Any beautiful places within 2 hour drive of Chicago?
Jan 29th, 2003, 09:49 AM
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Any beautiful places within 2 hour drive of Chicago?
I am totally unfamiliar with the midwest. If we fly into O'Hare, are there any beautiful towns/resorts within a two hour drive?
Jan 29th, 2003, 10:01 AM
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Galena is a pretty town with lots of Victorian era mansions and other old buildings and fun shops on its Main Street. I think it's about a 2-hour drive from Chicago (west of Chicago near the Mississippi River).
Jan 29th, 2003, 10:27 AM
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Are you staying in Chicago? Driving down Lake Shore Drive downtown is more beautiful than you can imagine! Sheridan Rd North of the city goes through Evanston (Northwestern Campus) into the North Suburbs (Winnetka, Highland Park, Lake Forest)- pretty suburbs with beautiful homes. If you have 2 hours, Lake Geneva in Wisconsin is cute (very crowded in summer.)
Jan 29th, 2003, 10:29 AM
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orange: The American Club is a five star resort....it's in Kohler, Wisconsin, close to Milwaukee - probably about 2.5 to 3 hours north of Chicago - quite lovely & has a magnificent golf course.
As janeygirl pointed out, Galena is very pretty, especially in the autumn. Rolling hills, very close to the Mississippi and famous for the home of General Grant and bald eagles. It is about a 2 to 3 hour drive from Chicago.
The city of Evanston is the first suburb north of Chicago - home to Northwestern University (on Lake Michigan) Very pretty town with lots of old huge homes. As you travel north from there, the suburbs get more & more posh.
Hope this helps a little.
As janeygirl pointed out, Galena is very pretty, especially in the autumn. Rolling hills, very close to the Mississippi and famous for the home of General Grant and bald eagles. It is about a 2 to 3 hour drive from Chicago.
The city of Evanston is the first suburb north of Chicago - home to Northwestern University (on Lake Michigan) Very pretty town with lots of old huge homes. As you travel north from there, the suburbs get more & more posh.
Hope this helps a little.
Jan 29th, 2003, 03:51 PM
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Michigan City, IN is 2hrs from Chicago and has a beautiful beach with marina (Washington Park) and lighthouse. A good place to stay would be the Blue Chip Casino or: LAKE MICHIGAN, INDIANA
A TOP-QUALITY BUT BUDGET-PRICED RESORT NESTLED IN THE DUNES, LESS THAN AN HOUR FROM CHICAGO: Indian Oak Resort & Spa, 528 Indian Boundary Rd., Chesterton, 800/552-4232, www.indianoak.com.
A TOP-QUALITY BUT BUDGET-PRICED RESORT NESTLED IN THE DUNES, LESS THAN AN HOUR FROM CHICAGO: Indian Oak Resort & Spa, 528 Indian Boundary Rd., Chesterton, 800/552-4232, www.indianoak.com.
Jan 31st, 2003, 11:47 AM
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I found the Indian Oak Resort to be budget-quality at moderate prices. The "resort" is located off a busy street behind a strip mall. Its beds are outfitted with flimsy, polyester comforters. Their "workout facility" consisted of 2 treadmills (1 wasn't working), 1 elliptical machine, and 1 stationary bike crammed in a room that wasn't much bigger than 100 square feet. I paid $150 per night for a room that included a "whirlpool spa" which was situated in a corner of the room five feet away from the bed; I thought it would at least be in the bathroom. Things looked great on the website, but I found the reality to be highly disappointing. Not surprisingly, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone.
Feb 11th, 2003, 10:22 AM
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Indian Oaks is not worth it. I'm sure there are much nice hotels/resorts, and it is in a really unpleasant strip mall as Shauna mentioned. The resturant associated with it is not that great either. Go elsewhere.
Feb 11th, 2003, 10:57 AM
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Another vote for Lake Geneva WI. It is about 1-1/2 hours from Chicago. It is very crowded on Summer weekends but park and walk around and it's OK. There are numberous hotels and resort, probably the best of which is the Grand Geneva - a full scale resort with spa, golf courses, airport, etc. The Abbey is nice also but that is at the other end of the lake in Fontana WI. Downtown LG has neat shops and a few fun bars. In summer The Lady of the Lake gives you a nice tour of the lake but I've heard that taking the mailboat is the way to go (don't know if it is still available but if it is you ride along to deliver the mail). There are some absolutely magnificient homes on the lake but you can only see them from the lakeside. There is a 26 mile walking lakeside path around the whole lake but wear hiking shoes. It's great exercise while seeing the homes from the lakeside. You can do a portion of it by taking the Lady of the Lake from LG to Williams Bay and then walk the trail back for a nice 1/2 day adventure.
Feb 11th, 2003, 01:01 PM
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why are you in chicago/ohare and wanting to avoid chicago? it would make more sense to fly into milwaukee and go to the american club (if your budget can handle it. as for beautiful towns do you want victorian or cape cod modern? the best arboretum in the country is just outside of Highland Park north of chicago. lake geneva is quaint but very busy in the summer.
Mar 11th, 2003, 01:08 PM
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Not sure if you've made arrangements yet but about 45 minutes west of Chicago is Pheasant Run Resort. It's a fairly large hotel/resort with a great Sunday brunch. It's also close to a park called "Cantigny". It is a beautiful park built on the land of a US Colonel. The park has a golf course and a war museum commemorating all the wars that the Marines 1st Div (the Big Red One) have fought in. The Colonel's home is also on the grounds and you can tour that as well. It's great in the summer - lots of flowers and trees! And for the guys - some tanks and other military equipment. Also nearby is Naperville, IL - great little downtown area. Also St. Charles, IL - again great downtown with a couple cool bars and always something going on. Your also close to the IL Prairie Path (biking, hiking, etc.). Enjoy the Chicago area - You don't need to travel 2 hours to find beautiful places.
