Recommendations for a vacation in Chicago?

[mikester]

Wife has been bugging me to go on vacation in Chicago this spring.

We're going.

She's trying to figure out a nice place to stay where we can manage our own cooking instead of eating out all the time. Not a bad thing but with two little kids resturants become a pain in the butt. Plus, we just generally don't go for the run of the mill resturants these days - it's kind of boring. We are planning on spending a lot of time around the planetarium and what she calls 'the loop'.

She's looking at vacation home rentals and I suggested an extended stay hotel.

Any suggestions of nice places?

[Embraer]

spend at least a night or two at the Drake

[legion]

Where are those guys from Wisconsin staying?

[murphyjp]

Find a Homewood suites. You can get a room with a kitchen and they offer near full meals complimentary Monday thru Thursday with beer and wine. Full breakfast too. Rates are in line with most normal hotels. You may not be downtown, but the trains are very convenient and fun for the kids. Driving and parking downtown is awful anyway.

[kanadary]

try priceline. we were there a few years ago. got the downtown marriott for $80 a night. mentioned to the registration lady that it was my daughters first time in a fancy hotel. she put us on the 34th floor overlooking lake michigan.

[fingpilot]

Like Mike said. All the aircrews stay at the Drake every once in a while. I consider it one of the top ten hotels in the world.

[mikester]

Well, we leave in a few days and we took the homewood suites advice. Hopefully that works out but the price was right and the hotel does read nice.

Boys and wife are excited, wife is planning our attractions to visit which I think is her favorite part of a vacation.

I'm looking forward to relaxing and enjoying some time off with the family with no obligations.

Any suggestions for attractions?

[Embraer]

field museum, adler, shedd, sear's tower. catch a game at wrigley if you can. walk the magnificent mile. take a tour of the mercantile exchange.

eat an italian beef and a dog

[krystar]

yea!! it's still sears tower to real chicagoans! hehe.

lakefront is def good. take the kids to navy pier for some wandering fun. bubba gump shrimp is pretty good eats. sunday brunch at signature room is tourist haven, although for good reason. u can't say u've been to chicago unless u've had italian beef, chicago style dog, and/or deep dish pizza.

there are double decker shuttle buses in the loop and museum campuses if u wanna do that.

[ddbach]

Missed the Museum of Science and Industry

Museum of Science and Industry | What's Here | Exhibits

Lots of cool things to do and see there. It has always been a family favorite for a day trip. I need to go again, haven't been in a while.

[krystar]

ah yea MSI. i grew up couple blocks away from MSI. been there so many times hehe. the boys can see go inside a U boat at MSI!

[Embraer]

oh yeah...and don't call it "Chi-town" kind of like calling it a "frat party"

[Jay Auskin]

Shedd Aquarium...hands down. Also, even though it's a bit touristy...Millenium Park is really nice. Even as a local, I always take people there.

[foxpaws]

Go up to Woodstock - a wonderful little place just northwest... It is where 'Groundhog Day' was filmed - and they have little plaques where certain scenes were shot -

It is the quintessential midwest small town.

And the Bean at the park - cool.

And when you are outside of the Art Institute of Chicago (because you will go - if nothing else to see 'the' Seurat, however my fav is Morisot's 'Woman at her Toilette') look up at the names of the artists carved into the top cornice - Donatello, Leonardo, Michelangelo, and Raphael. Ever wonder why one of the TMNT was named Donatello - well now you know - the cartoonists were sitting across the street and got the Turtles' names from the names carved into the Museum.

[Embraer]

+1 to the art institute. ive been to art museums all over the world. ...and that is still my fave. last time i went, they had an entire picasso/gauguin expo. so many famous pieces of art.

if it's your first time, you'll be surprised at how big the paintings are in real life

[cstreit]

Looks like people have hit the high points..

Shedd Aquarium
Science and Industry Museum
Field Museum

...all must see's.

You can actually look in on the Chicago Board of Trade as well. Try a river tour. Michigan Avenue if you're in for any shopping.

Restaurants? Okay these won;t be cheap...

Gibsons Steak House
Shaws Crab House
Ann Sathers (for breakfast)
Lou Malnati's Pizzeria

I'm not sure about extended stay hotels in the loop, doubt there are many....

[GG Allin]

Take a cab to Clybourn & Webster and get yourself a Pequod's Pizza.

[scottmandue]

When we did an install in Chicago I talked them into putting us up at this place:

Belden Stratford Hotel - Suites downtown Chicago, Chicago lodging, Chicago accommodation, Chicago hotel discount

Across the street from Lincoln park, the arboretum, the zoo, just a block up from Clark street with lots of restaurants, view of the lake.

They are small apartments so they have a small kitchen and fridge.

If I were going back I would stay there.

Skip getting a car, taxi or public transportation is the way to go.