MMadison, WI/Chicago trip report –PART 2
Oct 14th, 2008 | 11:47 AM
#1
Original Poster
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 181
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MMadison, WI/Chicago trip report –PART 2
Here is the Chicago leg of our tour, posted on the Illinois forum. For those interested, you can find the Madison leg (part 1) on the Wisconsin forum.
BACKGROUND ON US: We’re a Brooklyn, NYC mom-daughter team, me 47 years old and she, a 16-year-old junior. We went to Madison, WI/Chicago for a 5-night trip to check out 2 schools – Univ. of Wisconsin @ Madison and Univ of Chicago. Neither of us had been to the Midwest before! On Wed. night, Oct. 8, we flew into Chicago, picked up a rental car from O’Hare and headed straight to Wisconsin. After 2 nights in Madison, we hit the road again and headed back to Chicago to stay Friday night through Monday afternoon.
ON THE ROAD: Not as easy a ride back into Chicago. Well, it was until we hit the Chicago area and then we hit a ton of traffic. We had left Madison late because we didn’t get our wake-up call (note to self: always set an alarm, too!) and we were pushing to make a 1:30 campus tour at the Univ. of Chicago. MapQuest gave us good directions, but the traffic nearing the city was so bumper to bumper and I didn’t have a good street map of the area south of the main area of Chicago to feel confident getting off the MapQuest route, so we ran late. Luckily, we immediately found free and easy street parking on campus (parking karma was with us on this trip!) and the tour had started a bit late and a nice kid who worked for admissions helped us catch up and we only missed 10 minutes of it.
After the campus tour and a quick bite on campus, we hightailed it to the Loop area of Chicago and dropped off the car there near our hotel (for no extra $). Bye bye, car, and hello city transportation and walking!
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO: An impressive school academically on what has to be one of the most gorgeous campuses I’ve ever visited. The entire grounds make up an actual botanic garden and the buildings are all neo-gothic with leaded windows, marble and dark wood interiors and gorgeous tiled floors. The quads mimic those of Oxford and Cambridge Universities. We had read lots about the campus not being in a great area. We spent the tour there and had a quick late lunch at the Reynolds Club (their union) and then felt pressed to return the car on time in town, but we went back the school the next day via bus (and yes, Fodorites, the #6 bus NOT the El is the way to go) and spent many hours walking around Hyde park and the campus and the surrounding area.
Granted, we’re from Brooklyn, but it seems like there is a comfortable cushion of a very nice, gentrified neighborhood and lots of good campus security to make us totally comfortable with the area. Hyde Park is actually lovely with a Frank Lloyd Wright building (with tours and gift shop), lots of students and families (apparently lots of the faculty live here) and nice bakeries, restaurants and a great book store. Overall, I worry more about my kid handling the intensity of the school’s serious academics than the area. She is a scholar in the making and loved the intellectual climate. She, the city kid that she already is, worries more about the 20-40 minute bus ride to main areas of Chicago. All things considered, she will be applying to Univ. of Chicago.
HYATT REGENCY CHICAGO: As close followers of this forum might recall, we booked this hotel on Priceline at $252 a night, and then wisely counseled by JJ5 of this forum, went back on Priceline, bidding this time. I made sure the Hyatt $252/night was cancellable and I bid on 4-star hotels in the Loop area only for $119 a night and I got....(drumroll)... an acceptance at the Hyatt!!!
Other Fodorites warned that Hyatt overbooks, so we called a day ahead in Madison and confirmed our room choice and that we had a guarantee for a late arrival (which wasn’t that late, but still, I was worried!). No problems. We got a lovely room on the 24th floor with a fantabulous view of the river and many of the terrific skyscrapers. And, the hotel could not have been better located for Chicago sightseeing, which made up the rest of the weekend.
CHICAGO DOINGS: Hyde Park (see Univ of Chicago above).
The Chicago Architecture Foundation Tour. Everyone raved about it and it was well worth the rave. Soooo much fun! We both loved it and we were happy it was one of the first things we did because then we felt this cozy familiarity with the remarkable buildings around us for the rest of the weekend. PS: We bought the tickets on-line in advance.
The Art Institute: Two fun hours here taking in the miniature rooms in the basement (dollhouse lovers, mark this exhibit on your must-do list), the visiting Cartier-Bresson photography exhibit, and the American art wing, including the famous American Gothic by Grant wood and Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks. Loved it. Could have spent all day, but more sights beckoned.
Millennium Park: Walked through and enjoyed the fountains and the sculptures and the people watching.
Lake Shore: Only really drove by the gorgeous lake shore via car and bus and admired from above (via Hancock bldg). Next time, we’ll explore more by foot.
John Hancock Building: We waited on line for elevators one night and once we were up there, we decided to take in the view from the ladies room and skip the long line for expensive drinks. Good strategy and thanks Fodorites for that recommendation!
