pier, there is still a free trolley. Here is link to the map. There are stops at Michigan Avenue, but you will have to be use the stairs to get to the lower level where those cross streets are. http://www.navypier.com/visit_us/pdf...ystoproute.pdf. You could do that on Wednesday after you arrive with lunch or dinner at McDo or other inexpensive eateries -- Chicago hot dog anyone -- right there.

bakerstreet

Your trip sounds great and your daughter is lucky!

One money-saving tip: You might think about a meal other than tea. Tea is fun but really adds a meal to the day -- if you did lunch or dinner there instead you'd get a great experience, plus not have to spend money on another meal. I think dinner is only about $5 more per person than tea, and lunch is $3 more.

Another cost-saving tip: Chicago Greeters. This is a free service whereby you sign up for a two to four-hour tour of an area of Chicago you specify, led by a Chicago volunteer tour guide. The guide takes you around the chosen area of the city using public transportation (buses) and it is all free to you, even the bus fare. www.chicagogreeter.com. I did this once with my two children and we enjoyed it and learned things about Chicago we hadn't known.

Hancock building -- don't pay to go up; instead take the elevators to the Signature Room restaurant and bar area. If you don't want to spend any money there just walk around and enjoy the view, and be sure to stop by the ladies' bathroom and take in the view from there. If you can spring for a beverage try to get a window table and enjoy the view -- day or night, both are great.

I think the Lincoln Park Zoo is free, and walking around Millenium Park is free and is definitely worth a visit. Your daughter might like to splash in the water there so you should take some shoes that work for that. The Bean sculpture (Cloud Gate) is a fun attraction.

This is not free but I mention it as it's a definite favorite of my children, who always want to go when we visit Chicago: the diner called Ed Debevic's. There's always a line and a wait. The waiters act rude to the customers and every now and then stand on window ledges and dance -- kids eat it up. I'll bet your daughter would love it, too.

We don't rent cars when in Chicago and find it easy to get around mostly by walking, and the occasional cab.

Have a great trip.

Lexma90

You should be able to walk most places you want to visit, if you are used to walking.

If you think you'll use public transportation enough (buses), then check our the 1-day pass at the CTA website: http://www.transitchicago.com/fareinformation.aspx. As mentioned previously, the 151 bus goes up and down Michigan Ave., and would be the best bus for you to use (though there are others that go up and down Michigan in that area, as well).

The Lincoln Park zoo is free, but keep in mind that it's a city zoo, and quite small compared to many zoos.

If you can swing some Chicago-style pizza, it will be a much better experience than Subway or Chipotle!

Did you tell the American Place people that it's your daughter's birthday? I took my daughter there for her birthday, and they gave us a great window table (and because it was November, the lights were on the trees and it was dark by the time we left - it was gorgeous). We had tea there - it was enough food to be an early dinner for us.

Another free activity is to view all of the great public art in Chicago's loop area. I used to live in Chicago, so I could tell my kids about the pieces (Calder's Flamingo, the Miro, the Picasso), but I'm sure you can find information on the artwork in many guidebooks. And you already mentioned Millenium Park, which is great too.

MomDDTravel

Bakerstreet - I agree about the meal vs. the Tea - I have done both...

I know you are trying to save $$ but I do highly recommend the "show" they have there. I was really pleasantly surprised at how excellent it is...

4sharie

Thanks so much for the great replies!

Hmmm, interesting point about the tea vs lunch/dinner! We chose the tea partly because we're vegetarians, and tea has the cucumber sandwiches. Most of the lunch/dinner entrees are chicken/turkey. But we'll look through the menu again and see if we'd be better off paying a bit more, but getting filled up more too! wonder how their pizzas are?

I did tell AG that it is my daughter's b-day and they're going to put a candle on her dessert. I need to call them back and cancel our other potential dates we set up, so I'll ask about seating.

I've read reviews that their show is very good, but I can't find anything about them on the American Girl website. They must not do them anymore?

Lincoln Park = city zoo... Our Cincinnati Zoo is fabulous, so I'm not really sure why I'm thinking about going to the Lincoln Park Zoo, other than it is free! Should probably spend the time on the beaches and parks instead. good idea?

