chicago Field museum
 

what is the closest hotel to the field museum?
can I get there wth a taxi?

Melissa

There are plenty of hotels close to the Field, many walking distance, anything in the Loop/River North/Streeterville/Mag Mile/ Gold Coast are a reasonable cab ride. What else do you plan on doing/seeing?

THE closest hotel to the Field Museum is the Essex Inn, however I doubt I'd recommend it to anyone I liked. Perhaps if you said how many people are in your group and what your budget is, posters could give you some suggestions.

Where do you want to get with a taxi? The hotel? The Field Museum? Where are you starting?

Staying near the museum is great if that's all you're doing. However, if you will be doing other things you may want to be a bit farther north.

Also, when are you planning to come? There are a number of large meetings and events this summer that will take most of the hotel rooms for periods including a Biotech Industry conference in April with 20,000 people; restaurant assn in May with 76,000 people; the plastics society with 75,000 in June; the Gay Games in July and 2 Islamic groups in August with about 20,000 people.

The Hilton Chicago on South Michigan Avenue.

i have found a good deal at the hyatt regancy McCormick Place.
Is that a decent place?
Basically we are coming to see Pompeii at the Field Museum
We are 3 adults ,and 2 teens
we are coming March 3-5
Thanks
Melissa

The Hyatt McCormick Place is fine, a short cab ride or ok walk if that is the only thing you plan on doing on your visit. It's convienent to the Museum Campus and the convention center and that's about it. For a short visit just for that purpose, it's fine though.

Melissa, you should be aware that the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place is literally in the middle of no where, very isolated. If you dont have transportation, you will be very, very stuck. Consider one of the many hotels on Michigan Ave. from which you could take a taxi and have access to other Chicago sites.

if we are planning on spending saturday at the field museum,what would be a good place to go sunday?
Melissa

What are your interests? The rest of the museum campus includes the Shedd Aquarium and Planetarium. The Museum of Science and Industry is a cab ride away, as is the Art Institute, State street shopping (including Marshall Fields). Michigan Ave shopping and Navy Pier are a cab ride away.

Melissa,

Art Institute, Shedd Aquarium, Museum of Science and Indusrty are other "good for all ages" places. Top of the Hancock and North Michigan Ave. shopping is another possiblity.

Where are you coming from and what do you want to do? Chicago has everything (except reliable good weather in early March).

Kevin

The Hyatt Regency McCormick is indeed in the middle of nowhere. Obviously, it was built to serve people attending trade shows at the convention center.
You'll miss the real feel of Chicago by staying there instead closer to the "action" of Chicago.

Although it's only a short bus ride from the Hyatt McCormick to the Field Museum, it's still awfully isolated and you can't walk anywhere. Even the McDonald's next door closes pretty early.

You'd probably do better with the Chicago Hilton or one of the hotels in the Loop or Mag Mile area. A cab from there would only be a couple dollars. You'll probably see great rates, but avoid the Congress.

You can also catch the 146 bus on Michigan Avenue north or the river or State Street south of the river and it will take you directly to the Museum Campus.

As for Sunday, it depends what interests you. You could go to the Shedd Aquarium or Adler Planetarium next to the Field Museum, the Art Institute is a few blocks north. You can go shopping on State Street and Michigan Avenue or ice skate in Millenium Park. You could head to Navy Pier or to the Lincoln Park Zoo or have dim sum in Chinatown. You could see the Bulls, Blue Man Group or A Year with Frog and Toad at the Goodman Theatre.

I changed my reservation to the Hilton on South Michigan Ave.
A little more money but according to you guys, the experts, worth it.
Thanks
Melissa

Definitely better! The Hilton is a good choice.

Melissa, the Hilton's an excellent choice. I've stayed there 20-30 times, so I speak from experience. Two of its great advantages are that it's close to two of Chicago's best attractions--The Art Institute and Millennium Park.

That Hilton also has an indoor pool with a great view. For a bit of trivia, it was originally the Stevens Hotel, owned by the family of Supreme Court Justice John Paul Stevens.

One warning about choosing a Sunday pasttime: most of the stores and restaurants in the Loop and south Loop are closed on Sundays. SOme places in Printers Row (the loft neighborhood three block west of the Hilton)will be open, but call first. You may want to try the North Michigan Avenue neighborhood. Dinner in Greektown is fun, too, with a family.

Actually, most businesses will be open on State St., at least the chains. West of State, though, almost everything is shutdown on Sunday, except some of the better restaurants.

The Hilton is a great place to stay. The rooms are very comfortable. They have a free shuttle bus uptown to the Water Tower if you want to do some shopping. It's kind of midway between the Museum and everything else. An excellent compromise.

the mc cormick is NOT where anyone except a trade-fair attendee/exhibitor would want to stay.

Hmmm, i have shopped in the loop on State St. many Sundays!
Hit the museums on one day. Walk up Michigan ave to Millenium Park and N Michigian Ave area. WIndow shop, explore, check out the Chicago Architecture shop/tours. See choosechicago.com for ideas.
You can easily walk to the Museum campus from the Hilton,t hrough grant park, really fun. Or a taxi but then you miss stuff.