scope

Looking for suggestions on a girls trip to Chicago this summer. Will be celebrating a 40th birthday. We would like to know what hotels would be good for us (something in a good location and nice but not too terribly pricey) and other suggestions for having a great long weekend.

Citylghts

If you can give some specifics it would help people answer. When are you planning to come? There are several large meetings and events in Chicago this summer that will affect hotel avability and rates. Among them are the Gay Games at the end of July which is anticipating 12,000 participants plus spectators; a Muslim convention at the end of August with 20,000 people; The National Association of Counties Aug 4-8 with 3,500 people; Contract Bridge Tournaments Jul 13-23 with 7,000 people; a clinical chemists' meeting Jul 23-27 with 20,000 people. In June the AMA in June with 4,000 people; confectioners' expo with 18,000 and plastics showcase with 75,000.

What are your interests? Do you want to see theatre, shop, attend a ballgame...? Will you be flying and need a hotel near public transportation? Can you be a bit more specific on what's 'not terribly pricey'? How many people will there be and how many rooms will you want?

scope

Hey Citylights,

We are (there are two of us) thinking about coming to Chicago July 13th for either 3 or 4 nights. We do enjoy theatre, shopping and perhaps a daytime ballgame. We also love the nightlife!
Price range for the hotel is about $200-250 and we will be flying but we would like our hotel to be near the nightlife action.

Thank you so much for your input!

Citylghts

Almost any hotel in the loop or North Michigan Avenue area would fit this. You could try Priceline or one of the other bidding sites and get a 3 or 4-star place for about $100-$150. The only drawback is you wouldn't necessarily be guaranteed 2 beds if that's important. If you want an older hotel with character, try the Palmer House or the Intercontinental. Because they're older some rooms are a bit smaller than new hotels.

The Burnham Hotel is a new hotel in an old building on State Street. The Sofitel, Amalfi and Hilton Garden Inn also get good lots of good feedback. Either of the Embassy Suites would give you a little more room and the one on Columbus Drive would also have good views.

The trendier stores (Tiffany's, Saks, Bloomingdale's, Cartier) are on Michigan Ave. north of the River and Field's, Old Navy and Carson's are on State south of the river.

The Cubs are playing the Mets that weekend. Wrigley Field is about 4 miles north of downtown and accessible via the "L" and buses.

The King Tut exhibit begins at the end of May at the Field Museum and runs through the summer. The musical Wicked is at the Ford Center on an open-end run. You can check www.metromix.com for a complete schedule of events, restaurants and clubs.

You can take the L/Subway from either airport into downtown. It's about 45 minutes from O'Hare on the blue line or 30 minutes from Midway on the orange line. Just follow the signs that say "trains to city" from baggage claim. The fare is $2 but you can buy a multi-day pass at the airport. For transit info, maps and a trip planner, check www.transitchicago.com.

Can't really help you on clubs. Howl at the Moon Saloon is a dueling piano bar on Hubbard at State. There are dozens of clubs in that area extending to North Avenue. There are also several places near Wrigley Field where everyone hangs before and after the games.

Kath

How odd Ricksteves06. This seems to be your response to questions from all over the globe. Have you just had horrible travel experiences?

StephCar

I second the Palmer House for character and location. No one suggested the Drake yet, but I love that hotel too, much like Palmer in its charm and elegance.

Navy Pier is great and safe, as is most of Chicago. Ignore RickSteves06, he has been banned before and only posts negative and mostly absurd/untrue statements to stir up trouble.

patg

Check out Hotel Sofitel for a chic stay in a great location.

Midsummer is not a great time for theatre in Chicago, although Chicago Shakespeare runs year round with lighter fare in the hot months. Theatre on the Lake is another option. The Museum of Contemporary Art has performance art all through the year, if you want something outrageous. Popular shows like Blue Man Group run through the summer. You can schedules at chicagoplays.com and reviews on metromix.com or chicagoreader.com

One of the great things about summer in chicago is the way the city comes alive. You can stroll down Michigan Avenue and find something to do without planning, but, if you must,
choosechicago.com has links to many popular tourist attractions. The Art Institute and Millennium Park are two essential spots to visit, IMO.

jlm_mi

Although it's not exactly theater, there are free concerts many weekends at the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park. See www.millenniumpark.org for concert schedules, though they may not be available till closer to summer.

chuston

My favorite area of Chicago to visit, when I go is Armitage and Hyde Park. Both you can get to by the metro.

For nightlife, I would go to Fulton Bar, and around the corner is a great sushi place (can't remember the name right now). But only the locals know about it, you'll never read about it in a guide book.

There is tons to do while you are there, you won't have any trouble filling your days!

Good luck!

SusanEva

...marking for future trip...