jlee

Hello,
Just booked our flights to Chicago for the first week of september. It will be me and my hubby and my eleven month old baby boy. I realize that we have a baby traveling with us so we might be limited in regard to places to visit. We want to be able to have fun and enjoy the city but at the same time have our baby enjoy his time there too. Any there any advice/tips as to what we should do? Also, my hubby wants to see a game at the US cellular field. How far is it from downtown? Need we take the bus or train? or is it walking distance from downtown? we want to map out our itinary for the 5 days. please advise. thanks in advance!

Citylghts

Just about any hotel in the River North/Magnificent Mile neighborhood will be fine. Most attractions are a short distance away on foot or via public transit.

You can purchase transit passes at the O'Hare or Midway rail stations or most CVS and Walgreens stores in the city. Check www.transitchicago.com for maps, a trip planner and how to track trains and buses using your smart phone. A 3-day pass allows unlimited rides on all CTA trains and buses for $14. A 1-day pass is $5.75.

Cellular Field is about four miles south of The Loop. You can take the Red Line train there and walk about three blocks from the station. To find info on other attractions in the city check www.choosechicago.com or www.explorechicago.org.

For info on restaurants and other events, you can also check www.chicagoreader.com or www.chicagomag.com. You can search restaurants by neighborhood, cuisine or price range.

jlee

thank you! much appreciated!

POlson

I loved strolling baby up and down Michigan Avenue (shopping and eating along the way). Grant Park is also baby friendly for a little picnic time. I think you have to check strollers but with a baby carrier you should enjoy the Art Institute just fine. Baby might also enjoy Shedd Aquarium, mine did. Lincoln Park Zoo is very stroller friendly, free, and in a great area to grab a bite to eat. Great city for public transit so you should be able to get to most things no problem. You might want an umbrella stroller, I used a convertible stroller/backpack combo (not sure if they still make but was very useful for escalators). I also suggest some trading off for some activities - one spouse watches over nap time while the other goes to the spa or works our or gets a little baby-free time to shop.

My recollections are a bit dated though so hopefully others will chime in with more current thoughts, suggestions, corrections.

HappyTrvlr

Lincoln Park Zoo is convenient and wonderful. It is set next to the lake, a great walking area in addition to seeing the animals. As mentioned before, it's free.

jlee

thanks for your suggestions.

Are there any good places for dinner that you can recommend? We're open. We can eat pretty much any type of cuisine...thanks!

HappyTrvlr

On N.Wells St, many places have outdoor garden seating, good for bringing a baby in a stroller along.

jlee

thanks! we'll be staying at the palmer. is N. wells st. close to palmer hotel? if not, are there any good restaurants close to palmer? i'm asking because we'll be arriving in the evening and want to grab something good to eat near the hotel. we dont want to stress the baby out too much.

Citylghts

To reach the Lincoln Park Zoo, you can take the Number 151 bus northbound on State Street either a block north or south of the Palmer House. It will drop you at the zoo gate.

There are several restaurants around the Palmer House, Miller's Pub is next door on the Wabash side and the Park Grill has outdoor seating in Millennium Park. I think the poster is referring to the portion of N Wells Street in the Old Town neighborhood. It's about 2 miles away. You can take the Brown Line L to Sedgewick, then walk 2 blocks east on North Ave to Wells and turn right.

jlee

Thank you so much! Another question if you dont mind. Does Lincoln Park Zoo take a whole day? Is it big that it'll take a whole entire day? I'm asking because I'm trying to plan out things to do that are close to each other.

What do you think of my itinerary below? Are there anything that you think I should add to it? Does it look ok? Thanks a bunch!


Day 1 – 9/1/12 - Sat
1. Arrive at airport, take train to hotel.
2. Dinner –
3. Walk around if possible
Day 2 – 9/2/12 - Sun
1. Breakfast –
2. Millennium Park – Michigan Ave. & E. Randolph St.
Chicago, IL 60602
3. Lunch at Henri Across from Millennium Park
18 South Michigan Avenue
4. Art Institute – immediately south of Millennium Park. 111 S. Michigan Ave. Open 10:30 to 5 p.m.
a. Adults: $18.00
5. Dinner -
Day 3 – Monday- Lincoln Park (To reach the Lincoln Park Zoo, you can take the Number 151 bus northbound on State Street either a block north or south of the Palmer House. It will drop you at the zoo gate).