Chicago Greeters... great tip! Will look into it more!

Bus 151, good to know! We plan on walking everywhere, but I want to understand the public transportation in case we need it if it rains or my hip acts up.

I've seen "the loop" mentioned several times, but can't figure out what it is.

thanks again!!

MomDDTravel

That is such a bummer! I just went to look at the website and you are right..no mention of the shows any longer. We saw it both in Los Angeles and in Chicago.

Bummer.

exiledprincess

Re: the Signature Room. Despite previous advice, if you go up, *please* do the right thing and purchase at least a drink while there. They are a business dependent on paying customers. The restrooms are for patrons only, not public restrooms.

With respect to the free trolley...a good deal *IF* you can get onboard. The likelihood is that you will not be able to if you are going later in the afternoon or evening (such as to Navy Pier for the fireworks); and probably non-existent when you are returning from the fireworks at night. Make sure you have a back-up plan of travel. A lot of people do walk that 1 mile distance from Navy Pier to Michigan Avenue. As long as you are with the crowds leaving, shouldn't be any issues.

I'm going to tell you how to save some bucks. But you need to promise me that you will put the money saved to good use while visiting Chicago.

You don't have to pay the $60/nt. parking at your hotel. Comfort Suites is at 320 N. Michigan Avenue. The Millennium Parking Garage is only 3 blocks straight down Michigan Ave. to the south (right under Millennium Park, in fact). The rate there is $24 for 24 hours, thus saving you $36/night.

The cost for using a CTA bus for you and your husband is $2.25 per ride when using cash (not $2.00 - that is only if you are using transit cards, etc.) and your 10-year old daughter is $1 per ride. Get a CTA visitor's pass for $5.75 per day (unlimited rides in a 24-hour period) for those when you and your husband plan on bussing anywhere more than twice. If you feel that you would be using the bus for less than 5 rides a day for your daughter, then pay just the usual fare. If more, get a visitor's pass for her.

You don't mention your itinerary. Are you are going to go to Millennium Park first when you get into Chicago? I would, especially since it is so close at hand.

Here is a suggestion for you to spend a *little* of that saved money from the parking, get great photo ops, take a boat ride AND to get you to Navy Pier without having to depend on the free trolley: Millennium Park is 3 blocks east of State Street (that great street). After you are through at Millennium Park - and you may want to visit the temporary Burnham Pavilions while you are there - walk west on any of the streets to State Street. Your daughter will probably be very interested when the El passes overhead (on Wabash). You want to pick up the #146 SB bus from the west sidewalk of State Street. This route goes out to the Museum Campus (where Soldier Field, the Field Museum, the Adler Planetarium and the Shedd Aquarium are located). You want to take the bus out there and get off at the Shedd Aquarium stop. Photo op. There is a company called Shoreline that runs a harbor taxi 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. from the Museum Campus to Navy Pier. Boat ride AND photo ops. Cost: $7 for each you and your husband. $3 for your daughter = $17 plus bus fare.

But let's say you don't want to go all that way out to the Museum Campus (although I think you might really like doing that if the weather is nice). Then I suggest that you pick up the Shoreline River Taxi from the Michigan Avenue boarding area. Ride the river taxi to 200 S. Wacker (Willis Tower fka Sears Tower) - $3 each for you and your husband/$2 for your daughter - then take it back from 200 S. Wacker (Willis Tower) to Navy Pier - $6 for each you and your husband/$4 for your daughter. Cost: $24 for the two rides for the three of you. Photo ops all along this route plus the boat ride along the most scenic areas of the Chicago River.

Even though you are going to Chicago on a budget doesn't mean that you have to forego all pleasures! Hope you have fun!

exiledprincess

BTW, here are Millennium Garage's and Shoreline's websites in case you are interested:

millenniumgarages.com
shorelinewatertaxi.com

Lexma90

The "loop" is the downtown financial/business district of Chicago, named that for the aboveground portion of the El that runs around it (in a loop): the streets are Lake on the north side, Van Buren on the south; Wabash on the east and Wells on the west.