Shopping: The 16-year-old girl sentimentally decided she needed to visit the American Girl doll place (even though we have one in NYC, the moment hit her here. Not too psychological on her college-touring trip, eh?!), which was surprisingly fun for the historically accurate vignettes of each doll (the dollhouse thing again!). While my daughter visited summer debate camp friends for 4 hours, I went shopping along State Street. Enjoyed the historic Marshall-Field building (now a Macy’s) and got lucky with some finds at Filene’s.
Navy Pier: Daughter’s debate friends took her (minus me) there where they had a total ball in a haunted house and getting soaked in fountains!
Chicago Marathon: Luckily, we were able to totally avoid it, but enjoyed seeing the proud runners walking around later with their medals.
CHICAGO EATS: Corner Bakery (they’re everywhere, including practically next door to the Hyatt) for one crowded, but adequate breakfast. Fox & Obell for a better breakfast in their café.
Vong’s Thai food for fun atmosphere, excellent spicy lemonade and interesting cocktails and good Thai food at good prices.
Giordano’s for our first filling taste of Chicago’s deep dish stuffed pizza.
Blackbird for a fancy, schmancy night out. Beautiful food in a beautiful-people (but gracious) atmosphere. Teeny tiny portions though, which often is the case at such places. We had a ton of fun there though and enjoyed some good mother-daughter chatting. I also enjoyed some lovely wine now unencumbered by the car!
Somewhere in our travels, a typical (big!) Chicago hotdog with the traditional fixings.
There was so much more to see and do, but we ran out of time. We look forward to coming back to the great city of Chicago soon!
BACKGROUND ON US: We’re a Brooklyn, NYC mom-daughter team, me 47 years old and she, a 16-year-old junior. We went to Madison, WI/Chicago for a 5-night trip to check out 2 schools – Univ. of Wisconsin @ Madison and Univ of Chicago. Neither of us had been to the Midwest before! On Wed. night, Oct. 8, we flew into Chicago, picked up a rental car from O’Hare and headed straight to Wisconsin. After 2 nights in Madison, we hit the road again and headed back to Chicago to stay Friday night through Monday afternoon.
ON THE ROAD: Not as easy a ride back into Chicago. Well, it was until we hit the Chicago area and then we hit a ton of traffic. We had left Madison late because we didn’t get our wake-up call (note to self: always set an alarm, too!) and we were pushing to make a 1:30 campus tour at the Univ. of Chicago. MapQuest gave us good directions, but the traffic nearing the city was so bumper to bumper and I didn’t have a good street map of the area south of the main area of Chicago to feel confident getting off the MapQuest route, so we ran late. Luckily, we immediately found free and easy street parking on campus (parking karma was with us on this trip!) and the tour had started a bit late and a nice kid who worked for admissions helped us catch up and we only missed 10 minutes of it.
After the campus tour and a quick bite on campus, we hightailed it to the Loop area of Chicago and dropped off the car there near our hotel (for no extra $). Bye bye, car, and hello city transportation and walking!
UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO: An impressive school academically on what has to be one of the most gorgeous campuses I’ve ever visited. The entire grounds make up an actual botanic garden and the buildings are all neo-gothic with leaded windows, marble and dark wood interiors and gorgeous tiled floors. The quads mimic those of Oxford and Cambridge Universities. We had read lots about the campus not being in a great area. We spent the tour there and had a quick late lunch at the Reynolds Club (their union) and then felt pressed to return the car on time in town, but we went back the school the next day via bus (and yes, Fodorites, the #6 bus NOT the El is the way to go) and spent many hours walking around Hyde park and the campus and the surrounding area.
Granted, we’re from Brooklyn, but it seems like there is a comfortable cushion of a very nice, gentrified neighborhood and lots of good campus security to make us totally comfortable with the area. Hyde Park is actually lovely with a Frank Lloyd Wright building (with tours and gift shop), lots of students and families (apparently lots of the faculty live here) and nice bakeries, restaurants and a great book store. Overall, I worry more about my kid handling the intensity of the school’s serious academics than the area. She is a scholar in the making and loved the intellectual climate. She, the city kid that she already is, worries more about the 20-40 minute bus ride to main areas of Chicago. All things considered, she will be applying to Univ. of Chicago.
HYATT REGENCY CHICAGO: As close followers of this forum might recall, we booked this hotel on Priceline at $252 a night, and then wisely counseled by JJ5 of this forum, went back on Priceline, bidding this time. I made sure the Hyatt $252/night was cancellable and I bid on 4-star hotels in the Loop area only for $119 a night and I got....(drumroll)... an acceptance at the Hyatt!!!
Other Fodorites warned that Hyatt overbooks, so we called a day ahead in Madison and confirmed our room choice and that we had a guarantee for a late arrival (which wasn’t that late, but still, I was worried!). No problems. We got a lovely room on the 24th floor with a fantabulous view of the river and many of the terrific skyscrapers. And, the hotel could not have been better located for Chicago sightseeing, which made up the rest of the weekend.
CHICAGO DOINGS: Hyde Park (see Univ of Chicago above).
