Quick Chicago touring advice needed, please

[Hippoharbor]

DS and I just drove up to Indiana to visit family when I got the idea to take a sidetrip to Chicago. I am going to take my sister and her two kids, so will be a party of five.

I have to pay for EVERYTHING (sis doesn't have the income for such travel...not that I do, either). SO you could you please give me some ideas on what the must-see sites are. We will be there for two days. I definitely want to do SHedd Aquarium, but am undecided about the rest; Field Museum vs. Museum of Science and Industry?; observation tours?; boat rides? Reputable internet site to buy combined passes?

The kids ages are 7, 11 and 16.

Also, is there a lower-cost hotel in that vicinity (Hampton Inn)? Are all of these places located near eachother?

Any advice would help. I think we may drive up there tomorrow.

Thanks

[schums]

We just got back from Chicago last week. For kids that age, I'd do Museum of Science and Industry. We spent a day there, and had a blast -- tons of hands on stuff (but not "little kid" hands on)! We only did the basic admission, plus the Mythbusters exhibit (AWESOME if you like the show), and had enough to do for a full day. If you park behind the musuem, parking is only $5 per day (metered).

The best thing we did to save $$ was to buy a membership to a local science museum at home (ran us $75), and we got free admission to MSI, Field, and Alder Planetarium. I bought the membership the night before online, and all 3 museums accepted my printed out receipt at proof of membership. If you want to look for a musuem in your hometown, go here http://www.astc.org/members/passlist.htm.

Shedd is pretty expensive if you want to see the whole thing -- around $35 to see all the exhibits and the shows. We didn't go this time because the line to get in was 2+ hours long.

Field was OK, not super thrilling. They have a great dinosaur exhibit, and DS (10) loved the Eqypt tomb. The rest, enh.

We always stay outside the city to save $$ on hotels. The last couple of times we've stayed in Shaumburg and Oak Park (maybe?). It does add quite of bit of time to get into the city to do stuff, but I could justify the cost to stay downtown.

LMK if you want more info.

[mom2binsd]

I agree, Science and Industry will be better than Field for that age group...Shedd is expensive and I've heard very crowded lately.

I stayed at the Comfort in on Ohio, it's about 2 blocks off of Michigan Ave...I paid 89.oo on Jan. 1st with 28.00 parking and you can go in and out no charge. It includes a very extensive free breakfast buffet.

There is an older Howard Johnson that has FREE parking, nothing special but pretty cheap. I'll see if I can find it....http://www.hojo.com/hotels/illinois/chicago/howard-johnson-inn-chicago-downtown/hotel-overview. The free parking is key and you can go in and out. I'd try to do Lincoln Park Zoo maybe, it's free. Check out discount Hancock Tower tix...that's a really cool thing to do.

Is it too late to get a museum membership...I agree those are great, our local museum pass is 125.00 for the family but it gets us in for free at so many others. Maybe do an online purchase for your local museum?

[boilermakermom]

MSI is great for kids in the age you mentioned. It was my favorite attraction at that age, and still is. Check out the local museums where you are from, see if you can get a discount pass.

The Shedd is incredibly expensive, and crowded. So crowded. I would skip it.

Check out the Hancock - always a plus! Take a stoll up and down Michigan Ave. Grab a horse drawn carriage if you have the time. They run around $40-50. You can pick them up near the Hershey store on Michigan

[Kindra178]

I agree with MSI. But I do think the Shedd is amazing. We have been there on some packed winter days and it is still enjoyable. Field is great if you have a dinosaur lover and the planetarium is pretty cool too.

Like the rest of the nation it's going to be awfully hot here, so the museums will be a nice respite from the heat.

A few other free activities:

Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower)
Oak Street Beach (it will be cooler right by the lake)
Eta
I forgot about the bean and splash area in Millenium Park. We go all the time.

Check out The city suites hotel on Belmont. Rm, that days inn is gone.

[DebbieJ]

Shedd has been crowded because basic admission was free last week.

I agree with MSI. We've taken our 8 yo DS twice this year and he could go back again tomorrow and stay all day. I hadn't been there in a number of years and was really impressed with all the newer exhibits. And the metered parking rocks.

Bring swimsuits and play in the fountain in Millennium Park. Check out "the bean" (sculpture) and Buckingham Fountain. Explore the city and have fun!

By the way, MSI is a bit south of the downtown area, so it's not really close to anything else.

[Roleysmom]

Hi. I can't personally recommend these hotels because I am local and have never stayed but I know that two hotels people talk about that are less expensive are the Days Inn in the Lincoln Park neighborhood (great neighborhood, easy bus commute to any of the attractions you mentions) and the Travelodge in the South Loop. Easy peasy bus ride to the attractions. I did a quick look on Trip Advisor and the Days Inn gets better reviews. Links to each and the Trip Advisor page are below. I would not suggest staying in a suburb and traveling in. Will eat up too much time and take away from your experience.

