Chicago

[Siobhan]

We're hopefully going in October but we know nothing about Chicago, to any Dibbers who've been would you tell me the best places to stay, to be in the centre of everything etc?

[Diane]

The main shopping hub is Michigan Avenue so anywhere with easy access to there would be good. Don't forget to visit Navy Pier whilst you are there for a ride on the Ferris Wheel, gives you great views of the Chicago skyline.
We also took a trip up the John Hancock Building too, not recommended if you get vertigo though! We found this building more difficult to stomach than any of the tall buildings in New York!!

http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/500/John_Hancock_Building_Chicago_450_x_600_.jpg

http://www.thedibb.co.uk/photopost/data/500/Looking_Down_from_John_Hancock_600_x_450_.jpg

Diane x

[Siobhan]

Oh wow Diane your photos look amazing. We're just trying to decide if we should fly BMI direct from Manchester or via BA, which is £300 less but with a connection on the way back via Heathrow

[Pino_Spetzberg]

Oh wow Diane your photos look amazing. We're just trying to decide if we should fly BMI direct from Manchester or via BA, which is £300 less but with a connection on the way back via Heathrow

Firstly, you should be able to book BMI Manchester flights @ £350 ish for October. Surprised BA is so much cheaper - have you tried different dates. The BMI flight is superb so worth the chase. We don't do connections. :D
Regarding where to stay, does it matter ?
You can stay in The Loop @ Palmer House Hilton ( our favourite ), or The Drake, or the W Lakeshore overlooking Navy Pier, all good. Try the Conrad by Nordstroms, the Sofitel, the Doubletree, or the Sax ( formerly House Of Blues ), another good choice is the Hilton Garden Inn with the excellent Webber Grill in lobby or the new-ish Hard Rock.
If you want to save some $$ try Congress, it is only cheaper because the union is in negotiations to improve pay and conditions, stay there and you wouldn't know anything was up - it also has a cheap self-park rate.
If you have any questions about Chi-town knock yourself out. :smile:

[Siobhan]

We're booked for October 1/2 term, which is a week later this year. Anyway we bit the bullet and booked with BMI, primarily as DH clocks up a lot of reward miles with them as he flies to Brussels and Heathrow quite a lot so we figured with his miles and Chicago miles x 4we might be able to get to Las Vegas in August 2009 for a part miles/ part cash payment as he's said that he definately does want to do Florida next year :cry: :cry: :cry:

The hotel we're considering, again with loyalty points, is the Holiday Inn Express on the Magnificent Mile, there's not enough points left to do any better as we used loads for the Crowne Plaza Times Square in October 2007, is this location central?

[Dawn]

Can you still go up Sears Tower? That's a must if you can. Do the Ferris Bueller thing and put your forehead against the glass and look straight down. :eek:

Shed Aquarium is good. It's next to the Field Museum, which is also cool. They're down by Grant Park, but don't linger in the park once it gets darks.

Michigan Ave for shopping. And Cheesecake Factory. :D

There's a couple of bus tours and some boat tours on the lake.

Lincoln Park Zoo - free admission here. :thumbs-up

October will be cold. And it's not called the windy city for nothing. :pgig:

[Pino_Spetzberg]

The hotel we're considering is the Holiday Inn Express on the Magnificent Mile, is this location central?

Just been $$$ renovated, aka Hotel Cass @ 640 North Wabash Avenue ?
If so, in River North area, really close to State, Rush, streets, and Magnificent Mile shopping, so looks a good choice. :)



Navy Pier (1 MI / 1.61 KM )
Magnificent Mile, Michigan Avenue. (0.1 MI / 0.16 KM )
Millennium Park (1.5 MI / 2.41 KM )
Lincoln Park Zoo (1.7 MI / 2.74 KM )
John G. Shedd Aquarium (2 MI / 3.22 KM )
Art Institute Chicago (1.4 MI / 2.25 KM )
Field Museum (2.2 MI / 3.54 KM )
Museum of Science and Industry (7.4 MI / 11.91 KM )
Sears Tower Skydeck (1.1 MI / 1.77 KM )
Water Tower Place (0.2 MI / 0.32 KM )
John Hancock Building (0.3 MI / 0.48 KM )
Adler Planetarium (2.1 MI / 3.38 KM )
Chicago History Museum (1.2 MI / 1.93 KM )
Chicago Cultural Center (0.7 MI / 1.13 KM )
Museum of Contemporary Art (0.3 MI / 0.48 KM )

[Pino_Spetzberg]

...And it's not called the windy city for nothing. :pgig:

...and it isn't called the windy city because its windy....but you know that. :D

[Karen Mouse]

You've got to visit Eli's cheesecake factory

The best cheesecake in the world :spin:

[Siobhan]

...and it isn't called the windy city because its windy....but you know that. :D


I don't know why it's called the windy city, nothing to do with the weather then?

[Siobhan]

You've got to visit Eli's cheesecake factory

The best cheesecake in the world :spin:


:tounge: :tounge: Now you're talking :tounge: :tounge:

[Mrs_Dazzle]

Sadly only flown into Chicago, didn't have time to look around. But O'Hare was a great airport, plenty to look around at and some great bargains to be had in the shops.

When we flew into Chicago from Tampa is was 9pm in October and dark and the view of Chicago lit up were amazing. In the daylight, the views of Lake Michigan were tremendous, too.

[Pino_Spetzberg]

I don't know why it's called the windy city, nothing to do with the weather then?


Talk to the barman in Billy Goat Tavern, underneath the Wrigley building, according to him its because Chicago politicians are full of nothing but bluster ( same world over ! ).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windy_City%2C_Origin_of_Name_%28Chicago%29

[spencem]

The science museum is also worth a look, but don't go any further south than there.

[*source*]

Will the weather be *really* cold in October? What about August - anybody been there then?

We are looking at an apartment instead of a hotel but it is downtown. Will we be able to do it without a car?

Thanks :wavey:

[Tinkerbeckii]

Talk to the barman in Billy Goat Tavern, underneath the Wrigley building, according to him its because Chicago politicians are full of nothing but bluster ( same world over ! ).
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windy_City%2C_Origin_of_Name_%28Chicago%29


Guess what we all must live in the Windy City :pgig: :pgig:
( by the way this is siobhan on my daughters account )

[Siobhan]

as he's said that he definately does want to do Florida next year :cry: :cry: :cry:



Oops just realised typo DH definately does NOT want to do Florida in 2009 :blush: