Going on small roadtrip, looking for info on chicago

[fiznowler]

So I am on vacation next week and rather than just sit on my a** and play PS3 and drink beer a friend and I thought we might go on a small roadtrip. I live in springfield, MO and I am going to head to Cape Girardeau, MO Tuesday morning. I will stay with parents for a night and visit them. I was planning on heading from there to Chicago to stay Wendsday night. Anyone know of a decent place to stay in the area? I basically am looking to not get mugged, not spend $300 a night and have some good food and see what there is to do in the area. I will be driving my s14 to whereever I go and I would really prefer to come back to it still intact and not stolen also. I just have no idea what areas are good or just stay the hell away from. I will be heading to St. Louis and staying there either thursday night or friday. I am not opposed to staying in a suburb but I would really like to at least checkout the Downtown area. Any Nico folks from chicago have any good recomendations on a place to stay, must see kind of things, and some great places to eat that aren't rediculous expensive?

[AppleBonker]

Suburbs would definitely be cheaper to stay in than downtown, but you may hit traffic on the way in to the city (depending on the time you travel). Coming from Mo, I probably wouldn't go much closer to the city than the darien/downers grove/burr ridge area (I grew up in this area, and for the most part it's well-off with minimal crime). Check them out on a map, tons of hotels in that general vicinity. Going much further along I-55 will put you in Berwyn/Cicero which can be a bit sketchier. The hotels should be cheaper in the burbs, and the parking will definitely be less expensive (read: free). Only in Chitown for one night? I'll have to do some more brainstorming to determine (IMO) the can't-miss stops. The sky deck at the Willis (Sears) Tower is definitely cool, especially with the new glass structure that allows you to stand out over the edge of the building.

[tigersharkdude]

Museum of Science and Industry

better yet get this
http://www.partner.viator.com/en/4471/t ... 2640CHI_TR

* John Hancock Observatory including Multimedia Sky Tour OR Skydeck Chicago (skydeck = sears tower)
* Field Museum including Underground Adventure
* Museum of Science and Industry including Omnimax
* Adler Planetarium and Astronomy Museum including Sky Theater Show
* Shedd Aquarium: VIP entry including Oceanarium, Wild Reef, Amazon Rising and Special Exhibit

[AppleBonker]

Those ^ locations are all pretty excellent. But there's no way all of that can get done in one day. Skydeck plus one other might be feasible. Fizzy, you looking for something at night too?

[tigersharkdude]

didnt read the one day thing. When my church group went up there, it took us 3 days to see everything. We finished the trip at navy pier and ate at bubba gump's

[tigersharkdude]

pics from my trip

[dusred]

Museum of Science and Industry

THIS! That's pretty much the only thing I liked about Chicago. Everything costs assloads of money so bring a full wallet.

[fiznowler]

Would I be better off to catch a train into the city if I stayed in the burbs? I had someone suggest that I stay in napersville but that looks a ways out? Yeah I would definitly like to find something to do at night but if I drive into the city then I can't drink lol.

[fiznowler]

I would like to spend more time and of course money there but this year it just isn't going to work out. If I like it then next year I could plan better and try to spend a little more time there. My brother lives in St. Louis so I have a place to crash there for free. If you couldn't tell I definitly didn't do alot of planning yet lol.

[AppleBonker]

Naperville is the same general vicinity as downers grove, etc. The metra doesn't run terribly late, so getting back from the city to the burbs gets a bit more tricky (I think a lot of the trains have their last run at about 12-1).

If you're considering going out at night and drinking a few, it might be better to find a place in the city to stay. Unfortunately I can't help with cheap hotels on that end. Maybe Jesda will pop his head in and give suggestions. He's good at finding amazing deals. And, if going to bars, what kind of scene do you like? I tend to hang with the younger crowd (IE, fresh out of college to later 20's - works for me since I'm 26) because the eye candy is spectacular. But that tends to be more rowdy and crowded.

[tigersharkdude]

where we stayed.
http://hichicago.org/

[Jesda]

This is a GREAT time to travel. Hotels are cheap. Get on Priceline and look for a 4-star place near Millennium Park. Walk to the park, walk to Lake Michigan, walk to the art institute. I paid $55/night for my room at the Hyatt with a view of the water.

Pics: http://www.q45.org/cpg/thumbnails.php?album=127&page=3

[tigersharkdude]

when you go, you cant visit Jesda though -1
because he never lets the people in nashville know when he's rolling through

[Jesda]

when you go, you cant visit Jesda though -1
because he never lets the people in nashville know when he's rolling through

[AppleBonker]

This is a GREAT time to travel. Hotels are cheap. Get on Priceline and look for a 4-star place near Millennium Park. Walk to the park, walk to Lake Michigan, walk to the art institute. I paid $55/night for my room at the Hyatt with a view of the water.

Jesda with the good travel tips again. Thanks!

[Jesda]

Also, even if the room is cheap, theyre going to rape you for parking no matter what part of the downtown area you stay in. Its $49/night for valet with unlimited in/out, or $20 to park a block or two away but you have to pay again to repark.

[AZ89two4Tsx]

Would I be better off to catch a train into the city if I stayed in the burbs? I had someone suggest that I stay in napersville but that looks a ways out? Yeah I would definitly like to find something to do at night but if I drive into the city then I can't drink lol.

Definitely do the train thing. Chicago has a GREAT subway system that runs throughout downtown. You'll be perfectly fine without a car, just be prepared to do a TON of walking. If you do drive, expect to pay a bunch for parking, toll booths galore going into the city from the burbs, and awful traffic. You're way better off getting a subway pass. Trains come like every 15-20mins I think. They're not very clean, but you can't beat the price/convenience.

Places to visit.
- Navy Pier
- Science/Industry museum
- Sears tower/Hancock
- Magnificent Mile shopping
- Whatever that big road by the water that has that big shiny thing that someone above posted
- Millennium park
- Shedd aquarium

[Jesda]

Napers is a nice suburb. Dont get on the train lines that go south.

[tigersharkdude]

Would I be better off to catch a train into the city if I stayed in the burbs? I had someone suggest that I stay in napersville but that looks a ways out? Yeah I would definitly like to find something to do at night but if I drive into the city then I can't drink lol.

Definitely do the train thing. Chicago has a GREAT subway system that runs throughout downtown. You'll be perfectly fine without a car, just be prepared to do a TON of walking. If you do drive, expect to pay a bunch for parking, toll booths galore going into the city from the burbs, and awful traffic. You're way better off getting a subway pass. Trains come like every 15-20mins I think. They're not very clean, but you can't beat the price/convenience.

Places to visit.
- Navy Pier
- Science/Industry museum
- Sears tower/Hancock
- Magnificent Mile shopping
- Whatever that big road by the water that has that big shiny thing that someone above posted
- Millennium park
- Shedd aquarium

pretty much the same as I posted above. Get the city pass, check out the bean, and go to navy pier

EDIT: and eat some good F***ing pizza at Pizzeria Uno

EDIT 2: Be sure to get a pass for the bus/train/subway. I found when we went last year, that during the day you never have to wait more than 5 minutes on of mentioned