The water taxi might be something fun to do: http://www.chicagowatertaxi.com/SitePages/Home.aspx

I agree that I think MSI will be more fun. Also a quick nice walk to the beach if you want to do that too. The Shedd is fabulous. It's on the lake but a little harder to walk to the 12th Street beach. Close but a little twisty to get there. Olive Park behind the Planetarium (right
near the Shedd - the Shedd, Field and Planetarium are clustered together) has one of the best views of the city.

Fabulous free fun - Millennium Park - at Michigan and Randolph. http://explorechicago.org/city/en/millennium/event_search_result.html There is a children's activity tent and at 10 a.m. every morning a teacher from the Old Town School of Folk Music has a sing along (probably too young for your crew.) Great fountain to splash around in. Nice walk from the Travelodge.

Have fun!

Edited to add: here's the CityPass link: http://www.citypass.com/chicago

http://daysinn9-px.trvlclick.com/index.cfm
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g35805-d87571-Reviews-Days_Inn_Chicago-Chicago_Illinois.html

http://www.booking.com/hotel/us/chicago-t.en.html?aid=311088;label=hotel-59243-us-JHwAzQ1EYsOHQBUXHCmoDwS8204545563:pl:ta:p1:p2:ac:a p1t2:neg;ws=&gclid=CP-qs92D-rACFUMCQAodr2pWEg
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Hotel_Review-g35805-d87576-Reviews-Travelodge_Chicago_Downtown-Chicago_Illinois.html

[novmber]

i live in the chi-town area and grew up here and went on many field trips to the museums as a kid. field museum bored me to tears as a kid and really still as an adult (although it could be residual boredom).

i ADORE science&industry. went there a few months ago - still loved it as an adult and it was great to share it with my kids. i think it is a must-do!!

[AustenFan]

Another vote for MSI. It's our favorite museum in the whole US! Like a PP mentioned, if you drive, definitely use the meter parking out back, not the parking garage. It's down on the South side, so you'll have to drive or take a bus. (Their cafeteria is really pricey, though--we always tried to pack a lunch or at least part of a lunch to save $$.)

Eh, we were very underwhelmed with Shedd, and we even got in for free (library passes for Chicago residents). Shedd and Adler Planetarium and the Field Museum are all right next to each other, and you can just walk through Grant Park to get to the Art Institute and Millennium Park then the Loop/Michigan Ave. Grant Park is fun for just hanging out and people watching. There are often free things going on there in the evenings. You can browse around explorechicago (http://www.explorechicago.org/city/en.html)for current schedules. I'd only get a combo ticket pass if you're going to several museums. Not sure you'd be saving a lot if you just went to one or two.

Walking up and down Michigan Avenue is fun (but I'd recommend skipping Navy Pier--IMHO it's a huge, kitchy tourist trap). We did the architectural boat ride tour with DH's work, and it was pretty cool, but if you're wanting to save $, you can see a lot of cool buildings just wandering downtown!

Sounds like the kids are old enough to walk, not drive, around downtown. I'd avoid driving as much as possible, as there are lots of one-ways, and parking is a nightmare (hard to find and expensive). We lived downtown for a summer without a car and never missed it, and when we lived north of downtown, we'd park in DH's work parking garage just off Mich Ave and walk to all of the museums/sites.

If I had two days to spend in Chicago, I'd plan to spend one down at MSI and then one exploring downtown/Grant Park. I might even plan a couple hours at the beach if Lake Michigan is your thing!

[mom2binsd]

http://www.astc.org/members/passlist.htm

Here's the membership info on the Science Museum in St. Louis - going by your username I thought maybe you lived there???

For the family membership it would get you into Science and Industry for free....and you'd have the benefits for so many others as well, the museum in St. Louis looks interesting, and I know my membership also works at the Magic House, but their membership is only good at Ass. of Children's Museums so not as good as getting from a Science Museum.

[arivecchi]

Definitely do the MSI. Awesome. Make sure you check out the submarine exhibit. My kids love that.

I would skip the Shedd - super pricey and overcrowded - and head to the Lincoln Park Zoo instead which is free!

As far as hotels, I would check out the Embassy Suites on Columbus. I've been able to get some great rates there, you can maybe accomodate everyone in one room since they are suites and they typically include free breakfast. Awesome location right by Navy Pier and Lake Shore Drive - which will be the best way to get to the MSI and the zoo and an ultra scenic drive!

http://embassysuites3.hilton.com/en/hotels/illinois/embassy-suites-chicago-downtown-lakefront-CHIREES/index.html