Lets talk about Chicago

[downtown]

Okay, I know a lot of you guys live in Chicago/lived in Chicago/know a lot about Chicago. I've been there a few times myself, but there were school/business trips, where somebody else was in charge of setting the agenda and everything.

I've never really taken a "spring break trip", and since this is my last quarter before I graduate, I really wanted to try it this time. Our local bus company is running special fares for Chicago, so I settled on going here.

I have a few questions for you locals...

1) How good is the public subway system? How far out of the city does it run? We're looking at finding the cheapest hotel that still is close to metro service (we won't have a car there). Where would that be? I know getting a hotel "in" Chicago would be fairly expensive no?

2) What are some attractions that you would recommend visitors hit up? I already know about the Aquarium, the Science Museum, Michigan Ave, the various pizza joints and blues bars (although specifics would be wonderful). What else? Keep in mind that we would be on a college student budget

Anything else I should know? I'll be in the neighborhood in mid/late march.

Thanks!

 

[CoolioVonHoolio]

Chicago is decent enough.. The public transit is amazing though, the blue line of the L's last stop is about 2 blocks from my house.

Also, hit up all those museums and stuff,*edit: nevermind your going in march I forgot* the beaches are pretty decent and if you are going with a group I'd recommend taking the 1ish hour ride to the indiana dunes and have yourself a bonfire party, if the weather allows in March.

also make sure you go to navy pier, that place is a decent daysworth of fun. but the fact that you are going in March means that you wont get to experience everything there is to offer. Spring breaks are for hot places like Mexico and Jamaica. Chicago is a summer place dude.

 

[Godwynn]

I went to Chicago for Spring Break in 2006.

Here's my advice. Bring more than two pullovers.

 

[Trajan12]

I can't believe I've never just driven my lazy ass to Chicago. Not once in my entire life. I should know this stuff!

 

[downtown]

Chicago is decent enough.. The public transit is amazing though, the blue line of the L's last stop is about 2 blocks from my house.

Also, hit up all those museums and stuff,*edit: nevermind your going in march I forgot* the beaches are pretty decent and if you are going with a group I'd recommend taking the 1ish hour ride to the indiana dunes and have yourself a bonfire party, if the weather allows in March.

also make sure you go to navy pier, that place is a decent daysworth of fun. but the fact that you are going in March means that you wont get to experience everything there is to offer. Spring breaks are for hot places like Mexico and Jamaica. Chicago is a summer place dude.

Yeah, I won't be going during baseball season. Opening day is what, the first week in April? Plus, tickets will be mucho expensive then. The Navy Pier is mostly outdoors too isn't it?

Traveling to a warmer city just wasn't an option. A bus ticket from Columbus to Chicago is around 30 bucks right now. A trip down south would cost 200 in just transportation. Chicago it is!

I'm more interested in the logistics of where I should get my hotel, and how I would go about getting in and out of the city

 

[Godwynn]

When is your Spring Break?

 

[CoolioVonHoolio]

I'm more interested in the logistics of where I should get my hotel, and how I would go about getting in and out of the city

hotels are easymode to get, there are hundreds in the city and in the western suburbs.

if you want to get out west or back into the city from the west the metra train runs all the way from like Geneva to downtown, which is a one hour drive or something otherwise. Then the L tracks are laid out all over the city and near west suburbs, you shouldnt have trouble getting places if you learn the L system.

 

[downtown]

When is your Spring Break?

I will prob be in the neighborhood sometime between March 19-24th. My Spring Break is the 19th to the 29th.

 

[dannyshenanigan]

1.Instead of a subway system we have the "L" or elevated track. It goes just about wherever you could want to go, and certain lines operate 24 hours a day. It does get very crowded, however. If your trying to get a hotel I would imagine there would be a good number near O'Hare airport, but I haven't really stayed in many hotels in Chicago.

2.Other sites
-Millenium Park is fun to walk around provided it will be warm enough in March. Lot's of modern art structures.
-The boat tours along the Chicago river are very intresting, especially if you like architecture.
-The Art Institute has an outstanding collection if you like art.
-Navy Pier is a big tourist attraction.
-The Field Museum is a large natural history museum with a complete t-rex skeleton.
-The top floor of the Sears tower has an impressive view, but you now have to pay.
-The Lincoln Park zoo is a free zoo in a really nice part of the city.
-If your into baseball, Wrigley field is great, if you can't get to see a game they give tours.

All these are fairly generic touristy things off the top of my head. If your going to be there during St. Patrick's day it can get pretty crazy. There are two large parades, they dye the river green and everybody gets really drunk.

 

[Maimonides]

Downtown, I realize you are going when you are going for a reason, but, since it's you, I have to say that you MUST visit Chicago during Blues Fest. It's a fantastic time-blues bands on every corner downtown & big stages by the lake. You, especially, would love it.

General admission seating at Wrigley Field with a Chicago-style hot dog is also a must for any respectful bucket list.

I stay away from Chicago outside of summertime. Too cold there.

 

[Dachs]

1.Instead of a subway system we have the "L" or elevated track. It goes just about wherever you could want to go, and certain lines operate 24 hours a day. It does get very crowded, however.

It is also slow as ASS. I was unamused with its suckiness.

 

[Theryman]

IDK about that, Dachs. I am a student at Loyola, and while it is usually faster to take a bus (the 147) downtown during the day, during rush hour driving can take over an hour. Then the red line is very much better.

As for the weather, it was bitter cold a week ago, but yesterday it hit 60 degrees. Mmm, short sleeves. Anyways, it'll get cold again no doubt. Dress carefully!

 

[Dachs]

IDK about that, Dachs. I am a student at Loyola, and while it is usually faster to take a bus (the 147) downtown during the day, during rush hour driving can take over an hour. Then the red line is very much better.

No, I mean slow in absolute terms. Even the DC Metro is faster.

 

[Theryman]

Ahh. The Chicago public transit system is the only I've ever experienced, so from naive point of view it seems just fantastic. I love not driving.

 

[Fifty]

Step 1: Find Whomp
Step 2: Charm Whomp with your rapier wit and dashing good looks
Step 3: Tour Chicago on Whomp's dime!

 

[King of Town]

I went to Chicago for Spring Break in 2006.

Here's my advice. Bring more than two pullovers.

I have to second this. i went to opening day in 04 for the cubs. the wind blowing off the lake was freezing. It's not going to feel like spring break thats for sure.

I know hey have a house of blues there somewhere, I haven't been there in quite a while to remember anything more local.

 

[Truronian]

I went there in '04. The zoo was nice, as was the giant silver bean thing.

 

[Cutlass]

I really liked the Welcome to the Museum of Science and Industry. And the view from the Hancock tower is actually better than the view from the Sears Tower

 

[Cattivo]

I love the Adler Planetarium. If you're into astronomy at all, give it a visit.

Navy Pier totally sucks. Don't waste any time there.

 

[Godwynn]

Navy Pier totally sucks. Don't waste any time there.

Agreed, it was a giant waste. Plus I had to walk there, next to Lake Michigan, in the cold.

yikes