Breakfast – Austrian Bakery Daily 8 AM-8 PM
1. Lincoln Park Zoo
2. Magnificent Mile
3. Dinner – Yoshi Café -
Day 4 – Tuesday – 9/4/12
1. Breakfast
2. Shedd Aquarium. South of art institute. 1200 South Lake Shore Drive
3. Lunch
4. 6 p.m. - Watch a baseball game at Cellular Field
Day 5 – Wednesday
1. Breakfast at the Oak Tree (900 N. Michigan Ave)
2. Navy Pier
3. The Architectural boat tour
4. Lunch: Lou Malnati's. Deep dish pizza at 1120 N. State Street. (N. State and Rush)
5. Dinner - at the Signature room – John Hancock building 95th floor. 875 N. Michigan Ave.
Day 6 – Thursday (last day) – Flight takes off at 6 p.m. Leave hotel at 4 p.m.
1. Brunch
2. Shopping, take the L train
3. Chinatown maybe?
4. Take train back to airport

bluestar

Something to consider -- Sept 1 & 2, being the first full weekend of the month, there is free admission to certain museums if you are a Bank of America or Merrill Lynch cardholder (either credit or debit cards). For Chicago, the participating museums are: The Art Institute, Shedd Aquarium, Adler Planetarium, Chicago History Museum and Museum of Contemporary Art. I'm not sure but think each adult needs their name on the issued card for complimentary admission. Regardless, this could save you several bucks. http://museums.bankofamerica.com/

re: restaurants close to The Palmer House - On Wabash (226 S Wabash Ave), not far from the above-mentioned Miller's Pub, is The Exchequer. Nothing fancy by any means, and it's usually quite busy ,noisy and hectic, but the times I've been there they served decent fare at reasonable prices. http://www.yelp.com/biz/exchequer-re...nd-pub-chicago

A similar but less busy/noisy place is Berghoff's (17 W. Adams St.) Great pierogis as an appetizer -- there's a regular luch/dinner menu or a sandwich/hofbrau bar (at lunchtime anyway, not sure about later in the day). http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-berghoff-restaurant-chicago

I ate at both places earlier this month.

HappyTrvlr

N.Wells Street is far from your hotel, closer to the Lincoln Park Zoo.

Citylghts

Don't do dinner at the Signature Room. The food is overpriced for what you get and only so-so. Go to the lounge for a drink, then head elsewhere to eat.

jlee

Thnx everyone! These are all useful info! I ll report bk about my trip after. Cant wait!

ChgoGal

Hi, Jlee. A few recommendations for your itinerary.

Day 1 – 9/1/12 - Sat
Dinner – A casual take-away/sit down place is Pret-a-Manger for fresh sandwiches (on State Street X Monroe, in the new Target store/old Carson Pirie Scott department store… a gorgeous Louis Sullivan building). Pret is a sandwich/soup/salad shop from the UK, with really nice sandwiches. I love this chain. Otherwise, a lot of the more casual places right around you are lots of greasy, fast food places.

After dinner, State Street will be lively. I’d walk northbound on State to wind down for your evening. Hopefully, the wonderful Chicago Theater will be open, and the lights will be on. You ought to go in the lobby and try to peek in the theater—if you ask the ushers nicely, they might let you.
http://www.pret.com/us/find_a_pret/shops/US0049.shtm

Day 2 – 9/2/12 - Sun
Breakfast – Intelligentsia Coffee is a nice, lively place on Randolph between Michigan and Wabash. Duck in next door to the Chicago Cultural Center and see the gorgeous Tiffany glass dome and whatever free art exhibit they have.

http://www.intelligentsiacoffee.com/...park-coffeebar
http://www.explorechicago.org/city/e...tractions.html

Other b’fast places: on Michigan Avenue, there’s a Cosi Café or Au Bon Pain at around 110 S Michigan Ave. Corner Bakery is in the gorgeous Santa Fe bldg at 224 S. Michigan, but it’s a corner bakery and a little blah. If the weather’s nice, I’d grab b’fast to go and sit in the south garden of the Art Institute (pretty arrangement of hawthorne trees and a Lorado Taft fountain).

