Short Chicago visit (long post!)
Sep 8th, 2006, 05:25 PM
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Short Chicago visit (long post!)
We have a little over a day and a half in Chicago before flying home to Los Angeles. Parents graduated from Moody Bible Institute over 50 years ago and want to show us around there. My husband is interested in the architecture in the Oak Park area. We think we can see a little of both on the first day. On the second full day, I'm trying to schedule a quick overview of Chicago. Mom has bad knees and has trouble with more than a few stairs (also has some trouble getting out of a car). I had checked into an architectural boat tour, but I'm worried that there would be too many stairs for that. Now I'm considering a ride on the L train (or is it "El?"). it seems like we could see some things without getting in and out too many times. I've read the brown line is a good route, or the orange (?) Would like to know how long these take. Also would like to visit either Sears Tower or the Hancock building and wonder which is most accessible? We will be staying at Best Western River North at Ohio & Lasalle. We will also have a rental car. Any thoughts on a streamlined approach to the city would be appreciated!
Sep 8th, 2006, 06:58 PM
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Oak Park is a great place for Frank Lloyd Wright fanatics. Tour his studio/home and pick up a map of all the homes in the area. You could drive or walk in a 10 block radius and see 30+ homes in a half a day. http://www.chicagoarchitecture.info/...ighborhood.php
Before you go back to the city make sure to detour 15 minutes west to Jonnie's beef in Elmwood Park on North Avenue. Best Italian beef and Italian Ice on the planet.
The architecture boat tour is great, but does require steps to get down to the river. I believe the same org offers bus tours.
http://www.architecture.org/tours.aspx
As for the "EL" abbreviation for elevated. You would have to climb up 30+ stairs to get to the platform. There are some handicap accessible stops available - http://www.transitchicago.com/
The brown line does a loop around the downtown area - hence "the loop".
pass by the library, merchandise mart, marina city and heads north toward lincoln park neighborhood and wrigley field. If you want to get to wrigley field you would need to transfer at belmont to the red line.
Linclon park is gret place to stroll the neighborhood and see the brown and greysyones.
Trip around the loop to Wrigley is less than 30 minutes. 1 hour round trip. You really don't get to see very much from the train though.
Chicago is a walking city - by neighborhood. If high rise architecture is the main point stick with downtown area. Walk up and down the streets in "the loop" and admire the bldgs. cruise michigan avenue for high end stores and tourist crowds. Our mayor spends lots of our tax $ to keep the toursists coming here. Horse carriage rides available as well. head south on Michign avenue and visit Millineum Park and "the bean". Continue south on Michigan Ave to Adams St and admire the art institute and its famous lions. - free admission on tuesdays.
Navy Pier is east of Michigan avenue - best to take a cab (I never saw the attraction here - cheezy restaurants and a big ferris wheel, but something to do while standing over lake michigan)
Both Sears and Hancock are accessible with great views.
Hancock on michigan ave (magnificent mile section)is next to busy Water Tower Place. Sears Tower is in the heart if the loop near the river and Grand Central Station with its impressive interior (scenes from The Untouchables filmed here)
Chicago streets are easy to navigate because of a well planned grid system and you certainly can drive every where yourself, but parking can be difficult if you wish to stop. You can always find a cab available.
Hope this helps. Enjoy!
Before you go back to the city make sure to detour 15 minutes west to Jonnie's beef in Elmwood Park on North Avenue. Best Italian beef and Italian Ice on the planet.
The architecture boat tour is great, but does require steps to get down to the river. I believe the same org offers bus tours.
http://www.architecture.org/tours.aspx
As for the "EL" abbreviation for elevated. You would have to climb up 30+ stairs to get to the platform. There are some handicap accessible stops available - http://www.transitchicago.com/
The brown line does a loop around the downtown area - hence "the loop".
pass by the library, merchandise mart, marina city and heads north toward lincoln park neighborhood and wrigley field. If you want to get to wrigley field you would need to transfer at belmont to the red line.
Linclon park is gret place to stroll the neighborhood and see the brown and greysyones.
Trip around the loop to Wrigley is less than 30 minutes. 1 hour round trip. You really don't get to see very much from the train though.
Chicago is a walking city - by neighborhood. If high rise architecture is the main point stick with downtown area. Walk up and down the streets in "the loop" and admire the bldgs. cruise michigan avenue for high end stores and tourist crowds. Our mayor spends lots of our tax $ to keep the toursists coming here. Horse carriage rides available as well. head south on Michign avenue and visit Millineum Park and "the bean". Continue south on Michigan Ave to Adams St and admire the art institute and its famous lions. - free admission on tuesdays.
