Taste of Chicago
 

Planning a trip to Chicago and looking for a hotel within walking distance to grant park, great shopping, and good restaurants. Any suggestions? Thanks!

ANy of the hotels on N. Michigan Ave should due. Look at the other Chicago posts for more specifics.

Grant Park is in the Loop. Loop or River or Michigan Ave/Water Tower. There are several long answers to this question in the last 2 days. Do a search for Chicago hotel.

By Taste of Chicago, if you are here for what is called "Taste" over the 4th-if that is what your title means- do know that it is a mob scene. I have been to three tastes (one in each decade) and have regretted going every time. Go to the restaurants and get the real meal, the taste in Grant Park is not representative of the names they are sold under,IMHO. www.metromix.com

I, too, thnk the taste is a joke. But, there was a Super 8 on Ontario across from the capitol Grill that was reasonable and clean. Blow off the Taste and go to Kingston Mines.

I'm not a fan of the Taste either but if you do head to the Taste to actually eat there, try and do it on a day other than the evening of the 3rd (fireworks) or 4th of July (concerts/day off work) when it is an absolute mob scene. The best time to go is after lunchtime on weekdays.

Hotels near Grant Park-Hard Rock, Palmer House, Hilton on S. Michigan, Hotel Burnham, Hotel Monaco. But really you could get anything in the North Michigan Ave./River North/Loop and be just a quick walk/cab ride away.

I fourth the suggestion to avoid the Taste. Horribly overcrowded and overpriced. Perhaps the most overrated attraction in Chicago.

The only time in my whole life that I ever remember feeling claustrophobic while I was outdoors was at the Taste.

Taste of Chicago - with all due respect to others, I think the Taste should not be written off. Yes, it's overcrowded, hot, etc. at times. Yes, some of the stuff served is not indicative of the restaurant's regular fare.

Just don't go at the busiest times of day (go just as it opens at 11 or in the mid-afternoon or later in the evening just before closing, weekdays are less crowded than weekends). If the crowds are too heavy for you, there are many places there away from them (over by Buckingham Fountain, for example), except on the 3rd when the crowds are the worst.

And sample some dishes you wouldn't normally eat...mustard-fried catfish, sauteed goat and plantains, turtle soup, shark, alligator on a stick, wild boar meatballs...I've tried all of these over the past few years at the Taste.

I go for the free world-class entertainment; go for the Gourmet Pavilion over by Buckingham Fountain; go for the free cooking demonstrations from some of our more prominent restaurants; and go for the fireworks (which are simply spectacular), but I make sure I'm sitting at the bandshell in the fenced area at that time. Watching the fireworks without listening to the symphony is like eating without tasting. Just pick your times and places and you'll be ok.

By the way, if you check out the City of Chicago's website about a month beforehand, they'll list the restaurants with what they'll be serving and show where their stands will be located. Go with a game plan and you can avoid most of the "browse and stop" mentality there. Taste portions are a lot cheaper plus you can actually taste a lot more for your money.

Hotels within walking distance: My pick would be the Burnham Hotel.

Have fun.

What a waste of money and patience.
Most of the food is what you find at a carnival...I was expecting high quality food fare. If you enjoy standing in long lines for so-so junk food that you try to eat without dropping your drink and tickets, go for it. You can sit in the park to eat, but can't really carry much to sit on, like a blanket.

I will never go again.

Our one and only trip to chicago was during the "Taste" over the 4th of july weekend several years ago. It WAS overcrowded...once was enough. As far as hotels, we stayed at the hyatt on wacker drive compliments of priceline...