5. Dinner – Lots of selections… maybe more baby-friendly… Italian Village (The Village), or Elephant & Castle on Wabash.
http://www.elephantcastle.com/
http://italianvillage-chicago.com/

Day 3 – Monday- Lincoln Park
If you’re having b’fast at Austrian bakery (right around the corner from me!), walk from the Palmer House over to Dearborn Street and catch either the 22 bus or the 36 bus northbound. It’ll take about 20-30 minutes or so. Pull the bell to get off at either Arlington or Deming [around 2500 north, 1st and 2nd stops after Fullerton (2400 north)]. Bakery is next to the Starbucks at Clark and Deming. Red and white awning, outdoor seating. If the bakery doesn’t appeal as a sit-down place-it's cozy, seems a comfortable place, but I only buy my bread there... I don't sit and eat) there’s a France’s Deli a ½ block north, or Einstein Bagel across the street.)

After b’fast, walk east on Deming, cross Lakeview, take the pedestrian underpass over to a playground and North Pond. This is one of the most gorgeous places in the city. Walk east bound past the North Pond Café, and follow the walk around the pond, which turns south. It’ll take you to Fullerton and the Zoo. Cross Fullerton, you’ll see a large green glass conservatory. There’s an entrance to the Zoo right there… you can walk south through the Zoo toward South Pond, and Café Brauer, then head over to Stockton and catch the 151 Bus SOUTH back into the loop.

3. Dinner – Yoshi Café – is north of Lincoln Park (around 3200 North), so you’ll be farther from hotel. You’re aware, I’m assuming. I’ve never been, but he definitely has his fans.

Day 5 – Wednesday
Dinner - at the Signature room. I’d recommend just doing drinks in the lounge. A place that might be nice… even with baby in a stroller… maybe… perhaps give it a look… the Nomi Rooftop bar. I had drinks here a couple days ago. They have a lovely rooftop area. Was high end but not overbearingly so. And the food is wonderful! Maybe give them a call and ask what they think about a baby stroller in the rooftop area (the Garden restaurant… if you go earlyish… if weather is nice.) Otherwise, lots of other dinner options all over. Or Café Spiaggia (Italian) or (casual) l’Appetito Deli would be nice and casual (if you’re stuffed from Lou Malnati’s). There’s seating both indoors and out… and this deli is at the base of John Hancock.
http://www.hyatt.com/gallery/nomi/menus.html

Day 6 – Thursday (last day) – If you’re flight leaves at 6, and you’re taking the train to O’Hare, I’d leave the hotel by at least 2:30. (15-20 min to the blue line train; 45-60 min to O’hare, 60 min to navigate to terminal and through security and to your gate, flight will likely close at 5:30-5:45.

Skip Chinatown. In Chicago, it’s a letdown. Doesn’t compare to NY or San Fran. Maybe, instead, do a walking tour of the loop for the public art. Pop into Magnolia Bakery for a cupcake or Papa Beards for a crème puff. (This could be on your way to catching the Blue Line train to oHare. Lovely shopping right on State ST. at Anthropologie, or Eileen Fisher, or even the behemoth Macy’s (formerly Marshall Field’s.)
http://muginohointl.com/locations/chicago
http://www.magnoliabakery.com/find_us.php

Just a little note about strollers on the buses or trains: just be mindful, during weekday rush hours, it'll often be tight. An umbrella stroller, easy to collapse so baby sits on your lap, is a good idea. Otherwise, try to travel during less busy times... or think about just springing for a cab to save yourself the stress.

Have a great time!

jlee

thank you, ChgoGal!!! I love it!