Lincoln Park Zoo may not be the best choice for you, if you're used to great zoos. But on a nice summer day, it's a pretty place to be. It's in the middle of Lincoln Park, and there's also a big pond with paddle boats.

Our kids have always loved riding on the El (there's not much public transportation where we live). So that might be an option for your daughter, even if you don't really see it as a fun activity. If you got the CTA pass, it covers the bus and the El.

5OHS

Ditto exiledprincess on the boat ride options. Both suggestions are great and you can't come to Chicago and not have at least some kind of boat ride! Great way to see the skyline from a different perspective. Enjoy!

4sharie

exiledprincess: the parking across from Comfort Suites is not $60 per night (otherwise we'd for sure be figuring something else out!. It is $30 per night, and we plan on having to pay $60 total since we'll be parked there over 24 hours. I saw the millennium garages mentioned on another thread and looked into it, but the difference is only $6 per day, and for only a $12 difference overall, we'd rather be right across from the hotel because of our luggage. But thanks so much for mentioning it!! That would have been a huge savings if we had planned on paying $60/night!

The river taxi is only $3?? The boat tours I looked into started around $20, but I guess those were actually tours. I'd LOVE to do the water taxi, and so would my daughter, so we'll definitely look into this more!

As far as itinerary, we haven't figured that out yet! I was hoping someone could suggest something, so thanks for suggesting we do Millenium park first!

4sharie

okay, so is the "El" a train? A subway kind of thing? I'm having the hardest time wrapping my brain around it all, even after looking through the CTA website. I printed out a map of it all and see the loop. I'm guessing it's like Washington DC's system? (which we rode with no problems). But then there's also a bus which is part of CTA, right?

4sharie

just reading some more on the CTA site and found "service overview" that I hadn't clicked on before. I think this will help me with the bus vs rail thing!

exiledprincess

Well, my cheeks are rosy for having misread that about the parking! Sorry! But, you know, there are some hotels in that area that are fast approaching $60/nt. for valet parking. (For example, the Swissotel is $52/nt. for valet service - plus tip, of course.) I see that it's $46/nt. valet for where you are staying.

I don't know who operates the self-park at 233 N. Michigan (assume that's where the Comfort Suites is referencing). However, see if you can get a chart of the charges. You may not have to pay for two full 24-hour periods; however, you might since you are leaving around or after 7:00 p.m.

Re Shoreline: Actually, they have a commuter service, too, that's considerably cheaper during rush hours and only has 3 boarding areas - but that really wouldn't fit in with your schedule. One thing that you absolutely have to remember, though: They stop service at 6:00 p.m.

El or "L" = elevated train. When you are in the downtown area, you are really dealing with two systems. One is the overhead (which makes a loop) and there is also a subway in the main downtown area. Just depends which line you are taking. Using just two for examples, the Orange Line is elevated in the Loop and the Red Line is a subway under State Street downtown.

The easiest way for you to figure out the routes is to look at the Downtown System Map on the CTA website. You'll see all the routes of both the trains and busses. You'll also see all of the major attractions shown.

4sharie

We did call the parking facility and they said they do not prorate the charges for a partial day.

So there's an elevated train, a subway, and a bus system to figure out! I've spent more time on the CTA site, and it's becoming a little clearer, but... I've got some more studying to do!

Thanks for everyone's assistance!

exiledprincess

Are you planning on going outside of the area indicated in your original post?

4sharie

Hmmm, not sure what I implied in my OP, but no, we just plan on staying in the downtown area, and nearby parks. Is the Lincoln Zoo considered outside of the area?

4sharie

Oh, and how long should we allow to see Millenium Park?

thanks!!!!

exiledprincess

It just sounded as if you were studying the CTA website intently for a reason.

The Lincoln Park Zoo is in the Lincoln Park neighborhood (and in Lincoln Park, the park) on the north side of Chicago. It is a little less than 3 miles north of where you are staying.

Millennium Park isn't large so it shouldn't take too long, based on what you want to see. If you get in before noon on August 26, the Jazz Institute of Chicago's Tri-Jazz concert is at the Frank Gehry-designed Jay Pritzker Pavilion, starting at 12:00 p.m. When you get to Millennium Park, you'll see the posted notice of all the events happening that day there.