The Chicago Architecture Foundation Tour. Everyone raved about it and it was well worth the rave. Soooo much fun! We both loved it and we were happy it was one of the first things we did because then we felt this cozy familiarity with the remarkable buildings around us for the rest of the weekend. PS: We bought the tickets on-line in advance.
The Art Institute: Two fun hours here taking in the miniature rooms in the basement (dollhouse lovers, mark this exhibit on your must-do list), the visiting Cartier-Bresson photography exhibit, and the American art wing, including the famous American Gothic by Grant wood and Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks. Loved it. Could have spent all day, but more sights beckoned.
Millennium Park: Walked through and enjoyed the fountains and the sculptures and the people watching.
Lake Shore: Only really drove by the gorgeous lake shore via car and bus and admired from above (via Hancock bldg). Next time, we’ll explore more by foot.
John Hancock Building: We waited on line for elevators one night and once we were up there, we decided to take in the view from the ladies room and skip the long line for expensive drinks. Good strategy and thanks Fodorites for that recommendation!
Shopping: The 16-year-old girl sentimentally decided she needed to visit the American Girl doll place (even though we have one in NYC, the moment hit her here. Not too psychological on her college-touring trip, eh?!), which was surprisingly fun for the historically accurate vignettes of each doll (the dollhouse thing again!). While my daughter visited summer debate camp friends for 4 hours, I went shopping along State Street. Enjoyed the historic Marshall-Field building (now a Macy’s) and got lucky with some finds at Filene’s.
Navy Pier: Daughter’s debate friends took her (minus me) there where they had a total ball in a haunted house and getting soaked in fountains!
Chicago Marathon: Luckily, we were able to totally avoid it, but enjoyed seeing the proud runners walking around later with their medals.
CHICAGO EATS: Corner Bakery (they’re everywhere, including practically next door to the Hyatt) for one crowded, but adequate breakfast. Fox & Obell for a better breakfast in their café.
Vong’s Thai food for fun atmosphere, excellent spicy lemonade and interesting cocktails and good Thai food at good prices.
Giordano’s for our first filling taste of Chicago’s deep dish stuffed pizza.
Blackbird for a fancy, schmancy night out. Beautiful food in a beautiful-people (but gracious) atmosphere. Teeny tiny portions though, which often is the case at such places. We had a ton of fun there though and enjoyed some good mother-daughter chatting. I also enjoyed some lovely wine now unencumbered by the car!
Somewhere in our travels, a typical (big!) Chicago hotdog with the traditional fixings.
There was so much more to see and do, but we ran out of time. We look forward to coming back to the great city of Chicago soon!
Oct 14th, 2008 | 12:43 PM
#2
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 16,253
Likes: 0
So glad you saw all you did! You did great.
See how you had the money to go to Blackbird, just because you didn't take the rackrate at the Hyatt. LOL!
I've done Priceline 4 star in Chicago many times, and I've never had a booking or check in problem. And I never even confirm.
U.of C. grads are one of the very few who still, even now, can pick their jobs because they come to them. Lucky girl!
Thank you for posting your trip report.
See how you had the money to go to Blackbird, just because you didn't take the rackrate at the Hyatt. LOL!
I've done Priceline 4 star in Chicago many times, and I've never had a booking or check in problem. And I never even confirm.
U.of C. grads are one of the very few who still, even now, can pick their jobs because they come to them. Lucky girl!
Thank you for posting your trip report.
Oct 14th, 2008 | 03:02 PM
#3
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 2,483
Likes: 0
Woo-hoo! Glad it all worked out for you. Are you heading to Ann Arbor for a visit at all? I think it would be a nice cross between Wisconsin and Chicago. It was an absolutely amazing place to go to school.
Anyway, welcome to the midwest. We like it here and now you see why!
Anyway, welcome to the midwest. We like it here and now you see why!
Oct 27th, 2008 | 12:32 PM
#5
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 3,266
Likes: 0
I just noticed you'd posted part II of your trip - I was curious how University of Wisconsin and U of C would compare to each other, especially to a mom and daughter from Brooklyn! (I went to Northwestern, so have no particular bias toward one school or the other, except that I would say that U of C is by far the better school.)
Glad you enjoyed your trip - Chicago is a great city!
Glad you enjoyed your trip - Chicago is a great city!
Oct 29th, 2008 | 09:26 AM
#6
Original Poster
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 181
Likes: 0
I think Univ of Wis@ Madison was a bit too peppy and homogenous, and Univ of Chicago was a bit too intense and driven. Both schools might still end up on a final list, but McGill in Montreal is looking like the one that suited her most so far of the ones we've seen.
Univ. of Chicago is definitely a tougher school. If she likes Brown as much as she thinks she's going to once she visits it, I think she'll make Brown her one "reach" school over Univ of Chicago!
Univ. of Chicago is definitely a tougher school. If she likes Brown as much as she thinks she's going to once she visits it, I think she'll make Brown her one "reach" school over Univ of Chicago!
