 |
|
|
Chicago: A Great Family Vacation
By Kim Miller • Today's Family Publisher
 The focus of this publication is to provide local families with a monthly guide of great things to do in and around Cuyahoga County. However, occasionally, we like to venture outside of the area to offer tips on vacationing in other great cities.
With a previous and recent visit to Chicago with my husband and children I thought it would be fitting to offer up some suggestions for planning a great trip to the third largest city in the United States.
Chicago is very clean compared to other downtown areas, especially for a city so large. It is also a very friendly downtown area that is always buzzing with action - whether at 11:00 pm on a Thursday evening or 10:00 am on a Sunday morning. My kids have all visited New York City with school trips and unanimously agree that overall, Chicago is a much better place to visit.
Our trip was extra special because the Blackhawks, the city’s hockey team, had won the Stanley Cup the day before we arrived. A ticker tape/confetti parade was planned to celebrate their victory (and our arrival☺) on our first morning in the city. My husband is a die-hard Cleveland sports fan and wanted to get a taste of what winning a championship is all about. None of us wanted to attend the parade, which drew nearly 1 million people, but once it started I have to admit it was awesome to be there and we were all Blackhawks fans for a day.
The Car Ride
Finding our way to our hotel was a breeze thanks to our Magellan GPS. If we had relied upon internet mapping software, we would have been led into detours and Chicago area construction zones that could have added an hour to the trip. A GPS is a must for any trip.
The trip there was about 6.5 hours as we encountered several unavoidable construction delays on I-80/I-90 and made a quick stop for lunch. The Ohio service plazas were easily the nicest along the 380 mile route. Remember to bring money for tolls. It cost us $20 each way after entering the Ohio Turnpike at interchange 142.
Accommodations
When traveling we always choose an Embassy Suites Hotel. We have found that they provide the best amenities for the money, have great water pressure (my husband’s main criteria) and are always clean and quiet. Downtown Chicago has two Embassy Suites locations. We stayed at the Lakefront hotel which is a short walk of less than 15 minutes to most of the main attractions. Our room on the east wing of the 10th floor provided a nice view of Lake Michigan as well as the city.
Our suite featured a separate living room with a sleeper sofa, desk and 32” flat screen plasma TV and a bedroom with two extremely comfortable full size beds and TV. A king suite is also available if you are planning on vacationing without the kids. Our room could accommodate up to six guests.
Included with the price of our stay was a complimentary breakfast that featured made-to-order omelettes, bacon, eggs, cereal, muffins and much more. Chef Francisco and his sidekick Jamie have been fixing up breakfast together for over 12 years. Watching them create our omelettes was highly entertaining.
Also included is a nightly manager’s reception, which offers complimentary light snacks and an open bar. Other features include valet parking, an indoor pool, PJ Clarke’s restaurant, which offers a very nice atmosphere and good food - much nicer than your typical hotel restaurant.
www.embassysuites1.hilton.com
Things To Do
There is so much to do in Chicago that space limits our ability to review everything. What follows is a brief description of the attractions we visited. We have included a website for each for your convenience.
Many of the attractions can seem a bit pricey, but, if you are like us, you get into “vacation mode” and put being a cheapskate on the back burner. Expect to pay $20-$32 per person for many of the attractions.
“Hop on Hop Off” Tour - The absolute best way to get around the city is to take the Signature Tour with the Chicago Trolley and Double Decker Co. With 18 downtown stops at the major attractions (and one right near the hotel) it will save you a lot of walking and aggravation with driving your own vehicle.
Double decker buses and trolleys stop by every 20 minutes to drop you off or pick you up at each stop. Tour guides fill the time between stops with interesting facts about the city and its history. Some of the guides should be working the local comedy clubs. They were hilarious.
