travelduo

Hello all, we are Asia board regulars, that need a little help in Chicago for Thanksgiving. We are going to Joliet to visit my in-laws on Thanksgiving day, then have the rest of the weekend alone. We are staying at a *wood hotel in elk grove village, and would like to do some shopping in Chicago, would prefer some places that we dont have here in Kansas City. Any thoughts? I know the crowds will be terrible that friday, any hints on transportation besides our car??

I would ask my in-laws about places to shop, but if it doesnt have a Harley Davidson logo on it, they wouldnt know where to buy it!

Thanks in advance, Jeffrey

mschau

I live right by Joliet, and my mother lives in Arlington Heights which is near Elk Grove. Schaumburg has a giant shopping mall, which is called Woodfield. Woodfield has a lot of shops that everyone has. There are little towns around Joliet that have great shopping areas, such as Naperville. As for getting into the city, the train would probably be the best bet. The Metra (metrarail.com) leaves from Elk Grove Village and Joliet, and usually takes about an hour. It will get you directly into the city and from there you can take the "L" to different areas of the city. Lincoln Park is a great area, and one of our favorite parts of the city, so check that out.

travelduo

Thats exactly what we were looking for!!!! Thanks!

travelduo

ok, from the metrarail site, I found out that we need to catch the train at arlington heights. From there we just take it into Chicago, and get on the L from there? When I go to the L website, and try to do the trip planner, i Cant get it to work. Can you give me a little help on how to get to Lincoln Park from there????

Thanks again

sorry for the double post

isabellasu

You could shop State Street or Michigan Ave. both are known for their shopping and would be much easier to get to than Lincoln Park.

Skiergirl

What kind of shopping are you looking for? There are several awesome boutiques for women that you won't find anywhere (well, the equivalent in other cities but they are stores just in Chicago) but you may be looking for Xmas gifts, etc. Michigan Avenue and the malls will be packed that wknd. Northbrook Court is also very nice in the north shore suburbs. If it's women's boutiques you want in Lincoln Park let me know (also there are several in Bucktown that are great).

Citylghts

Most hotels in Elk Grove have shuttles to O'Hare. If yours does, you can catch the shuttle to the airport and take the CTA Blue Line from there to The Loop.

The Blue Line trains run about every 10 minutes and the trip will take about an hour. The Metra trains are faster, but run less frequently (usually about once per hour outside rush periods). The Blue Line also runs 24-hours so you can shop as long as you like.

A second option is to drive to the park & ride lot at Rosemont (River Rd & Higgins) or Cumberland and catch the train there. You can park for up to 12 hours for $2. Buy a visitor pass from the vending machine at any of the stations and you can ride CTA trains and buses all day for $5. The visitor pass machines are blue & yellow. The regular farecard machines are blue & silver.

Take the Blue Line to Washington and walk a block to State Street for Field's/Macy's, Old Navy, Filene's Basement, Nordstrom Rack and H&M.

From there, you can catch a number 151 or 146 bus northbound on State to Michigan Ave and head to Macy's, Nordstrom, Saks, Neiman's, Bloomingale's, American Girl, Legoland, Cartier, Chanel, Polo and almost anything else you could want.

The Lincoln Park shopping district is centered around Armitage & Halsted. You can catch the Brown Line L to the Armitage stop. Check the CTA site for maps at www.transitchicago.com.

exiledprincess

Jeffrey, I tend to agree with your assumption that it will be a real pain to be shopping on either Michigan Avenue or on State Street just after Thanksgiving - because of the crowds. Even with the economy as it is, I still think that there will be a lot of people out wandering there looking for "bargains". Could be wrong, of course, as it is hard to judge at this point.

I guess where you want to go in the city would depend on your budget range. For example, the Armitage-Halsted-Racine area mentioned above has more upscale, boutique shops. Maybe that's not in your budget.

Wicker Park/Bucktown used to have more reasonably priced places; IMHO, not so much now. Gentrification has its price, you know.

Perhaps you are looking for a place such as P.O.S.H. (N. State Street)? See their website for information on their goods. You are close to Michigan Avenue and State Street. So if the crowds are too much, you could always look at places on N. State, N. Rush and surrounding areas.

P.O.S.H. used to be located several years ago on the N. Southport corridor (just south of the Music Box Theatre), which would be another area to explore. Boutique shopping.

My own neighborhood, Lakeview, has a couple of nice home decor places (on N. Broadway, just north of Belmont). We also have the original locations of Intelligentsia (coffee) and Pastoral: Artisan Cheese, Bread & Wine as well as places such as the Tea & Coffee Exchange or even Treasure Island - in their specialty isles - if you were looking for cuisine items for a basket, for example. And you might like browsing through a place such as Uncle Fun (on Belmont) for stocking fillers.

IMHO, I think that you might find some interesting choices at one of the museum shops. For example, if you were going to the Art Institute to see one of their exhibits (i.e., antique tapestries), stop in.

Or perhaps at the Chicago Architecture Foundation's gift shop (their main location - the ArchiCenter - is in the historic Sante Fe Building, just across Michigan Avenue from the Art Institute).

If you are going to the Lincoln Park Zoo for the ZooLights Festival in the evening, their giftshop has some nice items as well.

Just throwing some suggestions out there for you.

laurie_ann

If you use the shuttle or park and ride to O'Hare and use the blue line, consider Bucktown/Wicker Park as the most accessible. You can get off the blue line at Damen stop, right at the intersections of North Avenue, Milwaukee Avenue and Damen and be in the heart of Bucktown. Here's a link with shopping ideas there, maybe a bit outdated, but there is still lots of unique shopping there: http://tinyurl.com/6bax2m.

CindyCIL

Don't miss Michigan Ave and State street. Yes there are crowds but the atmosphere and decorations and the enjoyment of window shopping at the beautiful stores are worth it. Also, at Daly Plaza is the Christkindlmarkt. One of the best outside of Europe. Then there is Millenium Park with the bean (cloudscape) and the skating rink. Then if you want you are close to the Art Institute, Aquarium, and Field Museum.

Cindy

travelduo

Thanks fellow Fodorites! I knew you would come thru!!!

My wife does want to go to Michigan ave, even with all the crowds

Thanks again for all the help and the links!!!!!

Have a great weekend!

Jeffrey

kayhull

I work in Elk Grove and live in Chicago so I should be able to help. You should take the Metra from the Itasca station it is the Milwaukee West Line. To get to Lincoln Park exit Union Station by following signs for taxis/buses. Take the 151 bus which will take you to Lincoln Park. $2.00 bus fair.

Let me know if you need anything else.