Navy Pier is east of Michigan avenue - best to take a cab (I never saw the attraction here - cheezy restaurants and a big ferris wheel, but something to do while standing over lake michigan)
Both Sears and Hancock are accessible with great views.
Hancock on michigan ave (magnificent mile section)is next to busy Water Tower Place. Sears Tower is in the heart if the loop near the river and Grand Central Station with its impressive interior (scenes from The Untouchables filmed here)
Chicago streets are easy to navigate because of a well planned grid system and you certainly can drive every where yourself, but parking can be difficult if you wish to stop. You can always find a cab available.
Hope this helps. Enjoy!
Sep 8th, 2006, 07:37 PM
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Would you mother be opposed to being in a wheelchair while you take in the sites? You may be able to rent one somewhere. We did that with my aunt when we went to the King Tut exhibit, she walks good, just can't walk for a long time, no padding left on her feet, she's 87.
Sep 9th, 2006, 08:30 AM
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You have a car, and a passenger with mobility problems, so skip the El and boat tours, and use the car instead. Avoid the rush hours, and you'll be able to get around comfortably. A good guide book will be needed to answer the inevitable questions.
On one day, drive north from the Best Western, stop at Moody Bible, then continue north on LaSalle Street and go through the park by Lincoln Park Zoo. If it's a weekday, you can sometimes find a spot along the street (Stockton Drive)or use the zoo's parking lot on Fullerton. Your parents might enjoy having lunch at Cafe Brauer, and you can drop them off there easily, watch the birds and boats on the lagoon, visit as much of the zoo as you like, then pick them up at the most convenient exit. If they want to continue north to Wrigleyville, or south through the Gold Coast, you can do this too, without keeping to a schedule. If you do go north to Wrigley, use Lake Shore Drive on the return trip for an amazing view.
In the evening, take a taxi over to Michigan Avenue at Chicago Avenue. Stroll around (I'll bet they remember the Palmolive beacon and Fourth Presbyterian Church, but they'll be shocked at how everything else has changed!) Have a sunset drink at the Signature Room (95th floor of the Hancock) and watch the city transform as the lights come on. Then, a nice dinner - they might like Mike Ditka's, which has a menu with something for everyone, and a lot of memorabilia on the walls - great for jogging the memories! The Cape Cod Room is still there, expensive as always, but it might be a place they've dreamed of.
On the airport day, check out of your hotel and head for Millennium Park. You can park underneath (enter at South Water Street east of Michigan, then stay to the right)and take an elevator up.
Head for Oak Park afterwards and then out to the airport. Or, do this on your arrival day but reverse the pattern.
On one day, drive north from the Best Western, stop at Moody Bible, then continue north on LaSalle Street and go through the park by Lincoln Park Zoo. If it's a weekday, you can sometimes find a spot along the street (Stockton Drive)or use the zoo's parking lot on Fullerton. Your parents might enjoy having lunch at Cafe Brauer, and you can drop them off there easily, watch the birds and boats on the lagoon, visit as much of the zoo as you like, then pick them up at the most convenient exit. If they want to continue north to Wrigleyville, or south through the Gold Coast, you can do this too, without keeping to a schedule. If you do go north to Wrigley, use Lake Shore Drive on the return trip for an amazing view.
In the evening, take a taxi over to Michigan Avenue at Chicago Avenue. Stroll around (I'll bet they remember the Palmolive beacon and Fourth Presbyterian Church, but they'll be shocked at how everything else has changed!) Have a sunset drink at the Signature Room (95th floor of the Hancock) and watch the city transform as the lights come on. Then, a nice dinner - they might like Mike Ditka's, which has a menu with something for everyone, and a lot of memorabilia on the walls - great for jogging the memories! The Cape Cod Room is still there, expensive as always, but it might be a place they've dreamed of.
On the airport day, check out of your hotel and head for Millennium Park. You can park underneath (enter at South Water Street east of Michigan, then stay to the right)and take an elevator up.
Head for Oak Park afterwards and then out to the airport. Or, do this on your arrival day but reverse the pattern.
Sep 9th, 2006, 08:06 PM
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Thanks a lot for the great suggestions, websites and itinerary ideas. I'm plotting them on a map. We're also traveling through Springfield and Bloomington (Dad's hometown). I'll report when we get back.
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