If you can, wait for a bus rather than a trolley. Be sure to sit by the tour guide on the open-aired second deck. It will definitely improve your view of the city and add to the overall experience.
www.chicagotrolley.com
River Tour with Chicago’s First Lady Cruises – Chicago is divided north and south by the Chicago River and many of the city’s most interesting buildings can be seen up close and personal on a guided tour with Chicago’s First Lady Cruises. Captain Ralph and crew provided some comic relief while a member of the Chicago Architecture Foundation provided many interesting facts and stories about the buildings and the people who built them. The tour up and down the north and south branches of the river was one of the highlights of the trip and provided a stunning view of the city and the great job they have done developing the river front.
www.cruisechicago.com
The Field Museum (of Natural History) - The Field Museum is home to Sue, the best preserved T-Rex ever discovered, and a host of real and cast dinosaurs and other mammals. The building itself is worth visiting with its Greek-styled columns and arches.
www.fieldmuseum.org
Navy Pier – The Navy Pier is Chicago’s number one tourist attraction. There is literally something for everyone. Features include nearly 20 fine dining and fast food restaurants, dozens of shops, an IMAX Theatre, Beer Garden with live music, Chicago’s Children’s Museum, Pier Park with a 150’ Ferris Wheel and other rides, sightseeing tours and much, much more! We made a stop at the Navy Pier a nightly event.
www.navypier.com
Amazing Chicago’s Funhouse Maze - Located at Navy Pier, the Funhouse Maze features a number of attractions including a mirror maze and spinning light tunnel that will challenge your senses and equilibrium.
www.amazingchicago.com
Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. – Fun is on the menu at this popular restaurant with a Forrest Gump theme. If you are a fan of the movie, you will definitely enjoy this experience. Be sure to brush up on your trivia (the kids watched and we listened to - the movie on the journey in.) Ask for Karmin. He provided us with the best family dining experience we have ever had. Located at the Navy Pier.
www.bubbagump.com
John Hancock Observatory – The country’s fastest elevator delivered our family to the 94th floor of the John Hancock Center in just 39 seconds. The view of the city at night was spectacular prompting my younger son to remark that it was the greatest thing he’s ever seen. The open air Skywalk allows you to experience why they call Chicago the Windy City. Don’t fear. It is enclosed with heavy duty screening.
www.hancockobservatory.com
Willis Tower - The Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower) is the tallest building in the Western Hemisphere and offers another exciting view of the city. The Skydeck is located on the 103rd floor and features The Ledge, a series of glass bays that extend from the building, providing unobstructed views straight down. Although I could rationalize that they were safe, I was hesitant to step onto them.
www.theskydeck.com
Shedd Aquarium – As interesting as it was to take a look at the history of the world and animals past, it was especially neat to see living creatures at the Shedd Aquarium. Our journey through the twisting maze of exhibits brought us up close with whales, sharks, penguins and many other of the 22,000 animals they have on exhibit.
www.sheddaquarium.org
Art Institute of Chicago (Museum) - If you are looking to add a little bit of refined culture to your visit, then a stop at the Art Institute won’t be a disappointment. Sculptures, paintings, furniture and other pieces of human expression from the last 5,000 years are on display. I recommended this for families and groups with older kids - 16 and over.
www.artic.edu
The Magnificent Mile - If you are into shopping, then you will want to check out the clothing shops, specialty shops and restaurants on the Magnificent Mile, a beautiful stretch of N. Michigan Avenue which is only a 10 minute walk from the hotel. If you like chocolate, you’ll love the Hershey Store with lots of unique gifts, demonstrations and much more. Also, the Magnificent Mile is home to the very first American Girl Place store. If you have a young daughter, you will definitely want to make some time to visit.
www.themagnificentmile.com
Millennium Park - This is not just another walk in the park. The interactive Crown Fountain, Cloud Gate sculpture and many other attractions and events make this a must-see during your visit.
www.millenniumpark.org
Other attractions worth mentioning are:
• The Adler Planetarium
• Ride the famous “L” train with tours conducted by the Chicago Architecture Foundation and Chicago History Museum
As always, we recommend that you contact the local visitor’s bureau of any city that you visit. They can be extremely helpful in choosing hotel accommodations and hooking you up with packages that can save you a lot of money on visiting the attractions.
The Chicago Office of Tourism can be reached at 1.877.CHICAGO (244.2246) or visit www.explorechicago.org for more information.
 Print this story
Share this story:
Back to Previous Page
|
 |
|
|
|
